Wondering how the EPA came to its latest decision? The information is now publicly available. On Thursday, March 25, 2010, the EPA released its Health and Environmental Research Online (HERO) database, providing access to the scientific studies used in making key regulatory decisions. Included among those studies now online are the agency's review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six major pollutants, and the determination of danger behind the agency's greenhouse gas control plans.

The database includes more than 300,000 scientific articles including the authors, titles, dates and abstracts. Using a keyword search, anyone can see information from the articles that were used to develop specific risk assessments. HERO includes peer-reviewed literature used by the agency to develop its Integrated Science Assessments (ISA) that feed into the NAAQS review. It also includes references and data from the Integrated Risk Information System, or IRIS.

"The HERO database strengthens our science and our transparency – two pillars of our work at EPA. Giving the public easy access to the same information EPA uses will help open the lines of communication, increase knowledge and understanding, and open the doors of EPA," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "Americans have a right to know the background of decisions that affect their lives and livelihoods. We're taking a big step forward in opening government to the people."

Visit the HERO database at www.epa.gov/hero.