Environmental information has been defined as “…the process that transfers data and information from its source to users in any field of knowledge or activity applicable to environmental problem solving.” Yet, like so many other types of information, environmental information is overburdened by a glut of data and a dearth of mechanisms with which to transmit high quality information from supplier to user.

The United States should develop a National Environmental Information Infrastructure (NEII) that crosses scientific domains (i.e., applied, physical, information, natural and social sciences, engineering), sectors of the economy (i.e., private, academic, government), and lines of work (i.e., research, education, advocacy, communication, information).

1. National Environmental Information Infrastructure
The NEII should be an open architecture for network development, with appropriate computer power [data, information, and knowledge management], and user interface.

2. Ensure Data
The federal government and its partners should work to ensure data (information) availability, quality, and preservation through this architecture.

3. Tool Development
The federal government should promote the development of tools to make information available to a multiplicity of users at varying geospatial scales and time frames.

4. Data Evaluation
Creation of the NEII should begin with a comprehensive analysis to evaluate the many data and information repositories and data support systems at global/international, national/federal, state/provincial, and local levels. They should be evaluated in regard to:

• acquisition of data (and information)
• management of data
• integration and analyses of data
• dissemination of data
• examination of cross-cutting issues to examine organizational roles of data producers, providers, and users.

5. Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Board
There should be a multi-stakeholder advisory board (e.g., data producers/providers, data/information managers, data/database vendors/providers, librarians and other information providers, and various user communities) to examine the creation of a central, comprehensive environmental information infrastructure that would:

• coordinate efforts across scientific domains, industries, and institutions
• provide access to and communication of data and information for multiple categories of end users
• promote the use of environmental indicators and methods of advanced environmental accounting
• emphasize the need for a U.S. commitment to support environmental data and information systems and management
• identify environmental decision areas that currently lack robust supporting data and information resources
• examine educational opportunities and training in scientific, policy, and information technology (including librarians)
• examine policies for discussion of publication, dissemination, and “digestion” of data and information
• identify and network among repositories of human and organizational expertise and resources.

6. Outcome
Completion of these tasks would serve to:

• define an environmental information infrastructure that is timely, adequate, and comprehensive
• address the need to develop services, products,and programs that are efficient, economic, and equitable.

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