RE: Print vs. Electronic and making electronic more accessible

[Diane McCreary <mccreary.diane@epa.gov>]

Regarding the Federal Depository Library System:  It is EPA policy to provide documents to the Government Printing Office for the Program.  EPA did receive congressional criticism for its lack of participation in the early 90's.  In order to remedy the situation, the Asst Administrator for Administration and Resource Management issued a memo (dated March 28, 1991) requiring all Printing Officers in the Agency to forward two copies of each publication to GPO.  It is also policy that EPA contractors must print any reports via Agency channels--they cannot arrange to have printing done on their own.

Even with these fixes, though, there are holes.  Some of the policy gets lost over time as Printing Officers come and go.  Documents, e.g., internal policy memos, not produced through the printing offices aren't included.  And, of course, the memo was issued before the World Wide Web existed, so it does not address electronic documents.

Which is why the Agency needs your help.  Where are all the holes and how can they be fixed?

PS:  Thanks to Jonda Byrd for providing the history on this.