Meet the CIOs: EPA

EPA: Al Pesachowitz

AL PESACHOWITZ
Environmental Protection Agency
West Tower, 401 M St. S.W. #1111
Washington, D.C. 20460
Phone: 202-260-4600
Fax: 202-260-0835
E-mail: pesachowitz.al@epamail.epa.gov

Career Highlights:

1971-96: Various EPA posts, including budget director, IRM and acting assistant administrator for administration and resources management

IT Budget (fiscal years):
1996: $360 million
1997: $380 million
1998: $386 million (est.)

Priority Projects:

• One-Stop Reporting - consolidating and streamlining reporting by regulated entities to reduce reporting burdens and improve data quality.
• Right-to-Know Initiative - providing the public with easier access to environmental information.
• Year 2000 Solutions.

Biggest Challenges:

"Implementing ITMRA well, and harmonizing it with the planning and performance components of the Government Performance and Results Act, will require significant changes in how government does business. Many of these changes will be cultural in their effect and will not occur overnight."

Management Approach:

"In 1995, we created an executive steering committee for information resources management, which now serves as the investment review board for our IT investment management function under ITMRA."

On CIOs:

"EPA has taken the role of CIO very seriously and created the formal CIO position almost a year in advance of ITMRA's passage. The agency's senior management team has long seen the value of information as a strategic asset in protecting the environment. Management also recognizes the importance of making wise use of our IT investment dollars to further our mission goals. If CIOs across government can maintain a mission-oriented focus and avoid the trap of technology for technology's sake, I believe the agency and departmental CIOs will be widely accepted."

Hottest Technologies:

"The Internet is enabling EPA's public access and data-sharing programs to thrive and expand. We're also paying more attention to the information security issues and technologies that can help us protect our information assets and infrastructure. The agency also is expanding its use of electronic commerce to support business activities such as small purchases and procurements. It also uses electronic data interchange as a tool to support its environmental programs in areas such as compliance reporting."