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Monitoring Data Checking Software

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The Monitoring Data Checking Software is a tool developed by EPA's Clean Air Markets Division to allow regulated industry and State agencies to enter, analyze, print and export electronic monitoring plan, certification and quality assurance data and to evaluate hourly emissions data for the Acid Rain Program and monitoring under Subpart H. The software also allows regulated sources to submit monitoring plan and certification data to EPA via ftp.

MDC performs the following tasks:

  1. Imports monitoring plan data (RTs 500+), QA test data (RT 600+) and extension/exemption records (RTs 695-699) from EDR v2.0, v2.1, or v2.2 files. Produces import report if any errors were found that resulted in data rejection or modification for storage in MDC database.

  2. Allows entry of data directly into data entry screens for MP (RT 100+, 500+), QA (RT 600+) test and extension/exemption records and also compliance certification records (RTs 900+).

  3. Evaluates completeness of monitoring plans, quality assurance tests and extension/exemption records.

  4. Compares monitoring plan records between two EDR files or between MDC data and an EDR file.

  5. Prints out reports of data or evaluations.

  6. Exports MP, QA, extension/exemption and RT 900+ data to EDR v2.2 files.

  7. Creates LME quarterly reports.

  8. MDC Hourly Module:

    • Imports hourly data from EDR file(s) into temporary database. Analyzes, views and charts the hourly emissions data for SO2, CO2, O2, NOx, Flow and heat input. Also calculates and displays summary data for daily, monthly and quarterly time periods.
    • Checks hourly emissions calculations. Relies on the monitoring plan and RATA test data in MDC for these calculations. Calculates cumulative emissions to compare to values reported in RTs 301 and 307.
    • Checks to determine the quality assurance status (with respect to RATAs, Linearities and required fuel flowmeter tests) of measurements reported for specific hours and monitors. Uses the ongoing quality assurance test data and extension/exemption records contained in MDC for this analysis.
    • Archives hourly data calculations and QA status for quick retrieval.

  9. While its use is not required by EPA, MDC-FTP allows submission of monitoring plan data and cert/recert test data directly to EPA's servers using the Internet and FTP protocols. Prior to exporting and submitting the data to EPA, MDC performs checks and informs the user if critical errors were identified.  This allows the user to get immediate feedback on the accuracy of their submission.  All other features will work regardless of your decision to use MDC FTP.

Electronic Audits of Appendix D and Appendix E Data

Beginning with the first quarter of 2006 EDR submissions, the Clean Air Markets Division (CAMD) began conducting comprehensive quarterly electronic audits of oil and gas-fired units that use the Appendix D and Appendix E monitoring methodologies in 40 CFR Part 75. The purpose of the audits is to ensure that these units are up to date on all of their required quality-assurance tests, i.e., fuel flowmeter accuracy tests, primary element inspections, and Appendix E NOx emission tests (as applicable). In view of this, EPA recommends that you conduct an in-house audit of the Appendix D and E monitoring systems at your facilities to ensure that each monitoring will be "in-control" when the first quarter, 2006 audit is performed. To assist you in finding potential problems prior to the audit and to help you resolve any problems that may be identified by the audit, the following tools and information are provided:

Downloading CAMD Monitoring Plan and QA Test data files. These are updated export files from CAMD's MDC database, which will enable you to compare your Appendix D and E monitoring plan and QA test data against the corresponding information in EPA’s database. These files include Appendix D and E data going back five years, as well as quarterly operating hour and fuel usage data that are needed by the evaluation routines.

CAIR Information


Additional information on how to submit files for CAIR NOx and CAIR NOx Ozone Season units can be found at:


MDC Files

The current version of MDC is Version 4.2.58, revised as of May 7, 2008. This version of MDC supersedes, MDC v4.2.57 (posted in May, 2006), and supports the January 24, 2008, revisions to §75.74(c)(2) affecting ozone season only reporters beginning in 2008. This version of MDC also includes other minor fixes to "bugs" and problems that were reported in the previous version. The changes and fixes are detailed in the "Release Notes" document, available below.

Notes: This software is offered for free. It may be used without any license.

General Information


CAMD Monitoring Plan and QA Test Data

This section of the MDC page has been added to provide access to the current monitoring plan and quality assurance test data stored in the CAMD’s MDC database. These "MDC CAMD Export Files", which are available by clicking on the link below, were generated by exporting monitoring plan and quality assurance test data for each facility in the CAMD MDC database. Facilities choosing to obtain and use their MDC CAMD Export files should:

  1. Protect (i.e., back up) the data currently in your local version of MDC before loading the CAMD Files into MDC, by following Steps 1-5 of the Instructions document provided below.

    Instructions for using CAMD MDC Export Files (PDF) (2 pp., 12 K)

    After you have followed these Steps, Click here to begin downloading files.

  2. Import the CAMD Export file(s) into MDC local by following Steps 6 and 7 in the Instructions document.

  3. As described in Step 8 of the Instructions document, import the current quarter’s quarterly reports, monitoring plan information and QA test data, and run MDC Hourly evaluations. Doing so should give the same MDC checking results that CAMD will generate when it performs the quarterly electronic audits.

  4. Compare your protected data to the CAMD files, focusing on the key monitoring plan records and recent QA tests that potentially impact the emissions data and the QA status for the current quarter.

Note that CAMD will be making these Export files available once each quarter, about two weeks before the each submission period begins. If you have any questions, you may either contact Kim Nguyen at the US EPA by email at nguyen.kim@epa.gov or by phone at (202) 343-9102, or Perrin Quarles Associates by email at mdc@pqa.com or by phone at (434) 979-3700.

Request a Token for MDC-FTP

To submit MP/QA data by FTP, the facility representative (DR, ADR, AAR or AAAR) must request a "token" from EPA. The token is an encrypted file which is uniquely associated with a person who is a representative or alternate representative for the Acid Rain or NOx Budget Programs. If you are the representative for the facility, the token authenticates you and this submission. If you are not the representative for the facility, the token indicates that the representative has authorized you to be his or her agent for purposes of monitoring plan and recertification submissions.

Software Requirements

For more detailed information on the use of the software and the criteria applied to the data during the import and evaluation process see the helpfile distributed with and accessed through the software.

The installation software can be installed under Windows 95 (or higher), Windows NT, or Windows 2000. For more detailed information on the operational requirements and the installation of the software, consult the Installation Instructions (available below).

The software provides a standard Windows-based, mouse-driven, point and click user interface. It is network-ready and can be used simultaneously by more than one user.

If you have technical questions about the installation or use of the software, contact Perrin Quarles Associates, Inc., Charlottesville, Virginia, 434-979-3700, e-mail mdc@pqa.com. If you have air pollution program implementation related questions about the software, contact Kim Nguyen, U.S. EPA, Clean Air Markets Division, 202-343-9102, e-mail nguyen.kim@epa.gov.  

This introduction and more details about the software may be found in the "Getting Started" documents available below.

FLOW RATE Calculation Software


MDC 4.2 Training

There is no training scheduled at this time. However, the following self-study tutorials are available:

If you need assistance installing MDC, please contact PQA at (434) 979-3700. If you wish to obtain the tutorials, send an E-mail request to mdc@pqa.com, to the attention of Nat Rogers. Specify which tutorial(s) you want and include your mailing address.

If you have questions about MDC training or comments about the software, please contact Kim Nguyen at (202) 343-9102 or nguyen.kim@epa.gov

 

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