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Frequently Asked Questions |  |
General FAQs
System of Registries (SoR) FAQs
Terminology Reference System (TRS) FAQs
Environmental Data Registries (EDR) FAQs
Substance Registry System (SRS) - CRS/BioRS FAQs
Registry of EPA Applications and Databases (READ) FAQs
General FAQs and answers
What is a registry?
A registry is a single place for keeping information. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed registry tools that provide chemical and biological identification, information resource metadata, data standards, and Agency terms. Having commonly used information in a single place promotes understanding and information exchange. All the registry tools may be accessed through the System of Registries (www.epa.gov/sor/).
How do I find information in the registry?
The registries provide the capability of accessing information in various ways. In all the registries, the Search option on the left side menu offers various ways to access data including by keyword or text string, information resource type, data element, term, organization, or substance. In some registries, a Quick Search feature at the bottom of the main page provides access to the most common information found in the registry.
How can I find the meaning of registry terms?
Under Utilities on the left hand menu in a registry, select Glossary for a list of registry terms and definitions to help with understanding and using the registry.
How do I download information from the registry?
Included is a download feature that lets you receive information about the contents of this registry. There is a download section included at the bottom of each detail page. File formats include text report, Oracle (SQL* Loader), and comma-separated text files (for use in MS Access, MS Excel). Download files are available in a nonstandard, compressed file format that requires decompression software, such as WinZip or PKZip. After the download of a compressed file is completed, find the file on your local system, and click on the filename. The files should open automatically and a list of files contained in the zipped file displays. Select one of the files to view. The unzipped files can be opened with Notepad or WordPad. Note that the user download feature is unavailable to users of Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 3.0 and all versions of AOL browser prior to 5.0. If you are using one of these browsers, please let us know, through the Contact Us form, what information you would like to download, and we will e-mail you a file.
How do I add information to the system?
If you would like to suggest additional information for this system, please use the Contact Us form.
How can I comment on data items?
If you would like to comment about the registries or their content, please use the Contact Us form.
System of Registries (SoR) FAQs
What is the System of Registries (SoR)?
The SoR (www.epa.gov/sor) provides a gateway and search capability to several registries and repositories residing in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Environmental Information (OEI). These registries comprise a critical link in EPA's information architecture and are a vital component to the National Environmental Information Exchange Network (Network). Specifically, the SoR was developed to support the Agency's data standards program and numerous Agency information technology initiatives, including the Agency architecture and data exchange with stakeholders through network nodes. The registries provide identification information for objects of interest to EPA, Network trading partners, including states and tribal entities, and the public.
How do I find information in the SoR?
The SoR, through the Search option on the left side menu, provides you with various ways of searching information including by keyword or text string, by information resource type, data element, term, organization, or by substance. A Quick Search feature at the bottom of the main page provides access to the most common information across the related registries.
How do I link my system query directly to registry data?
The registry data can be accessed using the Environmental Metadata Gateway (EMG), a search engine that enables users to search the metadata registry content using a Universal Resource Locators (URL) with integrated search capabilities. It enables users to search and seamlessly navigate to the detail pages meeting the search criteria. An EMG Search has been developed that enables system developers to build URLs to automatically query various substance data and display the appropriate detail information from EPA's application, the Substance Registry System (SRS).
Where is the Chemical Registry System (CRS)?
The Chemical Registry System (CRS), formerly a separate registry that provided information on chemical substances and how they are represented in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations and information systems, has been integrated into the SRS.
Where is the Biology Registry System (BioRS)?
The BioRS, formerly a separate registry that provided information on organisms and how they are represented in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations and application systems, has been integrated into the SRS.
Terminology Reference System (TRS) FAQs
What is the Terminology Reference System (TRS)?
The TRS (www.epa.gov/trs) is a compilation of environmental terms, definitions, and relevant sources to the mission objectives of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other environmental agencies and organizations.
Why can't I find the term I am looking for in the TRS?
New sets of terms are added regularly to the TRS. If the resources in the TRS do not contain the term you are looking for and you would like to submit a set of terms, see "How can I add terms to the TRS?"
Where can I find more environmental terminology?
The TRS help page lists other information resources of terminology data. In addition, the TRS lists Agency information systems that reference terms of interest. Additional information can be found by searching for terms in those systems.
How can I add terms to the TRS?
Terms in the TRS are not added individually; rather, terms are added to the TRS in the context of a reference containing bibliographic information about the term's source. If you would like to submit terms for inclusion in the TRS, please use the Contact Us form to send a comment to the system administrator. You will be sent a description of the information needed for your collection and how to submit it.
Environmental Data Registries (EDR) FAQs
What is the Environmental Data Registry (EDR)?
The EDR (www.epa.gov/edr/) is a comprehensive, authoritative source of reference information about the definition, source, and uses of environmental data. The EDR supports the creation and implementation of data standards that are designed to promote the efficient sharing of environmental information among EPA, states, tribes, and other information trading partners. The EDR also catalogs data elements in application systems. The EDR does not contain environmental data - it provides descriptive information to make the data more meaningful.
Who owns the EDR?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Environmental Information (OEI) owns the software for the EDR.
Why should I use the EDR?
The EPA has been working to standardize data elements to simplify the exchange of environmental data among Agency users and their partners. The EDR is the Agency repository for standard data elements that can be reused by software developers creating new or updated information systems. As more and more systems record information in a common way, information exchange and utilization will become easier. The EDR is also a repository for information about current and legacy Agency information systems that can provide insight into what information has been collected and how it has been recorded. This is valuable information for interpreting Agency information resources.
What type of Internet Access/Browser should I use?
The EDR must be accessed using Netscape Navigator 3.0 or higher versions, or Internet Explorer version 3.0 or higher. (Some EDR functionality is not available for users of Internet Explorer version 3.0.) The EDR should have the same look and feel under all browsers.
What documentation was used as the standard in modeling the EDR?
The EDR is based on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Information Technology - Specification and Standardization of Data Elements (ISO 11179) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Technology Data Engineering - Metamodel for the Management of Shareable Data.
How do I find information in the EDR?
Select Search on the left side menu (located under Products & Services). There can be searches on information resource, names and definitions, specific data items, XML tags, or organizations. There are various searching options available such as Containing, Beginning With, and Exact Match.
How do I find information on data standards?
Click on Data Standards in the menu bar on the left of the screen to reach the Data Standards page. This page displays the Data Standards and their current status in the EPA data standards process. The page also includes a link to information specifically about the data standards process.
How do I find data elements?
The EDR provides you with the capability of searching for data elements in various ways. Data elements that are part of data standards can be viewed by selecting Data Standards from the side menu of any EDR page. The Search option on the side menu provides a variety of ways to access data in the EDR. To search for data elements, select Metadata Item Search (Data Element). To see a list of data elements about a specific topic of interest, enter a search term in the name or definition box and choose whether you want a containing, beginning with, or exact match for your search term. Click on Begin Search. While this approach may result in an extensive list of available data elements that are related to the keyword, it will provide a quick overview of available EDR information.
How can I query specifications of data elements?
To query specifications of data elements, start from the EDR Home Page and select Search from the left menu. Choose Metadata Item Search (Data Element). Information can be queried by using any of the choices provided, including name, definition, XML tag, or information resource type. A Data Element Advanced search provides ability to search by data identifier, registration status, or other information.
How can I retrieve a group of related data elements?
From the EDR Home Page select Search on the left side menu, then under Information Resource Search pick Data Group from the Information Resource Type List. The name of the group can be entered as a keyword, or you can leave the keyword field blank to view all of the Data Groups. From the retrieved list select the name of the group of interest. To see the data elements associated with the group, choose data element from the component list.
How can I find the permissible values for a specific data element?
Locate the desired data element. Once the data element is located, scroll down to the permissible value and value meaning section of the page. If there are permissible values associated with the data element, the first 20 values will be displayed. To download the list, follow the instructions on the page.
How do I link my system query directly to registry data?
The registry data can be accessed using the Environmental Metadata Gateway, a search engine that enables users to search the metadata registry content using a URL with integrated search capabilities. It enables users to search and seamlessly navigate to the detail pages meeting the search criteria. An Environmental Metadata Gateway Search has been developed that enables system developers to build URLs that automatically query various substance data and display the appropriate detail information from EPA's Substance Registry System (SRS) - The SRS incorporates all the information in the Chemical Registry System (CRS) and the Biology Registry System (BioRS).
How can I find eXtensible Markup Language (XML) tags?
Select XML from the menu. The XML Tag Search enables you to search the EDR by text or information resource for a list of data elements with XML tags. Select a data element from the list. From the detail page, select View to see a more detailed report. Go to the Designation/ Definition/ XML Tag section to view XML tags associated with the data element.
How can I find all the data elements in a particular registration status?
From the EDR Home Page select Search on the left side menu. Select Data Element Advanced Search under the Metadata Item Search (Data Element) section. Once you are there select a value for the Registration Status from the drop down list. Click on Begin Search at the bottom of the screen.
How do I find data elements in a specific application system?
To find data elements in a specific system, go to the Search page and then to the Information Resource Search. Use the Information Resource Type menu to select Data System. Then click Begin Search, which will return a list of all application systems that have metadata stored in the EDR. Clicking on a System name will return information about the system and links to the associated files or tables and data elements.
How can I retrieve information using keywords?
From the EDR Home Page select Search on the left side menu, then under Text Search specify the Keyword text for the query. Choose Containing, Beginning With, or Exact Match to establish the desired type of text search. The search may be done on name only, definition only, XML tag only, or all. The purpose of this helpful query tool was reflect what types of information are in the EDR. Choose items by clicking on a beginning specific letter or number in the alphabet wheel. This search returns all categories of metadata objects.
How do I use the Compare Tool?
The Compare Tool is a fully integrated feature within the EDR and appears on every data element list in the EDR. The Compare Tool can also be accessed from the left menu. To use the compare tool, run a search for items of interest. Items can be selected for comparison by selecting the compare box on the right side of the search results list. The items selected will appear in a second window. Sometimes this second window will be located behind the window with the search results and it will be necessary to minimize the search results window to see the comparison. Items from different searches may be added to the compare window by selecting the compare button next to the item to be added. To remove items in the compare window, use the Clear All button in the compare window or uncheck the compare box on a search results list. The Compare Tool User's Guide provides step-by-step instructions for using the Compare Tool feature.
How do I find commonly used code sets?
To find commonly used code sets, select Code Sets from the left menu. This page contains values associated with EPA and national/international data standards and values commonly used by EPA programs. When you select a Code Set a list of detailed information displays, including the example list of values for determining whether the code set meets your data needs. To download the code set, go to the Download section on the page, select a format, and click the Begin Download button. Provide the requested identification information and select the file to download. Download files are in a compressed or zip format. WinZip or PKzip are needed for opening the files.
How can I retrieve a data element by Identifier and Version?
From the EDR Home Page select Search on the left side menu. Under Metadata Item Search (Data Element) choose Data Element Advanced search and enter the identifier and version number. Click on the Begin Search button.
Substance Registry System (SRS) - CRS/BioRS FAQs
What is the Substance Registry System (SRS)?
The SRS provides information on substances and how they are represented in EPA regulations and information systems. It also incorporates the CRS and the BioRS.
Where can I find more substance information?
The SRS help page lists other information resources for substances of interest to the EPA.
How do I add substances to the SRS?
If you would like to suggest additional substances to be included in the SRS, please use the Contact Us form.
How do I link my system query directly to SRS data?
The registry data can be accessed using the Environmental Metadata Gateway (EMG), a search engine that enables users to search the metadata registry content using a URL with integrated search capabilities. It enables users to search and seamlessly navigate to the detail pages meeting the search criteria. An EMG Substance Search has been developed that enables system developers to build URLs that automatically query various substance data and display the appropriate detail information from EPA's application, SRS.
Why can't I find the chemical data I'm looking for in the SRS?
The SRS contains chemical identification information about chemicals of interest to the
EPA. Chemicals are identified by a Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number (CASRN)/EPA Chemical Identifier (EPA ID), a systematic name (generally the CAS 9th Collective Index Name), a molecular formula, a molecular weight, former CASRN references, synonyms, and information about regulations, EPA data systems, and other sources listing the chemical.
Currently no other physical property information is included. You can find more detailed
chemical data by searching specific information systems that reference the chemical of interest.
Where is the toxicity information in the SRS?
The SRS contains only basic chemical identification information such as Chemical Abstracts CASRN and a systematic name for registered substances. Toxicity information is unavailable in SRS, but it might be found by searching specific information systems that reference chemicals of interest.
Where can I find more chemical information?
The SRS help page lists other information resources for chemical data and Agency information systems where one can search for chemicals of interest.
How do I add a chemical to the SRS?
If you would like to suggest additional chemical identification data for SRS inclusion, please use the Contact Us form to send a comment to the system administrator.
Why can't I find the biological data that I'm looking for in the SRS?
The SRS contains information only for biological organisms and biologicals of interest to the EPA. For each biological entity there is an EPA Identifier (EPA ID), synonyms, and information about regulations, EPA data systems, and other sources that list the entity. More detailed information can be searched in specific information systems that reference the entity of interest.
Where can I find more biological information?
The SRS help page lists other information resources for biological data. In addition, the SRS lists Agency information systems that reference the entity of interest. Additional information can be found by searching for the biological entity in those systems.
How do I link my system query directly to SRS data?
The registry data can be accessed using the Environmental Metadata Gateway (EMG), a search engine that enables users to search the metadata registry content using a URL with integrated search capabilities. It enables users to search and seamlessly navigate to the detail pages meeting the search criteria. An EMG Substance Search has been developed that enables system developers to build URLs that automatically query various substance data and display the appropriate detail information from EPA's SRS.
Registry of EPA Applications and Databases (READ) FAQs
What is Registry of EPA Applications and Databases (READ)?
READ is an authoritative registry that uniquely identifies EPA's diverse information resources including computer application systems, databases, and models. As a catalog of available EPA information, READ provides a single point of entry to identify, locate, and access Agency information resources by providing links to all the metadata about an information resource that is recorded in any of the registry tools (related data element, substances, terms, etc.). READ supports EPA's metadata vision to: create and store metadata in as few places as possible; improve the quality and consistency of metadata; and provide a central access point to Agency information.
How do I find information in READ?
READ provides the capability of searching for information in various ways. The Search option on the left side menu offers various ways to access data including keyword or text string, sponsoring organization, information resource type, or contact.
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