Environmental Resources

GUIDE TO RESEARCHING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Dimond Library - Documents Department
University of New Hampshire

The Government Information Department home page provides links to selected
resources by subject. The department's Data Center offers researchers computers
available for web searching as well as access to a number of subscription and
CD-ROM databases.

General Works

The best place to start is through the Government Information homepage link to Environment. There one can find direct access to a number of US Government Agencies as well as online library links.

Monthly Catalog

http:www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/dpos/adpos400.html

Docs Ref GP 3.8: year

The Monthly Catalog of US Government Publications is a bibliography and index to all documents published each year by government departments and agencies. Information related to the environment can be found under "Environmental Protection" and "Environmental Policy," (air and water) "Pollution," "Recycling" and "Waste Disposal." Information is also available for conservation (of natural resources) and forestry, fishing, and wildlife categories.

Congressional Information Service (CIS)

http://www.cispubs.com

Reference KF 49 .C62
The CIS indexes many congressional publications on the environment. Publications are indexed under "Environmental Pollution and Control," (air and water) "Pollution," Recycling" and others.

American Statistics Index (ASI)

Docs Ref Z 7754 .U5 A46

The ASI is the index to statistics published by the federal government by subject, author, and category. Its coverage includes national, regional, state, county and city statistics and material can be found on pollution and control, refuse and recycling, and conservation of natural resources (and wildlife).

Environmental Glossary by Wayne O. Deason et al

Doc I 27.2: En 8/2/986

This resource offers a glossary of environmental terms used in environmental and natural sciences and includes tables of unit prefixes and conversions.

The Facts on File Dictionary of Environmental Science

TD 9 .S74 1991

This is a basic and general source best used as a starting point.

Encyclopedia of Environmental Biology

BioSci Ref QH 540.4 .E52 1995

Public Land Statistics

I 53.1/2:

also in Micromedia

This resource contains statistics related to public land management. Statistical information is available on the history of public land acquisition, acreage owned by the government, number and type of big game animals, natural resource activities on federal lands, and timber sales.

Toxic Release Inventory TRI

Doc EP 1.2: T66/19/Pack

The TRI is a national inventory of toxic chemical emissions from manufacturing facilities. Over 300 chemicals are covered.

Environmental Information Web Sites

Committee for the National Institute for the Environment

http:///www.cnie.gov

This website is an excellent starting point for environmental research and directs researchers through the National Library for the Environment from which there are links to environmental laws and treaties, online journals, educational resources, news, and government reports.

Environmental Protection Agency

http://www.epa.gov/

This is the homepage for the EPA and includes access to laws and regulations, publications, databases, reports, news, and other environmental resources.

The Environment Department at the World Bank

http://www-esd.worldbank.org/

While not an official federal government site, the World Bank's Environment Department offers access to a good deal of environmental information including World Bank publications.

Statistical Sources

Environmental Impact Analysis Data Links

http://water.usgs.gov/epa/env_data.html

This site provides an excellent statistical resource for information on agriculture, endangered species, energy, hydrology, meteorology, and pollution prevention.

Envirofacts Warehouse

http://www.epa.gov/enviro/index_java.html

Envirofacts Warehouse provides access to select US EPA environmental data.

USGS Water Resources

http://water.usgs.gov/

Data are available from the USGS from on-line stations throughout the US; historical information is accessible from the National Water Information System; databases from GIS, HCDN, and other resources are linked; and maps, searchable by county and watershed, are accessible from this site.

National Environmental Data Index (NEDI)

http://www.nedi.gov/

The National Environmental Data index provides access to a wide range of environmental data and information.

FAOSTAT Statistics Database

http://apps.fao.org

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations offers an online and multilingual database which contains time-series records covering international statistics on: production, trade, food balance sheets and aid shipments, fertilizers and pesticides, land use and irrigation, forest and fishery products, and population.

Sources on Air Pollution

Building Air Quality: A Guide for Building Owners and Facility Managers

Docs EP 4.8: AI 7/7

This manual, published by the Environmental Protection Agency, offers a building profile to prevent air quality problems and includes a glossary and index.

National Air Pollutant Emission Estimates

Microform EP 4.24:940-90 EP 4.2:EM 4/20

The National Air Pollutant Emission Estimates offers emissions estimates and trends for six different pollutants (particulate matter, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, reactive volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, and lead). Data extend back to 1940 and statistics are given on the sources of each pollutant. Detailed source tables identify specific types of highway vehicles, industries and fuels causing pollution.

National Air Quality and Emissions Trends Report

Docs EP 4.22/2:year

This resource contains trend data for various pollutants, including antional and regional trends on concentration levels and sources for each pollutant. Reports of air quality for approximately 90 metropolitan areas are offered as are a brief narrative summary and graphs showing the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI).

Sources on Water

Water Resources Data

Microforms I 19.76:state -- year

(for information specific to NH and VT) NHamp I 19.53/2:NH

Hydrologic data, collected from monitoring stations along rivers, streams, lakes and at wells, are offered for each state. These include summaries of conditions for the state as well as individual monitoring stations.

National Water Summary

Microform I 19.13/3:year

The National Water Summary provides data on river and stream pollutants, their sources, and environmental factors for states. It also includes data on pollution levels of dissolved oxygen and solids, bacteria, nitrate, phosphorus, sediment, and other components. National and state maps are included as are discussions of water quality trends and chronologies of floods, droughts, water use, and supply, oil spills or wildlife kills.

The Report to Congress on Ocean Pollution, Monitoring, and Research

C 55.31/2:

This source summarizes National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) research programs on marine pollutions.

Water Resources Abstracts

Docs Ref CD-ROM 1967-1994 TC 211 .W36

Produced by the US Geological Survey, this database covers scientific and technical literature on water resources and includes monographs, journals, reports and other materials collected by US water research centers.

Ground Water Manual: A Guide for the Investigation, Developmetn, and Management of Ground-Water Resources

I 27.19/2: G 91 (also on Microform)

This is a handbook for groundwater investigations, management, and development. It covers occurrence and flow, well-aquifer relationships, data collection, investigations and tests for aquifers, wells, dewatering systems and pumps.

National Water Quality Inventory: Report to Congress

Docs EP 2.17/2:

The Inventory is a summary of pollution in rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, Great lakes and ocean shorelines, estuaries, wetlands, and groundwater and is based on state reports required by the Clean Water Act of 1972.

Conservation and Natural Resources

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards

Docs Ref HE 20.7108: C42/997

This source provides information collected from NIOSH, OSHA and other sources on chemical structures/formulas, exposure limits, chemical and physical properties, signs and symptoms of exposure, and procedures for emergency treatment.

Handbook of Toxicity of Pesticides to Wildlife

Docs I 49.66:153

The Handbook, written provides toxicity estimates, use, lethal doses, and signs of intoxication for individual chemicals or formulations. It also includes a species index.

General Information

Docs I 49.2:/N 3/2

General Information is one of the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Biologue series and covers the Endangered Species Act from 1973 through 1993.

Endangered Species Habitat Conservation Planning Handbook

Docs I 49 .6/2:H 11/2

Published by the US fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service, this habitat conservation planning handbook provides bibliographical references.

World Wildlife Fund Guide to Extinct Species of Modern Times

BioSci Desk QH .W675 1997

This is a three-volume resource edited by Walton Beacham (1943-). It covers information on birds, plants, fishes and mammals of the Pacific Islands, North America, the Hawaiian Islands, North and South Africa, and the Atlantic Islands.

United States List of Endangered Fauna

Docs I 49.2:E 56/x

Published by the US Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, this book addresses endangered US plant life.

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants

Docs I 49.6:W 64/2/998

This resource covers plant conservation and rare plants and endangered species.

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Last updated 15 December 1999