What is the MICE Service?

The Methods Information Communication Exchange (MICE) Service provides a valuable and immediate means of public outreach and education. The service provides timely answers to method-related questions and takes comments on technical issues regarding the EPA Office of Solid Waste methods manual known as Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste: Physical/Chemical Methods (SW-846). The MICE Service also acts as an effective means to directly educate the public regarding inherent SW-846 method flexibility and to clarify whether a method is required by a RCRA regulation. It also documents existing issues or misconceptions regarding SW-846 methods, and thus serves as a first step in resolution of some problems. The MICE Service can be reached in 3 ways: by telephone (703-676-4690), by fax (703-903-1373), or by e-mail (mice@cpmx.saic.com).

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Who is the MICE Service?

MICE was created by the OSW Methods Team and is operated by the Team's contractor, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). Chemists, sampling experts, and environmentalists that are knowledgeable in SW-846 procedures are directly available through the service to those involved in RCRA-related monitoring.

If a person requesting information through the MICE Service brings up a topic that is outside the scope of the service, the contractor will refer the caller to the appropriate Agency personnel.

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How does the MICE Service Work?

Persons interested in contacting the MICE Service by telephone may call a voice-mail answering service that is available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. The caller can listen to several recorded messages on common SW-846 topics and leave a message containing a question or comment. Some of the common topics include:

• Where to order copies of SW-846.
• The status of SW-846 Updates I, II, IIA, IIB, III, and IVA.
• Where to find information on sample holding times, preservation, and storage in SW-846.
• The availability of SW-846 methods under development and other EPA methods.
• Information on RCRA characteristics testing.
• Solid waste sampling.

Questions and comments also can be submitted to the MICE Service via telefacsimile (fax) or e-mail. The messages are retrieved each work day, and after any necessary research, the MICE Service responds. Comments received on methods are recorded, sorted, and entered into a database for future Agency use.

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How to contact the MICE Service

• Phone:  (703) 676-4690
• Fax: (703) 318-4682
• E-mail: mice@cpmx.saic.com.

For a quick answer to your question, please check the Frequently Asked Questions

Please include the following in your voice-mail, fax, or E-mail message:

• Name.
• Affiliation, or place of work.
• Telephone number, including the area code, even when contacting the MICE Service by fax or e-mail.
• Fax number, if sending a fax.
• E-mail address, if sending e-mail. To be certain, please include your e-mail address in the body of the message, even if your e-mail software adds it to the message "from" line.
• Your question or comments for the MICE Service. If the question pertains to a particular method, be sure to include the method number in the message. When contacting the MICE Service by fax or e-mail, please include as much detail as possible if you want a response by fax or e-mail.

Send an e-mail to the MICE Service now!

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