How to Use the EPA ECHO (Enforcement & Compliance) MCP in VS Code Copilot

Q: How does my team use the EPA ECHO (Enforcement & Compliance) server with VS Code Copilot?

Once the server is configured in .vscode/mcp.json, any team member can open Copilot Chat and make a request. For example, "Copilot, find drinking water systems with violations in Florida."

Q: Can VS Code Copilot help me find facilities that violate multiple EPA regulations using the EPA ECHO (Enforcement & Compliance) data?

Yes. You can ask Copilot to first run searchairfacilities and then searchwaterfacilities for the same geographic area, then ask it to identify any facilities that appear on both lists.

Equip your whole team with EPA compliance data inside VS Code. Search facilities and pull reports with Copilot.

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Connect EPA ECHO (Enforcement & Compliance) MCP to VS Code Copilot

Create your Vinkius account to connect EPA ECHO (Enforcement & Compliance) to VS Code Copilot and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup EPA ECHO (Enforcement & Compliance) with VS Code Copilot

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Team-Wide Access to EPA Data

Add this MCP Server to your project's `.vscode/mcp.json` file and commit it. Now, every developer on your team gets the same set of EPA data tools in Copilot Chat, instantly. No individual setup needed. This means your entire team can use tools like `search_all_facilities` and `get_detailed_facility_report` with consistent results. It's perfect for building environmental monitoring apps or doing collaborative research, ensuring everyone is working from the same playbook.

Investigate Violations Without Leaving VS Code

When you need to check a facility's record, just open Copilot Chat. Ask it to "find stationary sources with Clean Air Act violations in zip code 77002" using the `search_air_facilities` tool. Copilot will return a list of facilities right in the chat panel. You can then pick one and ask for a full history with `get_detailed_facility_report`. All the data you need is right there in the editor, next to your code.

Drill Down into Specific Environmental Data

This server isn't just for general searches. You can target specific regulations. Use `search_hazardous_waste_facilities` to find RCRA-regulated sites or `search_drinking_water_systems` for SDWA compliance checks. This lets your team build specialized features. For instance, one dev can work on a water quality module using `search_water_facilities`, while another builds a hazardous waste tracker. The shared MCP configuration keeps everyone in sync.

Setup guide

Set up EPA ECHO (Enforcement & Compliance) MCP in VS Code Copilot

Prerequisites

VS Code 1.99 or later with GitHub Copilot extension
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open MCP configuration

Open the Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P / Ctrl+Shift+P) and run "MCP: Add Server". Select HTTP (Streamable) as the server type. VS Code will create .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace.
2

Add the EPA ECHO (Enforcement & Compliance) MCP

Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into your .vscode/mcp.json. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Switch to Agent mode

Open Copilot Chat (Cmd+Shift+I / Ctrl+Shift+I) and switch to Agent mode using the dropdown. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode — they do not appear in Edit or Ask modes.
4

Verify the connection

In the Copilot Chat input, type # to list available tools. You should see the EPA ECHO (Enforcement & Compliance) tools listed. Try asking: "List my recent EPA ECHO (Enforcement & Compliance) transactions" and Copilot will invoke them automatically.

.vscode/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "epa-echo-enforcement-compliance-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

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Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by EPA ECHO. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about EPA ECHO (Enforcement & Compliance) MCP in VS Code Copilot

Once the server is configured in `.vscode/mcp.json`, any team member can open Copilot Chat and make a request. For example, "Copilot, find drinking water systems with violations in Florida."

Yes. You can ask Copilot to first run `search_air_facilities` and then `search_water_facilities` for the same geographic area, then ask it to identify any facilities that appear on both lists.

Yes. After finding a facility with a search tool, copy its ID and ask Copilot, "Get the detailed report for facility [ID]." It will use `get_detailed_facility_report` to fetch the complete history.

There are seven tools. They cover searching for all facilities, or specifically for air, water, drinking water, and hazardous waste sites. You can also get detailed reports and effluent charts.

The server processes public record data on environmental compliance from the EPA ECHO database, including facility permit numbers and violation statuses. Vinkius secures each request with your unique token, and the server logic runs in a sandboxed environment that's wiped after each session.

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