Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Chemicals and Toxics
    • Climate Change
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Environmental Justice
    • Greener Living
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Pesticides
    • Radon
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Guidance
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • EPA Administrator
    • Organization Chart
    • Staff Directory
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Jobs and Internships
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Lab and Research Centers
Cross-Media Electronic Reporting Rule
Contact Us

Application Tools and Templates

On this page:

  • Getting started
  • Application technical guidance
  • Application forms
  • Maintaining compliance
  • Information for Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW)
  • Information for EPA Headquarters and Regional Programs

The tools and templates on this page are designed to help determine CROMERR applicability and assist application preparation for state, tribal and local governments authorized to administer EPA programs. POTWs follow a special process jointly implemented by EPA Office Environmental Information (OEI), Office of Water (OW), and the states. EPA headquarters and regional programs also follow a special process. Please use the links above to skip to special sections describing these processes.


Getting started

If you think CROMERR applies to your electronic reporting system contact us!  There have been significant changes in CROMERR program processes as well as an increase in off-the-shelf and shared services system options over the past several years. The CROMERR Program can help you navigate the approval process and provide you with helpful resources and expertise. Get started with these resources.

  • Does CROMERR Apply to your e-Reporting System? (pdf) (5/20/22)
  • CROMERR Step-by-Step Guide to Create and Submit a Successful Application (pdf) (5/20/22)
  • CROMERR Frequently Asked Questions

Application technical guidance

Many state applicants do not need to submit a legal certification

Many states already have approved, broadly applicable CROMERR Attorney General certifications.

See: Status of Attorney General certifications received from states

The following resources will help you prepare your CROMERR application.

  • CROMERR Legal Certification Guide for State Attorney General or Local Government or Tribe Certifying Official Statement (pdf) (08/15/2017)
    This document provides guidance, templates and examples that will help when preparing official statements from an attorney general or a certifying official from a local government or tribe.

Plan to implement an off-the-shelf solution or the Central Data Exchange (CDX) Shared CROMERR Services? You will still need CROMERR approval, but you may not need to provide CROMERR technical documentation.

See: Application Forms

The following documents are useful for applicants preparing a CROMERR "system checklist". Only substantially or entirely custom-developed systems require comprehensive CROMERR technical documentation. The system checklist is the recommended format for this technical documentation. A blank system checklist can be found under the Application Forms section below; several pre-populated system checklist templates are available for off-the-shelf solutions requiring limited CROMERR technical documentation.

  • CROMERR 101: Fundamentals for States, Tribes, and Local Governments
    Start with this online course for introductory information on CROMERR.
  • CROMERR Application Challenges and Solutions (pdf)
    Common application challenges, examples of effective approaches to resolving them, and example EPA-approved systems that have used these approaches.
  • CROMERR Application Reviewer Guide (docx) (May 2017)
    This guide evolved from EPA's own internal procedures for reviewing CROMERR applications. It provides detailed technical specifications around each of the CROMERR requirements.
  • Sample Applications and Checklists
    Learn how previous applicants have met CROMERR requirements for their electronic reporting.
  • User Identification, Verification, and Authentication: Challenge Question Second-Factor Approach (pdf)
    The use of challenge questions is one approach to ensure that an individual’s credentials have not been compromised.
  • Crosswalk between CROMERR rule requirements and system checklist (xls)
    This crosswalk identifies how the CROMERR system checklist relates to requirements outlined in the CROMERR rule. It is intended as a quick reference for understanding where the system checklist sections stem from in the rule.
  • CROMERR Electronic Signature Agreement Guide (pdf) (July 2017)
    Example electronic signature agreement language that may be used, in part, to satisfy the electronic signature agreement or subscriber agreement requirement of CROMERR.

Additional technical assistance materials may be available to applicants. Contact the CROMERR program for more information.


Application forms

To apply for CROMERR approval, start by completing the Application Cover Sheet.

  • CROMERR Application Cover Sheet (pdf) (2/8/22)

NOTE: Customized application cover sheets exists for several off-the-shelf solutions. Applicants pursuing these solutions can complete the cover sheet above but will likely find it easier to complete the cover sheet specifically tailored for the system they are implementing.

Next, locate your system/approach in the following list and, if applicable, complete any additional form(s) and/or template(s) specific to that system/approach. Applicants pursuing off-the-shelf approaches not yet evaluated by the CROMERR program or custom-developed solutions will find relevant forms under the link for custom-built systems.

Shared CROMERR Services Applications

The EPA Central Data Exchange (CDX) Shared CROMERR Services (SCS) are application programming interface (API) component solutions which can meet individual CROMERR system requirements or provide an end-to-end CROMERR compliant solution. SCS reduces cost and technical barriers to CROMERR-compliant electronic reporting. Applicants implementing the full suite of Shared CROMERR Services generally do not need to provide CROMERR technical documentation.

The CROMERR program is not directly involved in the technical implementation of these services. To learn more, visit the EPA Exchange Network's CDX Shared CROMERR Services Integrated Project Team site.

Agencies and companies interested in using these services should contact the Shared CROMERR Services Help Desk -- which can provide a sandbox environment, assistant with integration, and provide information about setting up services with Lexis Nexis.

EPA-developed off-the-shelf solutions

EPA National NetDMR

Uses: Stormwater and pretreatment Discharge Monitoring Reports under National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
See: EPA National NETDMR Support Portal

EPA National NetDMR CROMERR Application Cover Sheet (pdf) (5/20/22)

* EPA-authorized programs applying to use National NetDMR are not required to complete a CROMERR system checklist. Please refer to the system-specific cover sheet for application documentation that may be required.


EPA NPDES e-Reporting Tool

Uses: Supplements NetDMR for additional NPDES reporting
See: Final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Electronic Reporting Rule

EPA NPDES Electronic Reporting Tool (NeT) CROMERR Application Cover Sheet (pdf) (5/20/22)

* EPA-authorized programs applying to use NeT are not required to complete a CROMERR system checklist. Please refer to the system-specific cover sheet for application documentation that may be required.


EPA Compliance Monitoring Data Portal

Uses: Reporting of drinking water lab sample data

EPA Compliance Monitoring Data Portal CROMERR Application Cover Sheet (pdf) (5/20/22)

* EPA-authorized programs applying to use CMDP are not required to complete a CROMERR system checklist. Please refer to the system-specific cover sheet for application documentation that may be required.

Commercially-developed off-the-shelf solutions

Mention of trade names, products, or services does not convey, and should not be interpreted as conveying, official EPA approval, endorsement, or recommendation. These are solutions that applicants have used; this may not be a complete list.

American Resource Management

Uses: Hazardous waste reporting
See: ARM Waste Reporting Software Solutions


Uses: Enterprise applications

RSP core product assessed by CROMERR program for general compliance. A sample approved RSP application can be found on the Sample Applications and Checklists page. Contact CGI for CROMERR checklist preparation.


enfoTech Software

Uses: System checklist
See: enfoTech & Consulting

enfoTech Implementation:CROMERR System Checklist (doc)


LinkoExchange Software

Uses: Reporting of pretreatment data
See: LinkoExchange Software

LinkoExchange Template (doc) (04/10/2014)


Premirus Edoctus Environmental Portal

Uses: Enterprise applications
See: Premirus Edoctus Environmental Portal


SAIC Electronic Sample Entry (e-SE) Verify

Uses: Drinking water lab sample data

e-SE core product assessed by CROMERR program for general compliance. A sample approved RSP application can be found on the Sample Applications and Checklists page. Contact SAIC for CROMERR checklist preparation.


Windsor Solutions SLEIS Product

Uses: Reporting of emissions inventory data
See: SLEIS: Emissions Inventory System

Windsor SLEIS Template (doc) (11/14/2013)
Note: This CROMERR checklist template currently only reflects the state/local hosted version of SLEIS.


Windsor Solutions nForm Product

Uses: Enterprise applications and e-Permitting
See: nForm: Online e-Permitting Solution

Windsor nForm Template (docx) (6/26/2015)

Custom-built systems

Applicants not using an off-the-shelf solution or component-based solutions such as Shared CROMERR Services usually have custom-built systems.

To minimize rework, such applicants are encouraged to work with the CROMERR program during the design phase and to submit system documentation for draft review.

Blank CROMERR System Checklist (doc) (2/24/21)

* Typically, applicants with custom-built systems are required to provide additional documentation beyond the CROMERR checklist that describes their system’s conformance with the CROMERR standards

For more information about documenting signature approaches on CROMERR applications, review the diagram for additional detail, or review the text only version of the Completing the CROMERR Checklist diagram.

Diagram for completing the CROMERR checklist by signature approach for priority and non-priority reports.

Questions? Contact the CROMERR Help Desk.


Maintaining compliance

Applicants are responsible for informing the CROMERR program about changes that may affect their CROMERR compliance.

Examples of significant changes could include changes to the types of file formats that affect how the copy of record (COR) is maintained, as well as changes to the technologies that may be used for file transfer or for creating electronic signatures on transmitted reports.

For information, see:  Notification and Approval of Changes to Approved CROMERR Applications: For States, Tribes, and Local Governments (pdf) (May 2020)  and FAQs: Modifications to Approved Applications


Information for Publicly Owned Treatment Works

EPA’s Office of Water (OW) and Office of Environmental Information developed a hybrid approach for processing requests to modify approved POTW NPDES pretreatment programs to allow for electronic reporting.

For more information, see:  CROMERR Compliance for POTW Pretreatment Program (pdf) (5/20/22)

Local governments interested in reporting NPDES pretreatment data electronically should contact the CROMERR program (cromerr@epa.gov) or EPA’s OW Pretreatment Team (CromerrPOTWrequest@epa.gov).


Information for EPA Programs

EPA has designated the Central Data Exchange (CDX) as the Agency's mechanism for providing CROMERR-compliant electronic reporting services for all EPA data collections. All systems that are subject to CROMERR must use CDX's CROMERR services to ensure that their data collections or exchanges have met Agency enforceability requirements.

For more information, reference the Enterprise Architecture Policy’s Data Exchange Procedure (CIO 2122-P-04.0) on EPA's intranet.

Only those EPA programs requesting special customizations to CDX's CROMERR services engage with the CROMERR program in technical documentation and review.  Almost all other EPA programs implementing CDX's CROMERR services are CROMERR-compliant by definition and approved automatically. 

See: CROMERR Overview for EPA Programs and Regions

Completing the CROMERR Checklist:

  • Does the system receive submissions that require signature?
    • If no, applicants must complete the following sections of the CROMERR checklist: 8-11 and 18-20.
    • If yes, Does the system use e-signature?
      • If no, applicants must complete the following sections of the CROMERR checklist: 8-11 and 18-20.
  • Does the system use e-signature?
    • If yes, Does the system collect priority reports?
    • If no, applicants must complete all sections of the CROMERR checklist except 1a and 1b.
  • Does the system collect priority reports?
    • If yes, Applicants must complete all sections of the CROMERR checklist, including 1a and 1b.

*Examples of common electronic signature approaches include use of a secure ID/government-issued identifier, use of a PIN/Password combination, and a PKI. Some applicants choose a wet-ink-on-paper signature that is mailed after reports are submitted electronically. While this is an acceptable signature approach, it is not an electronic signature per the definition in CROMERR section 3.3.

This diagram is provided for guidance purposes only.

  • CROMERR Home
  • Learn about the Cross-Media Electronic Reporting Rule (CROMERR)
  • Overview for State, Tribal, and Local Governments
  • Overview for EPA Programs and Regions
  • CROMERR 101 Training
  • Program Announcements & Initiatives
  • Status of CROMERR Applications from States
  • CROMERR Federal Register Notices
  • Application Tools & Templates
  • Sample Applications & Checklists
  • Glossary
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Help Desk
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on June 14, 2022
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data.gov
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Open Government
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions

Follow.