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Electronic Reporting Tool (ERT)

Electronic Stack Testing and Assessment Project

Updated October 5, 2009: Version 3.1 ERT program files and user's manual are available below.
   The spreadsheet template for importing test data to WebFIRE is available below.
The Electronic Reporting Tool (ERT), a Microsoft Access desktop application, is an electronic alternative for paper reports documenting nineteen of EPA's emissions measurement methods for stationary sources. The test methods supported by ERT Version 3 include the following:
  Methods 1 through 4
Method 3A
Method 5
Method 6C
Method 7E
Method 10
Method 17
Method 23
Method 25A
Method 26A		 Method 29
Method 101
Method 101A
Method 201A
Method 202
CT Method 39
CT Method 40
OTM27
OTM28

The pollutants quantified by these test methods include:
- Filterable Particulate Matter
- Condensable Particulate Matter
- Filterable PM10
- Filterable PM2.5
- Carbon Monoxide
- Chlorine, Chloride, Hydrogen Chloride, Total Chloride
- Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
- Sulfur Dioxide
- Metals (Antimony, Arsenic, Barium, Beryllium, Cadmium, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Lead, Manganese, Mercury, Nickel, Phosphorus (yellow or white), Selenium, Silver, Thallium and Zinc)
- Total organic compounds (TOC) (as Carbon, Ethane, Methane, Propane)
- Dioxin/Furan Cogeners
- Coplaner PCB's
- PAH Compounds

The ERT replaces the time-intensive manual preparation and transcription of stationary source emissions test plans and reports currently performed by contractors for emissions sources and the time-intensive manual quality assurance evaluations and documentation performed by State agencies. The ERT provides a format that:
  • Highlights the need to document the key information and procedures required by the existing EPA Federal Test Methods;
  • Facilitates coordination among the source, the test contractor, and the regulatory agency in planning and preparing for the emissions test;
  • Provides for consistent criteria to quantitatively characterize the quality of the data collected during the emissions test;
  • Standardizes the reports; and
  • Provides for future capabilities to electronically exchange information in the reports with facility, State or Federal data systems.
In addition to improving the content and quality of source emissions test reports, the ERT should:
  • Reduce the workload associated with manual transcription of information and data contained in the report;
  • Reduce the resources required to store and access the reports; and
  • Reduce redundant efforts in using the data for multiple purposes.
There are 3 parts to the application: 1) The Application; 2) the Project Data Set; and 3) an Excel Spreadsheet. The Application has all of the screens, reports, calculations and other items necessary to create and distribute the Test Plan and Test Report. The Project Data Set (PDS) contains the Test Plan and Test Report Data. This is the file that will be exchanged between the source test contractor, the client and the State Agency. Each PDS includes information for one test report. When the ERT is started initially, you are prompted to name the PDS that is created automatically in a "Project Data" directory by the ERT. The last PDS used is remembered by the ERT when restarted. There is no limit on the number of PDS files but only one PDS can be opened at a time.
The Excel spreadsheet is the final part of the ERT. This spreadsheet is intended to be used as a replacement for other field data calculation and entry software in the field (or office) to enter the run information. While the spreadsheet functions like most field data collection spreadsheet applications, many groups of cells have been named to exporting critical data. The ERT has the ability to import this data into the selected PDS. To use the ERT, you must use this spreadsheet file, transcribe the data manually or create the appropriate links in your spreadsheet.

The basic work flow is as follows:

  1. Create the Test Plan
  2. Print and attach draft Test Plan into PDS (optional)
  3. Test Plan (via PDS file) is submitted to the Agency
  4. Agency approves or returns (via PDS file) to submitter for revisions
  5. Test Plan (via PDS file) is revised and re-submitted to the Agency
  6. Field data is entered into the ERT Excel Spreadsheet
  7. After test is performed, test and process data is entered into The ERT PDS file
  8. PDS file is submitted to Agency
  9. Agency reviews PDS

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Version 3.1 User's Guide and Program Files October 2009
ERT User's Guide

Reporting Boiler /Commercial Industrial Solid Waste Incineration (CISWI) Information Collection Request (ICR) Source Tests
Webnair recording describing the use of the ERT to document and submit emissions test data for the Boiler MACT and the CISWI Section 129 Information collection requests. The file is a Windows media file. 		ertmanual_v31.pdf (PDF 3M)

ert_webnair.wmv (WMV 100M, 80 minutes)
ERT Application and Spreadsheet
This file includes only the ERT version 3.1 Microsoft Access file.

You must have Microsoft Access 2000 or higher or have previously installed the runtime version (the file immediately below this table row) to run this version of the application.

If this is your first installation of the ERT, you should extract the file ERT3-1.mdb to your desktop or a folder of your choosing (for example "c:\program files\ERT") where you can locate the file to run ERT. To run ERT, double click on ERT3-1.mdb. You may have to modify the security properties of this file by right clicking the file and "Unblock" it. If you are updating the ERT, please read the readme.txt file enclosed in the zip file.

The field data collection spreadsheet are included with the example data base in the file "ertv3exampledata.zip" which is below. The Excel spreadsheet is used to record all of the hardware information and field sampling data, for later importing into the ERT project data set.

The ERT User's Guide is in the file "ertmanual_v31.pdf" above.		 ertv31.zip
(ZIP 1M)
ERT Application and Spreadsheet with Microsoft Access Runtime.
Use this version if you do not have MS Access installed AND you have not previously installed ERT3 or ERT3.1.

This file includes the setup routine that will install the ERT application and the Microsoft Access Runtime program. If you have MS Access installed OR you have installed this Runtime program once, please use the program file above.

The field data collection spreadsheet are included with the example data base in the file "ertv3exampledata.zip" which is below. The Excel spreadsheet is used to record all of the hardware information and field sampling data, for later importing into the ERT project data set.

The ERT User's Guide is in the file "ertmanual_v31.pdf" above.

To run ERT, unzip this this file in a temporary folder and run the SETUP.EXE. After the setup, you can launch ERT from your desktop icon or from the Start Menu. The unzipped files in the temporary folder may be deleted after the setup is run. You may have to modify the security properties of the file "SETUP.EXE" and the ERTV3-1.mdb file by right clicking the file and "Unblock" it.		 ertv31runtime.zip
(ZIP 36M)
ERT Project Data Set (PDS) and Spreadsheet. This is a populated PDS and Spreadsheet for example purposes. The files are to be used with one of the above applications. This file includes an example PDS and the associated spreadsheet. Copy the file to your hard drive and extract the files. Use ERT to select the Example Data V3.mdb file. ertv3exampledata.zip (ZIP 1.5M)

Spreadsheet template for importing test data to WebFIRE
This spreadsheet template is to be used for source test reports that do not use the Electronic Reporting Tool. The spreadsheet allows source test data to be added to WebFIRE electronically. WebFIRE Template (XLS 27K)
Instructions for entering data into the spreadsheet. WebFIRE Template
instructions
(PDF 66K)

Importing WebFIRE CSV files into MS Access instructions (TXT 1K)

Helpful Links Supporting the Electronic Reporting Tool
Emission Measurement Center Test Methods
Emission Measurement Center Quality Assurance (QA) Team Documents
Preparation and Review of Site Specific Test Plans
Preparation and Review of Emission Test Reports

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User comments
We request that users help us evaluate and enhance the ERT by submitting suggestions and comments on:
  • Basic application flow,
  • Process DQQs,
  • Run DQQs,
  • Additional test methods/pollutants amenable for easy incorporation into ERT,
  • Suggested locations and content for context sensitive Help Screens,
  • Data or info not being collected that needs to be collected,
  • Expected value to your organization,
  • Recommendations for other EPA test methods to add to this tool,
  • Recommended enhancements (e.g. data export, automated test/process DQQs, etc.),
  • Errors/Typos/etc.
Email your comments to Ron Myers at myers.ron@epa.gov. We will update this software and the User's Guide periodically as reviewers identify easily to accommodate expansion, enhancement or corrections in the application.
EPA QA Handbook Volume III
Information in the current and previous version of Volume III of the QA Handbook may provide the basis for much of the context sensitive help for this tool. For information on the QC criteria of the methods, the QA Handbook Volume III (the old QA Red Book) and the revision of the handbook, are located and discussed on the EPA's Emission Measurement Center web site.

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