The U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to expand its Seattle-based bulletin board system after public information requests more than quadrupled in recent months. The agency will be adding a new phone line to the system soon. Additional plans call for the possibility of Internet access or an 800 number to eliminate user phone bills. Although the EPA currently offers some documents on Internet, those materials are not updated regularly, said system operator Thomas Denning. The Seattle BBS site handles nationwide Superfund reports, Resource Cost Recovery Act reports, and hazardous waste data among other things. The site also offers a daily "news conference" of EPA news and information.
The BBS can be accessed at (206) 553-2241. New users are required to complete a brief questionnaire before accessing the system.