This section contains answers to the most frequently asked questions received at the NEMI Website as well as an index of topics covered on this site. If you cannot find the answer to your question in these FAQ pages, please contact us directly.

Click on the category links below to go to the answers. 

Basic Search Help

Definitions of Terms

Whom do I contact if I need help?

Web Site Content, Access and Linking

• Can I get the full text of methods online?
• How many methods are available on the site?
• Can I purchase individual methods?
• What is the Portable Document Format (PDF)?
• When is the information on this Web site updated?
• What content and features are available to whom?
• Can I create a link to NEMI from my own Web pages?
• What browsers can I use to best view this site?
• How can I reach the Methods Board to find out about membership and Board activities? 

Copyright and Permissions

• Whom do I contact for permission to use copyrighted materials?
• How do I order paper reprints of methods?

Methods submission, website updates, feedback

• How do I get my organizations' method(s) published in NEMI?
• How do I get notification of updates of new methods and/or functionality of the NEMI website?
• How do I send feedback about the NEMI site? 

Basic Search Help

Quick/Advanced Search

1.       Search by Analyte name: There are two ways to search for methods by analyte name:

• Option 1: Type the exact analyte into the text box next to "Analyte Name:" Spelling must be exact.
• Option 2: Click on the button labelled "Find an analyte by Name or Code...": this option allows you to search the complete analyte name database in NEMI, including synonyms, either by complete name or partial name with the use of "wild card" characters (% sign). To use this option, first click on the "Find..." icon above the text box. As an example of the usage of wild cards, if you type "nitr%" (w/o the quotes), the search will return all analytes in the database beginning with "nitr", including nitrite, nitrate, nitrogen, etc. Including a wildcard (%) at the beginning of a partial analyte name (for example, "%form") will return all analytes in the database ending in "form".

2.       CAS number search: Search by analyte code (*usually the CAS number for chemicals; may be an identifier from another system in some cases). Need to include dashes in CAS number; i.e., 14797-55-8. You need to type in the exact CAS number or use the "Find an Analyte by Name or Code..." button to search by partial strings as detailed in 1 above.

3.      General Search

• Look for methods under general categories, including media (air, water, soil, etc.), subcategory (organic, radiochemical, etc.), instrumentation, and source.
• Using this option you can also select the method number from a dropdown list.
  
  

Need a method approved for drinking water or wastewater regulations? Start here.

Browse all Methods

This option, available from the NEMI home page, retrieves a list of all methods currently in the database, and are linked to method summary information.

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Whom do I contact if I need help?

Q:   Whom do I contact if I need help accessing the site or to contact NEMI or the Methods Board?
A:   Although there is not an official help desk for NEMI, help regarding technical problems with the use of this site is available within the United States at 608-821-3869 during regular business hours Monday through Friday, with exceptions for Federal holidays. There are occasions when no one will be available; however, if you leave a message your call will be returned.

Contact information for the methods is provided in each method's Method Summary Information page.

You also may submit inquiries via Feedback.

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Web Site Content, Access, and Linking

Q:   How do I use NEMI to select the right method for my application?
A:   NEMI contains method summaries that include all available information, including literature citations, from which to make a scientific comparison of one method versus another, in terms of their ability to meet project-specific requirements. Many of the methods, especially the older ones, do not have information available for all of the fields; however, when information is available, it is included in the database. In fact, the absence of critical information is, in itself, useful for methods comparison. If, for example, among several methods available for consideration for a particular analyte, some are missing important QA/QC metadata information and others have this data, the methods having this information will tend to be the methods of choice, all other criteria having been met.

At present (December, 2006), NEMI contains primarily analytical laboratory methods. It is planned that field collection methods will be added in the near future. The selection of a method involves more than comparing cost, performance data, and detection level. To assist in the process, the Methods and Data Comparability Board is working on an expert system.

Q:   How can I access the full text of methods online?
A:   Users receive access to freely download the full text of the method, in PDF format, for publicly available methods from EPA, USGS, and DOE. Private organizations that have submitted methods for inclusion in NEMI generally sell their methods. Links to websites for these organizations are included on the Method Summary Page.

Q:   How many methods are available on the site?
A:   The total number is continually growing. Check the "What's New" page to see recent counts of methods by various categories.

Q:   What is the Portable Document Format (PDF)?
A:   The Portable Document Format (PDF) of a document is a duplicate electronic copy of the printed original. Items in PDF can be viewed and printed using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader available for downloading from Adobe Systems, Inc. PDFs are protected by copyright just as the rest of journal content and should not be posted on other Web sites.

Q:   When is the information on this Web site updated?
A:   The Web site is updated at irregular intervals. In order to be notified of updates to the site, see the help section entitled Methods submission, website updates, feedback.

Q:   What content and features are available to whom?
A:   Users receive free access to all method summaries. Access to full-text PDF files of public methods are available to download directly from NEMI. Private organizations are linked from the Method Summary Page for those methods that are available for sale.

Q:   Can I create a link to NEMI from my own Web pages?
A:   Yes. NEMI is freely available to the public at http://www.nemi.gov/. Below is HTML code you may cut and paste to an appropriate spot in your web page.

The National Environmental Methods Index (NEMI) at <a href="www.nemi.gov">www.nemi.gov</a> - a free, web-based, searchable compendium of environmental methods

Q:   What browsers can I use to best view this site?
A:   This Web site is best viewed with the latest versions of any quality Internet browser. Please let us know of any compatibility issues or other access issues you may encounter.

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Copyright and Permissions

Q:   Whom do I contact for permission to use copyrighted materials?
A:   All information on this site is public property. No permission is required to download methods from this site.

Q:   How do I order paper or electronic reprints of articles?
A:   Paper copies may be available from the source organization. PDF files are formatted to print on any computer printer; it may be a good idea to check the number of pages in a method if you are unsure if you really need a paper copy as some methods are very long.

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Methods submission, website updates, feedback

Q:   How do I get my organizations' method(s) published in NEMI?
A:  Method information may be submitted by any public or private organization for consideration of inclusion. Guidelines for acceptance include: Public availability of the published full method by a governmental or private sector publisher. This includes methods that are associated with proprietary analytical instruments or equipment, copyrighted methods that are sold, and methods that support the determinative step (e.g., methods for sample collection, sample preparation, or in-situ analysis). Publication may be with a governmental or private sector publisher, and includes both printed and electronic formats. Methods that are published as research articles in journals or books are acceptable if procedures and performance are well documented, and there is evidence that the method has been successfully applied to a large number of environmental samples.

Templates are being developed to facilitate submission of method information, with all designated mandatory fields completed.

Q:   How do I get notification of updates of new methods and/or functionality of the NEMI website?
A:   Send your email address to Dan Sullivan (djsulliv@usgs.gov) and you will be added to a mailing list for automatic updates. (In the future there will be an online form to automatically sign up for updates)

Q:   How do I send feedback about the NEMI site? 
A:   Use the Feedback Form or send email to nemi@usgs.gov

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