About Clearinghouse Web Services

"Web Services" is a new approach to sharing information between web sites, which uses off the shelf web server technology to allow organizations to share information from one database to another. Put in simple terms, web services allows you to gain access to the data in the Clearinghouse, and re-use it for other purposes. In this mode, the Clearinghouse acts as a "wholesale" provider of compliance assistance information, and your web site as the "retailer." You gain access to the Clearinghouse's database of more than 5,000 web links, but retain the ability to show just a subset of them, to reformat them, or use them in any way you see fit.

The current list of supported web services is listed below.

• REMOTE_SEARCH This web service provides access to most of the search functionality available on our Advanced Search Page. It allows you to export data from the Clearinghouse in a variety of formats, including comma separated variables (CSV - used by most spreadsheet programs) and WDDX (used by many Cold Fusion web sites). Use this service to download your own copy of the Clearinghouse database, or to provide a "Search the Clearinghouse" feature to your web site. You may search by keywords or Clearinghouse topics.
  • Documentation: http://cfpub2.epa.gov/clearinghouse/webservices/about_remote_search.cfm
  • Service: http://cfpub2.epa.gov/clearinghouse/webservices/remote_search.cfm

Additional web services are being considered for future implementation. You can suggest features or services you'd like to see through our user feedback form

Who's Using Clearinghouse Web Services?

The following organizations are known to be using Clearinghouse web services on their web sites.

Table 1. Clearinghouse Web Service Partners
	SectorStar is operated by the Global Environmental Technology Foundation (GETF) for the US EPA OPEI. It provides information about environmental innovation in sector-based format. SectorStar provides users with the ability to include Clearinghouse data in their search of the SectorStar site.
	ChemAlliance is one of the EPA-OECA funded Sector-based Compliance Assistance Centers. ChemAlliance will be implementing a "Search the Clearinghouse" feature in December, 2002 to augment their web links database.

If you have a new or innovative use for these services you'd like to share with others, please contact Scott Butner.

For More Information

If you would like more information about how to implement Clearinghouse web services, please contact Scott Butner at 509-372-4946 (scott.butner@pnl.gov).