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Superfund Public Information System (SPIS) User Guide

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INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

1. Insert the CD into the CD or DVD drive. 2. Select the appropriate drive. 3. Double-click on the start.pdf file.

Note: This version of the SPIS CD runs completely from the CD.

Prior versions of the SPIS CD required an installation of files to your PC.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

< IBM or Compatible PC – with a 386SX or higher microprocessor. < 4mb of RAM (8 or higher recommended) < Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98 or higher < Adobe Acrobat Reader with Search 4.0 < SVGA 256-color display (high color (16 bit) or higher recommended) < Display properties, screen area 800 by 600 pixels recommended < Web browser (e.g. Netscape Navigator) and an Internet connection needed for

some features

SPIS CD MENUS

There are three menus on the SPIS CD, as described below:

Menu Option Submenu Option Resulting Display

1. SPIS User Guide Displays the on-line user guide

Disclaimer Explains valid use of the data on this CD

Contact Us Provides contact information

2. What’s New SPIS User Guide Displays the on-line user guide

Disclaimer Explains valid use of the data on this CD

Contact Us Provides contact information

3. RODS RODS Search Displays query box

RODS Map Displays RODS Map that allows you to select a region or select RODS Search

Welcome

QUICK START

To View a ROD

< From the Welcome screen, click on RODS to display the RODS screen.

< Click on RODS Map.

< Click on a Region. left of the screen.

< Expand (click on the +) state, city, and site in the bookmark list to view a list of ROD date(s) for that site.

< Click on a date in the bookmark list. displayed on the right of the screen.

The RODS map is displayed.

The site list for the region is displayed as a bookmark list on the

ROD information for the selected ROD is

< Click on the RODS Menu or RODS Map at the top of the bookmark list to return to the RODS Menu or RODS Map respectively.

To View a Newly Added ROD

< From the Welcome screen, click on What’s New to display the What’s New screen.

< Click on the New RODS, New Amendments, or New ESDs to view a list of new RODS, Amendments, or ESDs respectively.

< Click on any site listed to view its newly added ROD, Amendment, or ESD.

ROD Documents

Sites that require extensive, long-term cleanup are required to have a Record of Decision (ROD) document explaining the options that were considered for site cleanup and the rationale for making the final site cleanup decision. operable units.

Some sites are divided into Operable units are logical parts of a site that require different types of

site cleanup technologies. decisions for a single operable unit, multiple operable units, or the entire site.

There are three types of ROD documents as follows:

• ROD Documents - explain cleanup technology decisions.

• ROD Amendments - document fundamental post-ROD changes. fundamental changes include: change in primary treatment method, change from containment to treatment, or a change in the community preference.

• ROD Explanation of Significant Differences (ESDs) - document significant post-ROD changes. volume/cost, change in disposal location, change in contingent remedy, change in land use or change in the secondary technology.

As a result, a ROD document may explain site cleanup

Examples of

Examples of significant changes include: large increase in

ROD Document Sections

On this CD, ROD documents are divided into two sections: ROD abstracts and the full text ROD. consists of the following:

ROD Date - date the ROD was signed.

Operable Unit - the operable unit(s) that the ROD document addresses.

ROD ID - a unique number used to identify individual ROD documents.

Media - the primary media discussed in the ROD document.

Contaminant - the primary contaminant(s) described in the ROD document.

Abstract - a summary of the full-text ROD document.

Remedy - a summary of the primary remedy(ies) discussed in the ROD document.

The ROD abstract section (ROD ESDs do not have an abstract section).

SEARCH

Users are able to search ROD documents by selecting the Search feature from the RODS menu or RODS map.

To search for a keyword(s) on this CD, a Query box must be accessed. several ways to display the Query box as follows:

• Select Search from the Main Menu screen, and then select RODS Search. RODS Map is displayed. RODS Search to display the Query box.

• Select the Search icon from the Acrobat toolbar.

There are

The Select

• The Query box is displayed.

Type in desired keyword(s) that you want to find.

• Click on the Search button. The Search Results screen is displayed below.

RODS Index Search Results Screen

• Double-click on the desired site.

• Use the Next Highlight and Previous Highlight buttons in the toolbar to move from hit to hit.

To Conduct Advanced Searches:

The Search command allows you to perform a search on PDF documents. You can search for a simple word or phrase, or you can expand your search query by using wild-card characters and operators. You can use the search options to further refine your search.

To Perform a Full-text Search:

<< From the menu bar, choose Edit > Search > Query, or click the Search icon in the toolbar.

The first hit of the specified keyword is displayed.

< Type the text you want to search for in the Query box. be a single word, a number, a term, or a phrase. It can be a word, with or without wild-card characters (*, ?), or any combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. If you use Boolean operators in the text box, enclose any search term that includes and, or, or not in quotes. Phrases.) Clear.

< To refine your search query, select one or more of the search options: Word Stemming, Sounds Like, Match Case, or Proximity. displayed, restore them by choosing File > Preferences > Search, and selecting Show Options. see Setting the Search Options.)

To View Documents Returned from a Search

A search returns a list of indexed documents containing items that match your search query. The results are displayed in the Search Results window. When you open a document in the list, you view only pages containing matches. All the matches on a page

The text that you type in can

(For more information, see Searching for Terms or To clear the Query box and redefine the search, click

If the search options are not

(For information on how these options affect your search query,

are highlighted.

The relevancy ranking of each document in the Search Results list is indicated by a circle icon, and depends in part on the number of occurrences of a search term in a document compared to the total number of words in the document. The degree of fill in the circle indicates the relative frequency of the search term in the document. indicates a higher relative frequency and a partially filled circle indicates a lower relative frequency.

The relevancy ranking also depends on how you defined your search query. the Boolean OR operator between two words or phrases in a search, documents that contain both items have a higher relevancy ranking than documents containing just one item. the higher the relevancy ranking of that document.

To view a document returned from a search:

<< Double-click the document name in the Search Results window to open the

A solid fill

If you use

When you use the Proximity option, the closer the matches are within a document,

document.

< To highlight the next occurrence of a match in the document, click Next Highlight . Previous Highlight .

< To highlight the first occurrence of a match in the next document listed or previous document listed, shift-click Next Highlight or Previous Highlight .

< To view another document, click the Search Results icon to redisplay the list, then double-click the document name.

Setting the Search Options

You can expand your search by using the search options Sounds Like or Word Stemming. Proximity.

To highlight the previous occurrence of a match in a document, click

You can limit your search by using the search options Match Case and

To set the search options, select one or more of the options that appear in the query box:

Word Stemming finds words that contain part (a word stem) of the specified search word. It applies to single words, not phrases; does not apply to words that contain wild-card characters; finds words that end in ing, ed, s, ion, and so on, but not er; and cannot be used with the Match Case option.

Sounds Like finds different spellings for proper names. It applies to single words, not phrases; does not apply to words that contain wild-card characters; and cannot be used with the Match Case option.

Match Case limits the results of the search by finding only those documents that contain words with the same capitalization. terms that use wild-card characters. uppercase, lowercase or mixed-case.

It can be used with a Boolean expression and with Characters matched by wild-card characters can be

Proximity limits the results of simple AND searches to one pair of matches per document—the pair closest together. The matched terms must be within three pages of each other. are within a document, the higher the ranking.

Searching for Terms or Phrases

If your search phrase includes the words and, or, or not used in their ordinary sense (not as a Boolean operator), put the phrase in quotes. The search phrase “once or twice” finds all occurrences of the phrase once or twice, not all occurrences of once and all occurrences of twice as it would without the quotes.

If your search phrase includes punctuation (other than an apostrophe) or special characters (such as @ and *), they are ignored. in-law” or “son in law” finds all occurrences of both son-in-law and son in law.

The closer the matches Proximity affects relevancy ranking in searches.

For example, either of the terms “son-

Expanding Searches

T Use wild-card characters in the search text to increase the number of matches for the text.

T Use an asterisk (*) to match zero, one, or more characters; use a question mark (?) to match any one character.

T Use wild-card characters in a term that is part of a Boolean expression. T Use a Boolean OR operator between two words to return documents containing

either word. T Use the Sounds Like or Word Stemming option to increase the number of matches

for the text.

Limiting Searches

T Use a Boolean NOT operator before a word or search term to exclude documents containing the word or search term.

T Use an exclamation point (!) as another way to specify a NOT search. sure to place a space between the exclamation point and the search item.

T Use a Boolean AND operator between two words to return only documents containing both words.

T Use the Proximity option to limit AND searches. This specifies that words must be in close proximity to each other—within three pages or fewer.

T Use the Match Case option to match exact capitalization.

Using Boolean Operators

To avoid building inaccurate search queries, follow these guidelines:

T When NOT is used with either or both of the AND and OR operators, it is evaluated before either the AND or OR. evolution AND NOT Darwin finds all documents that contain the word evolution but not the word Darwin.

T When you combine AND and OR in the same expression, AND is evaluated before OR. Darwin OR origin AND species finds all documents that contain

However, be

For example,

For example,

Darwin or that contain both origin and species.

T When you use parentheses, you change the default order of evaluation for Boolean operators. (Darwin OR origin) AND species finds all documents that contain either Darwin and species or that contain origin and species. can be nested.

For example, Parentheses

ASSOCIATED REFERENCES/WEB LINKS

EPA Home Page: www.epa.gov Superfund Home Page: www.epa.gov/superfund ROD Abstracts by State: www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/rodsites CERCLIS Sites by State: www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/cursites Archive Information by State: www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/arcsites Superfund Order & Information Line: www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/phonefax Superfund Data Element Dictionary: www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/ded

CONTACT US

To call for help or to make comments please use the contact information below. provide a daytime phone number and an e-mail address.

Margret Brown

Phone: 703-603-8876 Fax 703-603-9505 E-Mail Address: brown.margret@epa.gov Address: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Emergency and Remedial Response (5202G) 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC

Additional inquiries/comments can be made by calling the Superfund Order and Information Line: 703-413-0223 or 800-775-5037.

Please

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