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National Service Center for Environmental Publications

EPA Publication Numbering System

The EPA publications numbering system was designed in 1991 to provide easier identification, tracking, and dissemination of publications. Each publication number identifies:

  • The responsible organization producing the publication
  • A specific office/division within the organization
  • An alpha descriptor of the document type
  • Calendar year in which the publication was produced

And the sequential number identifying how many of that type of publication were produced within that particular organization during the calendar year.

Example: 200-B-96-001 indicates a publication from Administration & Resources Management (see Table 1); a reference (see Table 2); produced in 1996; and the first publication of that type issued in the year.


EPA Publication Number Office Codes
Prefix Organization
10x Administrator, Deputy Administrator
11x Office of Administrative Law Judges
12x Science Advisory Board
13x Cooperative Environmental Management
14x Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations
15x Office of Civil Rights
16x Office of International and Tribal Affairs
17x Office of Communications and Outreach
18x Office of Small Business Programs
19x Office of the Chief Financial Officer
20x-22x Office of Administration and Resources Management
23x Office of Policy
26x Office of Environmental Information
27x Regional Operation & State/Local Relations
30x-34x Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
35x Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
36x Office of General Counsel
40x-45x Office of Air and Radiation
50x-55x Office of Land and Emergency Management
56x Brownfields
60x-65x Office of Research and Development
70x-75x Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention
80x-85x Office of Water
90x-91x Regions
950 The responsible organization is unknown

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Media Type Codes for EPA Publications
Code Descriptor
A Article reprinted from other pub, abstracts, book chapters, presentations
B Reference (Bibliography, Glossary, Symposium Papers, Training Guides, Telephone Directories, etc.)
C Computer (CD-I, CD-ROM, Floppy Diskette, etc.)
D Draft
E Exhibit, Display, Booth
F Unbound Publication (Fact Sheet, Leaflet, Bulletin, Flyer, Brochure, etc.)
H Photograph, Filmstrip, Slide, Poster, etc.
J Peer-reviewed Journal
K Bound publication (pamphlet, Booklet, Speech, etc.)
L Laws
M Microfilm, Microfiche
N Periodical (other than peer reviewed journal), Journal, Newsletters, etc.
P Public Comment Draft
Q Unpublished
R Report, Symposium Report, Proceedings
S Summary, Research Brief, Conference Summary, Issue Paper
U Audio
X Internal
V Video
Z Federal Register

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