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Electronic Reporting Tool (ERT), Version 4.0
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Released October 2011, updated September 7, 2012
The ERT is used to electronically create and submit stationary source sampling test plans to regulatory agencies and, after approval, to calculate and submit the test results as an electronic report to the regulatory agency.
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.
Announcements about the ERT will be made available on the CHIEF Listserv. Notices are sent directly to a member's email address.
ERT Data Submittals using CDX/CEDRI - January 1, 2012
The Compliance and Emissions Data Reporting Interface (CEDRI) is now available. Instructions for registering and accessing CEDRI are in the CEDRI CDX User Guide (PDF, 80pp 4.3MB). CDX (Central Data Exchange) support is available Monday through Friday (except on holidays) from 8:00am to 6:00pm (ET). The phone number is 888-890-1995.
EPA now requires by regulation a number of industries to perform emissions performance tests and to electronically submit such emissions test data to EPA. Please see the list of Promulgated Regulations with Electronic Data Reporting Requirements.
The Central Data Exchange (http://cdx.epa.gov/epa_home.asp) is the point of entry of emissions performance data reports to EPA. It provides capabilities for submitters to submit and access their data electronically and enables OAR to effectively manage the incoming data.
Affected industrial facilities are required to use the Electronic Reporting Tool (ERT) to generate files containing emissions source test data. The facilities will submit these files to CDX using CEDRI. The submission files are stored in the CDX CROMERR archive and become available to submitters and authorized EPA reviewers immediately upon submission.
| Installation, Program Files and User's Guide |
Version 4 Program Files - September 7, 2012 (ZIP 6MB). This version of the program requires either MS Access 2007 SP2, MS Access 2010 or MS Access 2010 Runtime. Download the ZIP file to your hard drive and extract the manual and the database to a folder. If you do not have MS Access 2007 or 2010, download and install MS Access 2010 Runtime from the Microsoft Access Download Center  prior to running the ERT. Running the ERT application (ERT4.accdb) will open the program with MS Access. |
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| Example ERT Project Data Set (PDS) and Spreadsheet. (ZIP 19M) This is a populated Project Data Set and spreadsheet for example purposes. This file includes a comprehensive example PDS, and an associated spreadsheet for importing an additional three test runs. Updated April 2012. ERT User's Guide (PDF 3M) - Updated September 2012. Please read the Update History to keep track of changes and corrections in the program. (PDF 20K) The document includes technical information about changes from versions 3 to 4, and the recent changes in version 4. |
| ERT and WebFIRE Import Spreadsheets |
| ERT import spreadsheet | |
| Who should use this spreadsheet? ERT has the ability to import data for manual test methods from two specific spreadsheet templates. The document, Requirements for modifying a spreadsheet for ERT import (PDF 25K), describes how to incorporate the spreadsheet template into your custom spreadsheet so you can use the import function into the ERT. ERT data entry template for version 4, includes instructions (XLT 361K). This is intended to reduce the effort associated with field data entry into the ERT and improve the reliability of data transcription. Instructions for merging the new spreadsheet template with a proprietary field data spreadsheet application and the new spreadsheet template are available here. This spreadsheet has the capability to import up to nine test runs for a single test method and location. Updated April 1, 2013 |
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| Spreadsheet template for importing test data to WebFIRE | |
| Who should use this spreadsheet? WebFIRE Template (XLS 20K). Source tests conducted prior to January 1, 2012 that did not use the ERT to compile test data should use this spreadsheet to submit the test data to EPA electronically. The spreadsheet allows source test data to be added to WebFIRE electronically. Updated March 2013. WebFIRE Template instructions (PDF 66K). Instructions for using, entering data into the spreadsheet, and submitting files to EPA. Updated October 26, 2011. |
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.