1. EPA’s Strength in Both GEOSS & ESIP; Environmental Health Decisionmaking January 10, 2008 George Gray, Ph.D. Assistant Administrator EPA Office of Research and Development

2. Earth System Models Weather Climate Atmosphere Others… Earth Observation Systems Remotely-sensed In situ Decision Support On-going feedback to optimize value and reduce gaps Policy Decisions Management Decisions Personal Decisions Societal Benefits DATA Predictions Observations Linking Earth Observations to Societal Benefits

3. Report on the Environment (ROE) Compilation of indicators Evaluation of trends Input for strategic outlook and priorities

4. Definition of Indicator “For EPA’s Report on the Environment, an indicator is a numerical value derived from actual measurements of a pressure, state or ambient condition, exposure, or human health or ecological condition over a specified geographic domain, whose trends over time represent or draw attention to underlying trends in the condition of the environment.”

5. Criteria for Indicators The indicator is useful. It answers (or makes an important contribution to answering) a question in the ROE. The indicator is objective. It is developed and presented in an accurate, clear, complete, and unbiased manner. The indicator is transparent and reproducible. The specific data used and the specific assumptions, analytic methods, and statistical procedures employed are clearly stated. The underlying data are characterized by sound collection methodologies, data management systems to protect its integrity, and quality assurance procedures. Data are available to describe changes or trends and the latest available data are timely. The data are comparable across time and space, and representative of the target population. Trends depicted in this indicator accurately represent the underlying trends in the target population.

6. Structure of ROE Organized around 27 questions considered to be important to EPA’s mission Includes 87 peer-reviewed indicators Trends evaluated in five areas: air, water, land, human health, and ecosystems

7. Examples of Key Questions What are the trends in outdoor air quality and their effects on human health and the environment? What are the trends in greenhouse gas emissions and concentrations? What are the trends in extent and condition of fresh surface waters and their effects on human health and the environment? What are the trends in health status in the U.S.? The extent and distribution of the Nation’s ecological systems?

8. Challenges and Opportunities Data gaps Indicator research Analysis of trends Strategic planning

9. Status of ROE First version of ROE (Draft)  Released June 2003 Second version of ROE  Being revised to address SAB and public comments and include latest year of data  Expected for release Spring of 2008 (Earth Day) http://www.epa.gov/ord/roe

10. Outcome Performance Evaluation Framework for GEOSS Outcomes Impacts The 9 Societal Benefit Areas Secondary Benefits Level 1 Uptake of GEO standards, etc. and implementation of GEO recommend- ations Level 2 Changes to information system inter- operability & information accessibility Level 3 Changes to decision support (end user) products & services Level 4 Responses by affected populations to improved decision support GEOSS GEO Processes Process Outputs Process Outcomes GEO & GEO Secretariat

11. Outcome Performance Indicators for GEOSS Examples of Outcome Performance Indicators that were developed in 2007:  Canada developed draft indicators on Soil Moisture  U.S. EPA developed draft indicators on Air Quality (AIRNow – International)

12. Any Questions?