The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been making several changes to its Web site since it experienced a breach of security in February which resulted in a temporary shut down of the public site.
The result -- a new home page launched in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of Earth Day.
EPA's Internet address may still be the same, www.epa.gov,but the redesigned site offers more environmental information to the tens of millions of visitors who come to the site each month.
As part of the Earth Day-related launch, EPA regional offices around the country are releasing reports detailing environmental progress and public health protections over the last 30 years.
The site retains all of the features that have made it one of the most frequently visited sites among federal agencies, but it now sports a modern text and graphic look.
In March, users logged more than 90 million hits on the site, according to EPA.
A collection of regional environmental progress reports, prepared especially for Earth Day 2000, is available on the home page. The reports are titled "Remember the Past -- Protect the Future."
Each of the reports contains specific detailed information about air, water and land pollution-fighting efforts in the regions.
A variety of state and community-specific information is also available.
"We've made remarkable progress but we can't rest on our success," said EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner. "Our mission to protect public health and the environment, is a mission without end. New challenges loom over the horizon as surely as the new day."
The redesigned epa.gov offers users nine different pathways to access information.
For example, the "Audience" button makes it easier for small businesses, student, concerned citizens and researchers to find material tailored to their needs.
The "Laws and Regulations" button leads the user directly to the major environmental laws and dockets under EPA's jurisdiction. The "Information" button takes users to EPA's hotlines, list servers and clearinghouses.