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• Writing
• Production/Pre-Production References
• EPA Manuals and Miscellaneous References
• EPA Regulations
• EPA Printing Management Circulars

Writing

EPA On-line Resources

• AP Stylebook, via the EPA Intranet: an on-line version of the Stylebook (copyright 2003) is available to EPA employees with access to the EPA Intranet.
• EPA's Product Review Site: explains product development and review for all media, including print, Web, audio-visual, and displays.

External to EPA On-line Resources

Some of the following links exit the site  Exit

• U.S. Government Printing Office Style Manual: the GPO's printer stylebook contains rules for preparing products to be printed by the GPO:
• AP Stylebook's Frequently Asked Questions: the Associated Press Stylebook's on-line resource for questions and answers.
• Merriam-Webster's On-line Resources: includes a dictionary, thesaurus, Spanish-English dictionary, word of the day and more.
• Plain Language: This U.S. government site provides guidance/instruction and training materials for writing in plain language across the federal government.

Print Resources

• The Associated Press Stylebook, 2007, The Associated Press publisher
• The Elements of Style, by William Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White, Fourth Edition, 2000, Allyn & Bacon
• Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th Edition, 1998, Merriam-Webster publisher

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Production/Pre-Production References

United States Code and Federal Government Regulations

• Title 44 of the United States Code, Public Printing and Documents, contains the broad legal framework for all Government publishing.
• Joint Committee on Printing, Government Printing and Binding Regulations, contains the authority for Government printing and binding.
• OMB Circular A-25 describes free distribution of Government documents.

EPA Orders and Transmittals

• Order 1000.25, Use of Recycled Paper (PDF) (1 pg, 55 K) Intranet, states: "...contractors use recycled paper for all reports required for delivery to the Agency."
• Order 1015.1B, EPA Identification Signs at Project Sites (PDF) (2 pp, 97 K) Intranet, applies to "sites of projects which are operated or sponsored by EPA and applies to publicly visible construction site and demonstration project". It prohibits the appearance of "names of Program Offices".
• Order 1015.2A, EPA Seal and Agency Identifier (PDF) (4 pp, 144 K) Intranet, governs "visual communications" and emphasizes: "...all organizational units use...this order and those in the EPA Graphic Standards System Handbook..." It names the Director of the Office of Public Awareness (now, Office of Public Affairs) as responsible for:implementation and continuous management of the EPA Graphic Standards System including supplements and revisions to the standards handbook and the granting or denying of exceptions. This Order states in part:

3a.Use of the Official Agency Seal will continue on all stationery and on flags, buildings, and project identifications signs. Use of the Seal is optional on calling cards and official Agency reports, such as reports to Congress, foreign governments, and other Federal agencies.

3b.The Agency will use the Agency Identifier on all brochures and other printed matter.

3c.This Agency will not use any visual identification forms other than those in this Order.

The Order also prohibits the use of EPA symbols for commercial purposes or for promotion or sale of private goods/services.

• Order 1440.7, Hazard Communications (PDF) (7 pp, 378 K) Intranet, establishes minimum requirementsfor the hazard communication program.00.4A, EPA Publication Review Procedures, establishes policy and procedural requirements for the review of materials published or issued by the EPA and that the aforementioned have been developed using methodology which will achieve high quality results. This order seeks to clarify EPA responsibilities for information published or issued and provides for the expeditious approval of publications. With regard to decentralization, it empowers senior staff at Office and Regional level with responsibility for 'substance, form and policy implications of materials and provides these officials with wide latitude for them to establish internal review procedures and controls for quality and provides for use of a formal concurrence form. With regard to centralization, it requires forwarding of any material that has policy implications to the Office of External Affairs, a.k.a. Office of Public Affairs.
• Order 2510.1, Policy for the Procurement of Employee Business Cards (PDF) (5 pp, 341 K) Intranet, provides guidance on using EPA appropriated funds to procure employee business cards.
• Order 4800.1A1, EPA Policy for Providing Wearing Apparel to Employees (PDF) (5 pp, 55 K) Intranet
• EPA Information Policy, EPA Classification No. 2182.0, CIO Transmittal No. 08-003, Children's Privacy and Children's Copyright, protects the privacy of children.
• EPA Information Policy, EPA Classification No. 2181.0, CIO Transmittal No. 08-002, Posting Copyrighted Works on EPA Web Site, established EPA policy regarding the appropriate use of copyrighted works.
• EPA Information Policy, EPA Classification No. 2171.0, CIO Transmittal No. 08-006, Information Access Policy, describes coordination publications with GPO and how EPA must also submit government-sponsored scientific, technical, engineering and related business information to the National Technical Information Service as required by federal law, regulation or policy.
• EPA Information Policy, EPA Classification No. 2180, Web Governance and Management, establishes policy for EPA to operate and maintain a public access Web site to assist in fulfilling the Agency's mission. NSCEP maintains the web site for all of EPA's publications.

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EPA Manuals and Miscellaneous References

• Communications Manual, No. 1500 (PDF) (27 pp, 156 K) Intranet
• Contracts Management Manual, Section 13.3, use of the Government bankcard for printing. NOTE: this manual has been superseded by the EPA Acquisition Guide (EPAAG) Intranet
• Contracts Management Manual, Section 13.2, Procurement of Novelty Items for Distribution to the Public and/or to EPA Employees provides guidance regarding the purchase of novelty items to be distributed to the general public and/or to EPA employees. NOTE: this manual has been superseded by the EPA Acquisition Guide (EPAAG) Intranet
• Printing Manual 4822 (PDF) (105 pp, 1.36 MB) Intranet describes the policies and procedures for the preparation, procurement and distribution of printed and other reproduced written materials by EPA employees.
• "Promotional Communications for EPA, Guidance for EPA Staff," May 2008, produced by OPA. This manual sets forth policy and guidance for the use of promotional products in EPA communications programs.
• "EPA Best Practices Guide for Conferences," November 12, 1998, co-chaired by OCIR, OSWER and OW and produced by the Conference Guidance Workgroup, this manual describes printing of conference materials.
• EPA Memorandum dated January 19, 2001, issued by the EPA Deputy Administrator, describes EPA policy for environmental standards for EPA paper and publications.

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EPA Regulations

• Printing, composition, camera copy, desktop publishing, microform, duplication and requirement definitions;
• Prohibitions;
• Affirmative requirements for double-sided coping and use of recycled paper;
• Permitted contractor activities;
• Violations; and
• Flowdown provision.

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EPA Printing Management Circulars

Circular 02-03, EPA/202/N-92/004, describes the policy regarding the use of coated paper stocks.

Circular 03-03, EPA/202/N-92/004 (PDF) (4 pp, 148 K) Intranet, describes use of the Government bankcard for photocopying needs.

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