In September 2000, HUD launched a partnered effort with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), linking data on HUD-funded activity in every neighborhood across the country with EPA environmental information. The purpose of Environmental-MAPS or E-MAPS is to provide people with detailed, site-specific information about what the government is doing to protect the environment and to promote community and economic development. The goal is to ensure easy access to data so that communities can engage in informed discussions and make informed decisions about growth and development. Data available through E-MAPS include:

• the location, type and performance of HUD-funded activities;

• site-specific information about all Superfund sites and related laws;

• brownfields data and Brownfields Tax Incentive Zones; and

• other environmental data including air pollution reports, toxic chem.icals data, hazardous waste business and permitting information, trend analyses of hazardous waste generation, and company waste water discharge information.

Communities interested in redeveloping abandoned or underused industrial sites can use the data to check for contamination and determine what financial resources exist for redevelopment in the area. (HUD, 2000). HUD E-MAPS are intended to enable communities to make informed decisions about new sites for facilities, such as public and assisted housing, and to help communities prioritize the demolition of existing complexes.

E-MAPS can be accessed on-line at: <http://198.102.62.140/emaps/SearchFrame.asp>.