The attacks on 9/11 underscored the fed. government¿s need to facilitate terrorism-related info. sharing among gov¿t., private sector, and foreign stakeholders. In response, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act mandated the creation of the Info. Sharing Environment (ISE), which is an approach for the sharing of terrorism-related info. A Program Manager oversees ISE development with assistance from the Info. Sharing Council, a forum for 16 info. sharing officials from fed. agencies and dep¿ts. This is a report on: (1) what actions have been taken to guide the design and implementation of the ISE; and (2) what efforts have been made to report on progress in implementing the ISE. Includes recommendations. Illustrations.

Information technology is a powerful tool for meeting environmental objectives and promoting sustainable development. This collection of papers by leaders in industry, government, and academia explores how information technology can improve environmental performance by individual firms, collaborations among firms, and collaborations among firms, government agencies, and academia. Information systems can also be used by nonprofit organizations and the government to inform the public about broad environmental issues and environmental conditions in their neighborhoods. Several papers address the challenges to information management posed by the explosive increase in information and knowledge about environmental issues and potential solutions, including determining what information is environmentally relevant and how it can be used in decision making. In addition, case studies are described and show how industry is using information systems to ensure sustainable development and meet environmental standards. The book also includes examples from the public sector showing how governments use information knowledge systems to disseminate "best practices" beyond big firms to small businesses, and from the world of the Internet showing how knowledge is shared among environmental advocates and the general public.

This document, developed in consultation with the Information Sharing Council (ISC), represents an interim implementation plan and serves as a roadmap for developing the comprehensive implementation plan for the ISE, which is expected to be submitted to the Congress in July 2006. In the past four years, the Administration has taken significant steps toward advancing our ability to share terrorism information. Through Executive Orders 13311 and 13356, the Administration laid the foundation for improving information sharing. On October 25, 2005, President Bush added to this foundation by publishing Executive Order 13388, "Further Strengthening the Sharing of Terrorism Information to Protect Americans." That order makes clear the President's intent to ensure that the heads of all Federal departments and agencies who possess or acquire terrorism information shall promptly give access to the terrorism information to the head of each other agency that has counterterrorism functions unless directed otherwise by the President or are forbidden from doing so because of statutory and other legal restrictions. In parallel with these efforts, Congress enacted three laws providing the U.S. Government with greater authority for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating terrorist information: the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, the Homeland Security Act of 2002, and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA). In addition, the Administration has adopted the majority of information sharing recommendations put forth by the Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction. Today, the sharing of terrorism information takes place within multiple sharing environments within individual communities of interest such as law enforcement; homeland security; State, local, and tribal; defense; intelligence; diplomatic, and the private sector.