PURPOSE
The Environmental Financing Information Network (EFIN) is one component of the
Environmental Finance Program (EFP)
. The objectives of the Environmental Finance Program are to promote ways to
manage the costs of environmental services, to build state
and local capacity, increase investment in public and private environmental
infrastructure, build partnerships, encourage environmental justice, and lower
costs.
The purpose of the Environmental Financing Information Network is to provide
information on financing alternatives for state and local environmental
programs and small businesses. To accomplish this goal of information
exchange, the EFIN Center maintains an online database containing abstracts of
publications, case studies, and contacts; operates an infoline; and
distributes EPA documents on the topic of environmental financing published by
the
Environmental Finance Program
, the
Environmental Financial Advisory Board (EFAB)
and the
Environmental Finance Centers (EFCs)
. The EFIN center also manages the Environmental Finance Program's Web site
at: http://www.epa.gov/efinpage.
DESCRIPTION, HISTORY, AND BACKGROUND
The Environmental Financing Information Network (EFIN) provides essential
information services needed by state, sub-state, municipal and EPA officials
and small business owners involved in funding environmental programs and
projects. These information services include maintaining the EFP Web site and
the EFIN database, which are the main methods for disseminating information on
environmental financing altermatives; an infoline that provides referrals and
assistance with locating environmental financing information, and distribution
of EPA publications
on the topic of environmental finance. The EFIN database is a collection of
abstracts representing publications and other relevant materials (articles,
case studies, guides, legislation, handbooks, memoranda, reports, proceedings,
surveys, papers) that
deal with environmental financing. In addition to the basic descriptive
information and abstract provided for each publication, each record also
includes information on how to obtain the publication described, as well as a
point of contact for further reference.
The Environmental Financing Information Network (EFIN) is managed by the EPA's
Environmental Finance Program (EFP), located in the Office of the Comptroller
within the Office of the Chief Financial Officer.
The Environmental Finance Program is responsible for three major activities:
The EFIN Center serves the Environmental Financial Advisory Board by
abstracting their reports and advisories for the EFIN database and uploading
their publications on the Web site. The EFIN Center also supports the
Environmental Financing Centers by providing a central focal point for
these regional centers, linking them together and allowing them to share
information on lessons learned and financing techniques. This includes
maintaining contact information for the EFCs on the Web site and uploading some
of their publications, such as the Annual Reports.
The Environmental Finance Program assumed the management of EFIN in January
1993. The EPA's Office of Water initially had established EFIN in October
1991, as part of EPA's efforts to improve state and local government capacity
to implement environmental
programs and projects. A number of programs participated in the planning and
development of EFIN --the State Revolving Fund, Environmental Finance Program
(e.g., public-private partnerships), Small Community Outreach and Education
(SCORE), Drinking
Water, Solid Waste, Air, and Superfund -- as much financing information is
general and can be applied across programs and media.
Download the EFIN Brochure in PDF Format
.
MAILING ADDRESS, E-MAIL ADDRESS, INFOLINE NUMBER, AND HOURS
Contact the EFIN Center:
US EPA
Environmental Financing Information Network, (Mail Code) 2731R
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C 20460
Web site:
http://www.epa.gov/efinpage/
Electronic mail:
efin@epa.gov
Infoline: (202) 564-4994
FAX: (202) 565-2587
Hours: 8:30am - 5:00pm (eastern standard time) Monday-Friday
Sponsoring Office: Environmental Finance Program, Office of the Comptroller,
Office of the Chief Financial Officer, U.S. EPA
Project Officer: Vera Hannigan
hannigan.vera@epa.gov
Internet Librarian: (ASRC Aerospace Corp., contractor)
efin@epa.gov
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