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OSWER Policy Database
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Overview
About the Topics Search
About the Simple Search
About the Advanced Search
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Overview... Return to Top
The OSWER Policy Database is an electronic database that indexes official policy documents issued by EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER). These policy documents represent past EPA Headquarters interpretations of the regulations governing the management of solid waste, hazardous waste, medical waste, underground storage tanks, Superfund (CERCLA), the Oil Pollution Act (OPA) oil response and spill program, the EPCRA emergency planning regulatory program, the Clean Air Act 112(r) regulatory program, and federal facilities, brownfields, and environmental justice programs. The OSWER Policy Database allows users to locate documents through topical, simple keyword, and advanced search functions.

Searching:
To perform a search of the OSWER Policy Database, the user must first decide what type of search will best serve their needs. A topical search will find all the documents that deal with that particular topic. A simple search allows the user to search using more specific words and phrases. An advanced search lets the user search by specific variables like date or document number, as well as words and phrases.

Viewing Details:
After performing a search, The OSWER Policy Database will provide a list of all the documents that meet the user's search parameters. To view the detailed information on any particular document, the user can simply click on the title of the document and the system will display the detailed information for the selected item. The detailed information contains the relevant document numbers, regulatory citations, and ordering information among other things.

About the Topics Search... Return to Top | Goto Topics Search
Using the Topics Search function is the simplest way for a user to locate documents in the database. The topics cover a wide range of subjects. To search the database by topic, choose the Topics Search icon on the tool bar, then click on the blue arrow next to the desired subject you are interested in. Then click on the blue arrow next to the topic you are interested in. The OSWER Policy Database generates a list of all the documents that discuss the selected topic. To view detailed information on a particular document, simply click on the document title.

About the Simple Search... Return to Top | Goto Simple Search
Using the Simple Search function enables the user to search the OSWER Policy Database for any string containing letters, numbers and the characters: colon (:), backslash (\), period (.),and ampersand (&). To perform the search, click on the "Search" button adjacent to the keyword field. The database will display a list of all the documents that meet the search parameters. To view detailed information on a particular document, simply click on the document title.

About the Advanced Search... Return to Top | Goto Advanced Search
Using the advanced search function allows the user to search the database using specific criteria. The user may locate documents by Date, Author, Recipient, Title, Office-Program, Regulatory Section, Statutory Citation, or various EPA document numbers. The user can limit the number of documents the database will find by using the pull down menu and choosing the desired limit.

The advanced search will also allow the user to search the database by a specific word, words, or phrases. When searching for particular words or phrases, the advanced search gives the user the option to search for word variants (i.e., regulate will find references to regulation and regulatory), and for word synonyms. Don't forget to also search for appropriate acronyms. The database will display a list of all the documents that meet the search parameters. To view detailed information on a particular document, simply click on the document title.

What is "Date"?

Most items cataloged in The OSWER Policy Database are dated. Format for the date is mm/dd/yy. For letters and memos, the OSWER Policy Database uses the date the letter or memo was written. For Monthly Call Center Report Questions (MRQs), the date indicates the month the MRQ was published. All MRQ dates are formatted as mm/01/yy. For Q&As, the date indicates the date of publication of the document which contains the Q&A. If the date of the document is not known, the date field is shown as "unknown."

What is "Title"?

All items in the OSWER Policy Database have titles. The title is either a previously identified title, the reference line from an untitled memorandum, or a general title that describes the document contents.

What is "To"?

The "To" field identifies the recipient of each letter and memo cataloged in The OSWER Policy Database. MRQs and Q&As do not have individual recipients.

What is "From"?

The "From" field identifies the author of each letter and memo cataloged in the OSWER Database. MRQs and Q&As do not have individual authors.

What is "Organization of Recipient"?

The "Organization of Recipient" field identifies the company, firm, agency, or other organization of the recipient. MRQs and Q&As do not have individual Recipients.

What does "Search the Policy Database for the following word(s)" mean?

Each Policy document in this database is assigned various words and phrases that describe the regulatory issues discussed in the piece of guidance. The user can search for specific regulatory issues searching for these words and phrases. Every effort is made to include all appropriate words. To make sure the user finds every appropriate piece of guidance, however, the user should perform multiple searches to ensure complete research. For instance, if you are interested in F006 electroplating waste, search for the string "F006." Then perform another search for "electroplating" to ensure that you find all relevant documents on F006 electroplating wastes.

Note: An OSWER Policy Database word search can contain only letters, numbers, and the characters: colon (:), backslash (\), period (.), and ampersand (&). You can also search for citations that contain parentheses. For example, you could search the Regulatory Section for the citation: 268.42(a)(2).

What is "Regulatory Citation"?

This field identifies the 40 CFR regulatory citations of regulatory subjects discussed by the document. An example of a regulatory citation is 261.2(a)(2). The OSWER Policy Database only identifies the section level down to the second parenthetical (e.g., 261.2(a)(2), not 261.2(a)(2)(i)).

What is "Statutory Citation"?

The OSWER Policy Database identifies appropriate statutory citations for only some of the documents cataloged in the database. The citations the OSWER Policy Database does include are identified by the Public Law section number (e.g., 3004(u) for section 3004(u) of RCRA), not the United States Code citation.

What is "NTIS Number"?

The NTIS number is an identification number assigned to documents available for purchase from the National Technical Information Service (800-553-6847). Entire Monthly Call Center Reports containing MRQs are available for purchase from NTIS using this document number. NTIS numbers may be in one of two formats: PB94-234 456 or SUB-9224-97-006.

What is "EPA Document Number"?

EPA The EPA Document Number is an identification number assigned to many EPA documents. When searching by EPA document number, use the complete document number (e.g., 530-R-93-004a).

What is "OUST Number"?

The OUST number is an identification number assigned to interpretive policy letters issued by the Office of Underground Storage Tanks. The number consists of a text prefix and a number suffix, separated by a dash (e.g., ADN-1). The prefixes are "ADN" for applicability, definitions, and notification; "NUS" for new/upgraded UST systems; "RD" for release detection; "RICC" for release investigation, confirmation, and corrective action; "CL" for closure; and "FR" for financial assurance. Not all OUST policy documents are assigned OUST Numbers.

What is "OSWER Directive Number"?

The OSWER Directive Number is an identification number assigned to documents using the OSWER Directive system. An OSWER number consists of a 4-digit code and other identifying numbers, separated by a period (.) (e.g., 9320.7-05I). The four-digit code identifies particular OSWER programmatic topics.

What is "OSWER Policy Database Number"?

Unique identifier assigned to each record in the OSWER Policy Database.

What is "Office-Program"?

Each document in the OSWER Policy Database is associated with a particular OSWER Office. Because some OSWER Offices handle multiple programs, it is necessary to also identify the appropriate program associated with the document. The Office-Program field identifies the OSWER Office, and the regulatory program, associated with each particular topic. The OSWER Offices with documents in the OSWER Policy Database, and the programs within each office are presented below:

Office of Solid Waste (OSW)
- Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA)

Office of Superfund Remediation & Technology Innovation (OSRTI)
- CERCLA, or Superfund

Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST)
- Underground Storage Tanks (UST)

Office of Emergency Management (OEM)
- Oil Pollution Act (OPA)
- Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)
- Clean Air Act (CAA) Section 112(r)

Federal Facilities Restoration & Reuse Office (FFRRO)
- Federal Facilities

Office of Brownfields Cleanup & Redevelopment (OBCR)
- Brownfields
- Environmental Justice

For Additional Help Concerning These Policies... Return to Top
If you would like to order hardcopies of the documents referenced in the database, or if you would like more information about OSWER issues referenced in this database or any OSWER regulatory issues, please call EPA's Superfund, TRI, EPCRA, RMP & Oil Information Center (for non-RCRA issues) Call Center 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except for federal holidays, at the numbers listed below:

National toll-free (outside of DC area):
(800) 424-9346
Local number (within DC area):
(703) 412-9810
National toll-free for the hearing impaired (TDD):
(800) 553-7672

Technical Problems or Find a Bug... Return to Top
Are you having technical problems or have you found a bug in this system? If so we would like to here from you!

 
 
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