Quickscore Tips for Users

Quickscore is a web-based tool that assists in scoring sites using the Hazard Ranking System. Quickscore can also be used to assist EPA staff in developing conceptual site models for Superfund site assessment (e.g., planning and implementing preliminary assessments), planning site inspections and other data collection efforts according to HRS criteria, as well as writing and reviewing HRS documentation records.

The following topics provide tips for using the new web-based version of the HRS Quickscore tool. These tips are based on common questions and clarifications identified by users and Quickscore Helpline staff.

Quickscore Update

EPA has updated the HRS Quickscore software application to a web-based application. This update:

• Addresses vulnerability issues associated with the desktop version. 
• Bypasses issues associated with users needing administrative rights to install software. 
• Allows seamless and continuous updates to the application that do not require actions to be completed on the user end.

Legacy Quickscore Sites/Scenarios

If users have legacy Quickscore sites/scenarios using the software version (e.g., Quickscore 3.2.3) that they wish to view in the web-based Quickscore version, the exported XML files from the software version can be uploaded into the web-based application. Users can view or print scoresheets from these imported legacy files in the web-based Quickscore application. If users have additional questions related to legacy Quickscore files, please contact the Quickscore Helpline (703-284-6600 or quickscore@gdit.com).

Browser Requirements

JavaScript must be enabled in your browser. 

Compatible with major browsers: Edge, Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.

Saving – Important!

The web-based version of Quickscore does not save data “on the fly.” Users will need to save as they move through Quickscore by using the blue “Save” or “Update” buttons on each page. Please remember to save your work after entering information on each data entry page.

Data Storage/Records Management – Important!

Your sites and scenarios will be temporarily saved to your web browser cache. If you clear your browser cache, your site and scenario information will be deleted. If you use a different browser, your site and scenario information will not be transferred. As a best practice, users should export their site information after each session of using Quickscore. 

Use the “Manage Site” menu to access the export and import functions. 

Export – select “Export” from the “Manage Site” menu. A dialogue box will open where you can select the Site/Scenario you wish to export, then select “Export Scenario.” A single file, named “{Scenario Name} Scenario Export.json,” will be saved to your computer. This
is the file that you will either share or use to import the Site/Scenario back into Quickscore.

Import – select “Import” from the “Manage Site” menu. You will be prompted to either drag and drop or choose from a folder to import your file. Reminder, the file name will be “{Scenario Name} Scenario Export.json.” If your import is successful, you will get a “Successfully uploaded scenario file” message. 

Alternatively, you can use the “Import Existing Site” section of the Home page to either drag and drop your file or to navigate to the folder. 

Note on importing: If you try to import a scenario that already exists, the upload will fail. To prevent this, you can download the scenario file, delete the scenario, and upload the recently downloaded scenario file.

Sharing Quickscore Files – Exporting and Importing

Users can share files by using the “Export” and “Import” functions as described above. Once the file is exported, the Site/Scenario can be shared via email or other file sharing mechanisms. The file recipient will be able to import the file into Quickscore.

Create Multiple Scenarios for the Same Site

Quickscore allows you to create multiple scenarios for a single site. Once the original site data has been entered on the Site/Scenario information page, select the ellipsis menu “…” and give the Scenario a name. Then select “Duplicate Scenario,” your duplicated scenario will then be included. You can then edit that Scenario as needed. Alternatively, you can use the “Create New Scenario” button to make a new scenario from scratch.

Delete a Site/Scenario

To delete a scenario, open the scenario you wish to delete. On the Site/Scenario information page select the ellipsis menu “…” you will see a “Delete Scenario” option, select this. You will receive a confirmation window, if you wish to delete this scenario, press “Delete Scenario.” This will remove the scenario and all information associated with it. Delete all scenarios associated with a site to automatically delete the site.

Use the Scratch Pad for Factor-Specific and Other Notes

The Scratch Pad is a way to track information and data that is relevant to your site but is not included in factor values. It is also a method for noting references citations.

To access the Scratch Pad, press the pencil icon on the bottom right side of the screen when adding/editing sources or working in pathway scoresheets. A Scratch Pad window will then open. The “Pathway/Sources” dropdown will be pre-populated with the screen you were on when you pressed the pencil icon. You can add an optional “Line #” value if you want to identify what scoresheet element the note is referring to. You can then populate the optional “Documentation” portion to identify what reference or resource was used for the
information/note (e.g., Site Inspection Report, pp. 3-4). Next, enter your text into the “Note” box; this could be supporting information from the reference (e.g., arsenic concentration 45mg/kg), information used to document decision points, or used to indicate that more data is needed (e.g., estimating population based on county average). Finally, click “Save New Note,” to save your note. You can delete or edit your note by selecting it from the list and using “Delete Note” to delete or “Update Note” to save changes.

To print the Scratch Pad Notes, select “Print Scoresheet” (see Print HRS Scoresheets for a Site/Scenario below). Then check the box for “Include Notes” for the site you want to print the Scratch Pad Notes for. The notes will print at the very end of the scoresheets.

Print HRS Scoresheets for a Site/Scenario

To print final scoresheets, from the Home page click on the “Manage Site” menu at the top of the screen, select “Print Scoresheet.” From the pop-up window, choose the site/scenario name you wish to print. If you have notes in the Scratch Pad that you would like to print,
select “Include Notes” as well, then press “Print Selected.” Your scoresheet(s) will be saved to your computer (the file name will be {Scenario Name} (Populated).docx).

You may also print scoresheets from the Scenario Summary page by selecting the ellipsis menu “…” by the site score and select “Print Final Scoresheet”; this will print the scoresheet(s) for the particular site/scenario you are working in. Finally, you can also print scoresheets from the specific pathway by selecting the ellipsis menu “…” by the site score and select “Print Final Scoresheet,” this will print the scoresheet(s) for the particular site/scenario/pathway you are working in, but any Scratch Pad notes will not be included. Your scoresheet will be saved to your computer (the file name will be {Scenario Name} (Populated).docx).

New with this version of Quickscore is the ability to print additional information about sources, hazardous substances and pathways. Check the “Include Notes,” and then “Print Selected.” Your scoresheet(s) will have the additional information in tables after the scoresheets.

If scoresheets do not print, contact the Quickscore Helpline.

Print Blank HRS Scoresheets

To print blank scoresheets, from the Home page click on the “Manage Site” menu at the top of the screen, select “Print Blank Scoresheet.” From the pop-up window, choose the pathway(s) you wish to print. To print a blank scoresheet from the Scenario Summary page, select the ellipsis menu “…” by the site score and select “Print Blank Scoresheet.” Finally, you can also print blank scoresheets from the specific pathway you are working in by selecting the ellipsis menu “…” by the site score and select “Print Blank Scoresheet,” this will print a blank scoresheet for the particular pathway you are in when printing. Your scoresheet will be saved to your computer (the file name will be {Pathway(s)} Scoresheet (Blank).docx).

If scoresheets do not print, contact the Quickscore Helpline.

Updating Superfund Chemical Data Matrix Values

The web-based version of Quickscore utilizes the latest SCDM values from Superfund Chemical Data Matrix. The date of SCDM values used in the Quickscore model can be found on the home page of Quickscore. Users do not need to take any action when SCDM is updated.

Remove Hazardous Substances from a Source or Pathway

If you would like to see how your site scores without a previously entered hazardous substance, you will need to remove the substance from the Source Information tab (substances cannot be added or removed from the Pathway tabs). Navigate to the Associate Substances section on the Basic Source Information page. Select the substance(s) you wish to delete and click the “Remove Substance” button. The substance will be removed from the source and will no longer be available to the pathways. You can select multiple substances to remove at once.

Adding User Defined Substances

In addition to substances contained within SCDM, users can also enter “User Defined” substances. This feature allows you to use substances which are not included in SCDM or if you need to use different values for a substance that is included in SCDM.

The “User Defined” screen works much the same way as the SCDM screen. From the Basic Source Information page, select the “Associate User Defined Substance” button to open the “User Defined” modal. Enter the chemical name (the CAS Number will be default “User
Defined”) and then use drop down windows to assign toxicity, mobility, persistence and other factor values. Please note a chemical name and toxicity are required before a new substance can be saved. After entering your substance and associated factor values, press the “Add to User Defined Substances” button and the substance will be available to be used for scoring sites within Quickscore. Users can add user defined substances to sources and/or the site the same way SCDM substances are added; see above. A marker/indicator of “UD” will be added to show the user which substances and values are user defined.

When you export a site/scenario, it will include your “User Defined” substances. When you import a site/scenario file, it will automatically insert any non-duplicate “User Defined” substances.

Editing User Defined Substances

You can edit values entered for a previously saved “User Defined” substance from the “User Defined” modal. Highlight the substance you wish to edit and click the pencil icon under “Edit” and the substance and its associated values will populate the top portion of the screen. From here you will be able to make changes to any of the values you choose. After you are finished editing, click on the “Update User Defined Substance” button, and the new information will populate the table.

Cannot Select Hazardous Substance in the Pathways

If you have entered hazardous substances in the “Source Information” tab but they do not appear in a pathway in the “Choose a Substance” section of Waste Characteristics, it is likely that you forgot to complete the “Substance Migration & Exposure” on the “Source Information” page. The “Substance Migration & Exposure” section, located at the bottom of the “Source Information” page, determines which pathways source hazardous substances are available to migrate to. Double check that you have checked the pathway where you were trying to assign mobility, persistence, and bioaccumulation. Please note that the Soil Exposure and Subsurface Intrusion pathway is a little different because of Areas of Observed Contamination, Areas of Observed Exposure, and Areas of Subsurface Contamination. You will need to enter your hazardous substances separately for the Soil Exposure and Subsurface Intrusion pathway on the AOC, AOE, or ASC tab for that pathway.

Managing Multiple Aquifers in the Ground Water Pathway

If you enter more than one aquifer, Quickscore will automatically use the highest scoring aquifer in calculating the pathway score. If you would like Quickscore to use an aquifer other than the highest scoring aquifer for the pathway score, then use the aquifer ellipsis menu “…” to select “Evaluate This Aquifer Only” for the aquifer you wish to use in the site score under Scenario Aquifers. Use the same ellipsis menu “…” to select “Evaluate All Aquifers” if you want to switch back to having Quickscore use the highest scoring aquifer in the pathway score. Note this also applies to managing multiple watersheds in the surface water pathway.

Entering Actual and Potential Targets

Level I and Level II Concentrations: For targets subject to Level I and Level II contamination, enter in the number of targets (e.g., number of people, wetlands length points, etc.) for each contamination level, Quickscore will automatically multiply by the correct level multiplier (1 or 10).

Potential Contamination: To enter targets subjected to Potential Contamination, you first need to determine the distance- or dilution-weighted potential contamination factor value using the Weighted Population tables in the HRS (Tables 3-12, 4-14, 5-10 and 6-17); you can access these tables from Quickscore by clicking on the blue hyperlinked text next to the entry line. Sum up your population in each distance or dilution category, then enter this value into Quickscore, the program will then multiply by the value by 1/10 (i.e., 0.1) to derive the correct factor value.

Entering Targets in the Subsurface Intrusion Component

Level I and Level II Concentrations: For targets subject to Level I and Level II contamination, enter in the number of targets for each contamination level. Workers also need to be summed with the appropriate divisor applied based on full- or part-time status and included with Level I or Level II as appropriate. Quickscore will automatically multiply by the correct level multiplier (1 or 10).

Population within Area(s) of Subsurface Contamination: Users first need to identify qualified structures in an ASC and sum the number of all individuals residing in or attending school in the structure. Additionally count the number of full- or part-time workers regularly
present in each structure and divide accordingly. Then determine the appropriate weighting factor value for each structure using Table 5-21 of the HRS. Sum the weighted population in all structures within the ASC and assign this sum as the population within an area of subsurface contamination factor value in Quickscore.

Entering Hazardous Waste Quantity for the Subsurface Intrusion Component

Hazardous waste quantity is entered on the Areas of Observed Exposure and ASC information tabs. The total area or volume of the structures should be calculated. The user will need to apply the correct divisor from Table 5-19 and then enter that value for the specific AOE or ASC.

Use the “Save” Button to Update Values

Use the “Save” or “Update” buttons to see updated values for the hazardous waste quantity, waste characteristics, pathway and site scores.

Other Tips and Suggestions

• Users can 'hide' the sidebar navigation to expand the data entry space. Click the blue arrow on the left-hand side of the navigation pane to hide that pane. Reopen the side bar navigation pane by clicking on the arrow next to “Show…”
• Fields with a * are required to be completed before the user can enter other data on that screen (e.g., site and scenario name, source name, aquifer name and watershed name, etc.). Press “enter” or “tab” keys once you have typed a value in these fields to allow other values on that screen to be entered.
• The “Print” function does not send your files to a printer. It allows you to save or open your scoresheets in Microsoft Word. In Microsoft Word you can edit, save, or print the scoresheets.
• Blue Highlighted numbers on Quickscore screens are links to pages or tables in an electronic version of the HRS imbedded in the Quickscore Program. However, it is a good idea to have a copy of the HRS and the HRS Guidance Manual nearby when entering data.
• You can access the full text of the HRS by selecting the “HRS” link from the Help menu or by clicking on any blue HRS section/table hyperlink in the application (this will take you to the specific section of the HRS).
• You can access the User Guide and Tutorial videos from the “Help Page” under the “Help” menu.
• For technical questions related to Quickscore contact the Helpline using the contact information below.

If you have any questions or suggestions for tips, please contact the Helpline.

Quickscore Helpline

For further technical Quickscore support, contact:

Quickscore Helpline
Available weekdays, 9:00 - 5:30 EST
Phone: 703-284-6600
Email: Quickscore Technical Support (quickscore@gdit.com)