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ERP Resource Library

What is the ERP Resource Library?

The ERP Resource Library is a compilation of most available ERP tools and materials prepared by states, EPA and third parties (last updated in November 2005). The resources are organized according to type of resource, such as inspector checklists or documents presenting ERP results.

How Do I Use the ERP Resource Library?

Click on any one of the types of resources listed below to visit a subsection dedicated to such materials. In those subsections, resources are organized by state and by ERP sector. When resources are available on other web sites, a hyperlink is provided. Cached versions of all files are provided as well, in case of broken hyperlinks

ERP Development Materials

Materials for ERP Certifiers

Stakeholder Information Materials

Data Management Materials

Results and Evaluations

State Innovation Grants Documents

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General ERP Materials

General ERP materials provide an overview of ERP to those unfamiliar with the program.

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Project Schedule Overview/Gantt Chart

Project schedules and Gantt charts identify specific tasks to be completed over the course of ERP development and implementation; how long each task will take; when each task will be completed; and sometimes more detailed information. You may also find examples of project schedules in the workplans of states that have won innovation grants from EPA to do ERPs.

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Environmental Business Practice Indicators (EBPIs)

EBPIs are industry-specific performance measures used to provide a snapshot of facilities' environmental performance before and after certification, and to track facility and sector performance over time. As well as in the resources below, you may also see examples of indicators in workplans and Quality Assurance Project Plans submitted by State Innoavation Grant recipients.

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Inspector Checklist

The inspector checklist is used to assess environmental performance at facilities. Inspector checklists typically include general information to identify the facility, key regulatory requirements for the sector, and (in some cases) pollution prevention and best management practices that are not required. The checklist is often more detailed and comprehensive than the self-certification form.

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Statistical Methodology

A statistical methodology is a plan for measuring the environmental performance of facilities based on statistically valid samples of facilities before and after self-certification. In the process of developing a statistical methodology for ERP, states decide how they will design their samples, how many facilities should be in each sample, and how they will analyze facility performance. Aside from the resources listted here, you may also wish to review ERP Quality Assurrance Project Plans, which detail some states' analytic strategies.

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Legislative/Regulatory Materials

In some cases, legislative or regulatory changes are needed to allow ERP implementation, particularly if ERP is mandatory or alters current permitting procedures. In these cases, staff may prepare legislative or regulatory requests describing the changes needed.

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Self-Certification Form

Self-certification forms are checklists of questions that facilities fill out to demonstrate that they understand and are meeting their regulatory requirements, and that they have systems in place to maintain compliance. In some cases, self-certification forms may also encompass pollution prevention and best management practices. Self-certification forms are designed to foster a high level of personal responsibility by facility managers for environmental performance at their facilities.

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Self-Certification Form Instructions

Self-certification form instructions explain to facilities how to complete and submit information in the self-certification package, including the self-certification form and return-to-compliance plan, or non-applicability form.

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Non-Applicability Form

The non-applicability form is used when a facility receives ERP materials, but is not actually in the sector being targeted. In this case, the facility sends back a form certifying that they do not, in fact, operate the type of business that is targeted in ERP. This form allows ERP staff to update their database of facilities. In addition, by asking facilities to formally certify non-applicability, this form offers a way to discourage facilities from casually opting-out of ERP if they should participate in the program.

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Return-to-Compliance Plan

If a facility is not in compliance with regulatory standards at the time of self-certification, a facility official must complete a return-to-compliance (RTC) plan indicating how and when the facility will come back into compliance. This RTC plan is submitted along with a certification statement indicating the compliance status for all applicable certification questions.

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Other Forms

In some cases, states may have additional, sector-specific forms as part of ERP. For example, Massachusetts has a spill or release form.

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Compliance Assistance Workbooks

ERP compliance assistance workbooks are designed as a basis for self-certification. As such, they provide a single document presenting compliance standards and best management practices for all covered media. Workbooks may be comprehensive (covering all relevant requirements) or selective, focusing on key areas of compliance and performance. The best workbooks are written from the facility operator's point of view, often based on day-to-day standard operations for businesses in that sector. The workbooks are stand-alone documents designed to provide an easy and accessible reference for facility operators.

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Compliance Assistance Workshop Materials

Compliance assistance workshop materials are used to teach facility owners or operators about their compliance requirements and how to improve performance at their facilities.

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Compliance Assistance Fact Sheets

In some cases, ERP compliance assistance may include short fact sheets on key issues of concern in the targeted sector.

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Promotional Materials for External Stakeholders

Promotional materials for external stakeholders can include a variety of documents intended to describe ERP to facilities and trade organizations in the targeted sector, as well as community and environmental groups, legislators, and others with an interest in ERP.

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Websites

A wealth of ERP resources are on state or EPA webpages. These other pages may have newer information than the roadmap, in some cases.

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Data Management Planning

ERP databases store ERP inspection and certification data in an electronic format that can be easily queried and analyzed. An ERP data management plan describes how ERP data collected on inspector checklists, self-certification forms, and other forms, will be entered, stored, and analyzed. In some cases, sophisticated rules-based software or optical scanning systems may be used to automate data management, and in these cases the data automation plan maps out how these systems will operate.

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Results

As the name suggests, results are the heart of ERP. The most robust results are typically generated using accepted statistical methods. Below are results from several states in a variety of formats. The thoroughness of the presentation of results depends in some part upon the maturity of the program. Pre-certification statistics represent baseline performance in the targeted sector, measured by way of a statistically valid random sample of facilities before compliance assistance materials and self-certification forms are distributed. Certification statistics describe what facilities say about their own level of performance, measured by way of self-certification forms. Post-certification statistics represent the level of performance in the targeted sector after self-certification takes place. Post-certification statistics generally include comparisons to pre-certification statistics, in order to measure the impact of ERP.

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Evaluations

In the ERP Roadmap, the distinction between "evaluations" and "results" depends on who conducts the analysis. While results are understood as performance measures or indicators generated by the agency implementing the ERP, evaluations are examinations of an ERP by an outside party.

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Pre-Proposals (2005) -- State Innovation Grants

In 2002, EPA's National Center for Environmental Innovation began inviting states to apply for funding to implement innovative projects. Since then, EPA has awarded State Innovation Grants to numerous states to conduct Environmental Results Programs.

The pre-proposals from the most recent round of grant selectees for ERP-related projects are presented below. Pre-proposals can be good sources of ideas for ERP strategies, but readers should recognize that pre-proposals are often substantially refined during the grants process to develop final work plans/proposals. Budget details have been redacted from these documents.

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Final Proposals/Workplans -- State Innovation Grants

In 2002, EPA's National Center for Environmental Innovation began inviting states to apply for funding to implement innovative projects. Since then, EPA has awarded State Innovation Grants to numerous states to conduct Environmental Results Programs.

The final workplans/proposals from several ERP grant winners are provided below. These workplans can be good sources of information for project overviews, goals, measures and schedules. Financial information has been redacted from these documents.

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Quality Assurance Project Plans -- State Innovation Grants

In 2002, EPA's National Center for Environmental Innovation began inviting states to apply for funding to implement innovative projects. Since then, EPA has awarded State Innovation Grants to numerous states to conduct Environmental Results Programs.

Draft Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) from several ERP grant winners are provided below. Since the second round of State Innovation Grants, grant recipients have been required to develop QAPPs to govern their collection and analysis of data. QAPPs help ensure that State Innovation Grants projects can be robustly evaluated by recipients and by EPA, to better understand the outcomes of these innovative projects. QAPPs can provide examples of performance measures, analytical/statistical approaches, and data management strategies for ERP.

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