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PDFs, Free Viewers, and Readers to Read and Print EPA Information

These viewers and readers are necessary to read or print certain documents on EPA's website, and are freely available on the Internet via the links below.

On this page:
  • Compressed (.zip) files
  • KML files
  • Media players
    • Quicktime media player
    • Windows media player
  • Microsoft products
    • Excel
    • PowerPoint
    • Publisher
    • Word
  • Portable Document Format (PDF)

Compressed (.zip) Files

Description: .Zip is a file format that supports data compression. A .zip file can contain one or more files or folders that have been compressed.  Many utilities on the web, some of which are free, offer file compression and decompression (also called extraction).
Learn how to compress and uncompress files on Windows operating systems.

KML Files

Description: KML files provide data for map viewers such as ArcGIS Explorer and Google Earth.
File extension: .kml
Viewing: 
  • Download Google Earth
  • Download ArcGIS Explorer

Media Players

Quicktime Media Player

Description: Apple's Quicktime is software that allows Mac and Windows users to play back audio and video on their computers.
Viewing: If you want to view a Quicktime video, download Quicktime Media Player for free.

Windows Media Player

Description: Microsoft's Windows Media Player is software that allows Mac and Windows users to play back audio and video on their computers.
Viewing: If you want to view a Window Media video, download Window Media Player for free.

Microsoft Products

Excel

Description: Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet application written and distributed by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS. It features calculation, graphing tools, pivot tables and a macro programming language called VBA (Visual Basic for Applications). 
File extension: .xls and .xlsx
Viewing:  To view Excel files for free, you can:
  • install and use Excel Online in a web browser, 
  • install and use Excel on your mobile device, or
  • import Excel files into Google Sheets.

PowerPoint

Description: Microsoft PowerPoint is a program for creating and viewing presentations and slide shows. 
File extension: .ppt
Viewing: To view PowerPoint presentations for free, you can:
  • install and use PowerPoint Online in a web browser, 
  • install and use PowerPoint on your mobile device, or
  • import PowerPoint files into Google Slides.

Publisher

Description: Microsoft Publisher is a desktop publishing application. 
File Extension: .pub
Viewing: Microsoft does not provide a free viewer for Publisher. Microsoft does have some suggestions on viewing a Publisher document.

Word

Description: Microsoft Word is a word processing program used to create and edit text documents. Text in Word documents can be modified or copied for use in other applications. Word files can also be imported into Google Docs and edited.
File extension: .doc and .docx
Viewing: To view Word documents for free, you can:
  • install and use Word Online in a web browser, 
  • install and use Word on your mobile device, or
  • importing Word files into Google Docs.

Portable Document Format (PDF)

Description: HTML (the code behind Web pages) cannot maintain all the original formatting and presentation of many documents. In such cases, we use a different format: Portable Document Format (PDF). PDF documents maintain the look of the original document, and they can be viewed on any Macintosh, PC, or Unix computer. How to search for words or phrases in a PDF document.
File extension: .pdf
Viewing: To view PDF documents for free, you can:
  • Download Adobe Reader for Windows, Macintosh, or UNIX systems.
    • Please note that there are other PDF viewers you can use instead.

We suggest that you configure Adobe Reader as a plug-in application for your Web browser. You won't have to wait for a separate application to launch; you can read PDFs directly in your browser. You can start reading the PDF file while it's still downloading. You can also read PDF pages side by side.

Web Policies and Procedures

  • Web Policies and Procedures Resources
  • EPA Web Standards
  • Historical Memoranda
  • Plain Writing
  • EPA Disclaimers
Contact Us About Web Policies and Procedures
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on July 26, 2024
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