Network Operations Board

The Network Operations Board (NOB) oversees the day-to-day operations of the Exchange Network. The mission of the NOB is to establish and maintain operational policies and guidance; manage shared services and infrastructure; manage data standards and format development; manage the development and implementation of Network web services and data exchanges; expeditiously, impartially, and judiciously resolve all Network Partner implementation and operational issues; and elevate issues to the Exchange Network Leadership Council as appropriate.

To ensure that the NOB draws upon the expertise of a wide range of Partners, its membership consists of EPA and State Co-Chairs and representatives from EPA, States, and Tribes.

NOB Members

  • Connie Dwyer (EPA Co-Chair)
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    202.566.1691
    dwyer.connie [at] epa.gov
  • Roy Walker (State Co-Chair)
    Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
    405.702.7188
    roy.walker [at] deq.ok.gov
  • Mike Beaulac
    Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
    517.241.7808
    beaulacm [at] michigan.gov
  • Glen Carr
    Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
    503.229.5062
    carr.glen [at] deq.state.or.us
  • Frank Harjo
    Muscogee (Creek) Nation
    918.549.2510
    fharjo [at] muscogeenation-nsn.gov
  • John Harman
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    202.566.0748
    harman.john [at] epa.gov
  • Jonathan Jacobson
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    202.566.1984
    jacobson.jonathan [at] epa.gov
  • Bruce Jones
    Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
    360.528.4369
    bjones [at] nwifc.org
  • Carol O’Tormey
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Region 3
    215.814.2677
    otormey.carol [at] epa.gov
  • Lucy Reed
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    202.564.5036
    reed.lucy [at] epa.gov
  • Chris Simmers
    New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
    603.271.2961
    chris.simmers [at] oit.nh.gov
  • Joe Wilson
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    202.564.2867
    wilson.joe [at] epa.gov

NOB Calls and Meetings

Upcoming

  • January 17, 2012
  • February 14, 2012
  • March 13, 2012
  • April 10, 2012
  • May 8, 2012
  • June 5, 2012
  • July 3, 2012
  • July 31, 2012
  • August 28, 2012
  • September 25, 2012
  • October 23, 2012
  • November 20, 2012
  • December 18, 2012

Summaries

For older summaries, please contact Greg McNelly at gmcnelly [at] ecos.org.

NOB Documents

NOB Operating Procedures

The NOB uses the following guidelines when making decisions during member absences:

  • At least one Co-Chair must be present at every Board call or meeting and for each decision made by the Board.
  • The NOB can make decisions even if not all participants are present, provided that a quorum is met and at least one NOB Co-Chair is present.
  • The Co-Chairs may designate other members of the Board as acting Co-Chairs. The Board will not accept proxy members from outside of the Board.

If the NOB members feel that additional technical expertise is required to provide input or background information for a call or meeting, they can choose to invite appropriate experts.

NOB Decision Memoranda

The NOB will use Network Decision Memoranda to formalize all decisions. Eventually, many of these memoranda will be incorporated into broader Exchange Network guidance documents.

All Network Decision Memoranda will be released to the Network community through Network Alerts. The decisions reflected in the Memoranda are effective upon their release.

2006-01: Exchange Network XML Namespaces (Revised 3/31/2006)

2005-03: Valid Literal Representations, Use, and Interpretation of XML Schema Boolean Type Elements (Revised 3/31/2006)

2005-02: Shared Schema Component Usage

2005-01: Parameter Encoding for Query and Solicit Methods

NOB Decision-making Procedures

The NOB will set aside a length of time at each call or meeting to review new issues and discuss documents submitted for NOB review. If an issue is pressing or considered to be non-controversial, however, the NOB Co-chairs can submit it to the full NOB for consideration via e-mail (known as the expedited decision-making process). These traditional and expedited decision-making processes are defined as follows:

  • Traditional: A specified block of time for discussing issues and deciding resolution paths for those issues will be set aside at each NOB call or meeting. A quorum of six is needed (with two State and two EPA members present and a Co-chair in attendance), and a majority of those present must approve of the decision.
  • Expedited: Decisions on resolution paths for issues are made via e-mail, with a minimum of a 72-hour review period. At least 6 NOB members must assent, with no members dissenting; at least two of the assenting members must be State members, and two must be EPA members. Any issue being vetted via the expedited decision-making process must include a proposed solution. The proposal cannot be amended via e-mail; should any amendments be proposed, the NOB should move the issue to the traditional decision-making process. Any member of the NOB can request that an issue be moved to the traditional decision-making process at any time.