Revised: 04/19/2011
QUICK START INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE
RBLC WEB
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Air Technology Center (CATC) maintains a permit data base called the RACT/BACT/LAER Clearinghouse or RBLC. The RBLC permit data base contains information about recent control technology determinations submitted by State and local agencies. The RBLC Web allows anyone to search these data bases without any user registration. These quick start instructions provide basic information on using the system and searching the data bases.
To access the RBLC Web, go to the CATC home page (at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/catc/) and click on the RBLC logo. Options found on the RBLC Homepage include links to data base search options, documents, and related software.
Using the RBLC Web
The data base contains information on facilities that apply for construction permits, the basis for emission limits (RACT, BACT, or LAER) for each facility, pertinent source operating parameters such as process types, pollutant emission rates, pollution prevention techniques, add-on control equipment or other technology, permitting agency contacts, and scheduling data. Details about all of the data elements can be found in Section 2.2 and Appendix A of the RBLC User’s Manual.
The HELP System:
The on-line HELP system provides context-sensitive assistance throughout the system. Simply click on the button labeled "Help" to access a HELP file that explains the current item. The RBLC User’s Manual can supply answers to more complex questions, and can be accessed on line or saved to disk. A portable document format (PDF) version of the document has the advantage of being searchable by the Adobe Acrobat® software.
Searching the Permit Data Base:
Data Base Searches -- Click on "Search Data Base" on the RBLC home page. The Basic Search page is the default search page. Under the heading, "Other Search Options, Permit Data Base", you may choose from the following additional search options:
Continue in RBLC interactive search mode by following the directions on the screen and making choices by entering text and/or clicking buttons. Details about searching the data base are in Section 2.3 of the RBLC User’s Manual.
Navigation buttons are provided near the top of each facility, process and pollutant data page to assist in moving through the search results, data base and Web site. Use these buttons rather than the Web browser’s navigation buttons to avoid potential errors that can result from the way that browsers cache information.
Viewing Results On-line:
A search allows the user to access the part of the data base meeting the search criteria specified. Once the search has located a result set, entries in the set may be viewed on-line or downloaded as a report file. The Basic Search, Standard Search, and Advanced Search results tables can be sorted by permit date (default), State/RBLC ID, or facility name by clicking on the appropriate "Sort by" button at the top of the table. The "Find Lowest Emission Rate" search results table is sorted by the emission limit (lowest to highest).
Information about each of the determinations in the search results table is organized by facility, process, and pollutant. Click on a RBLC ID to access facility data (general information about this permitting action). Click on a process name to view details about the process and access links to pollutant information. The "Find Lowest Emission Rate" search results table does not provide direct access to process details, but does provide direct access to pollutant information by clicking the emission limit. View other types of information by clicking on the navigational buttons near the top of each facility, process and pollutant data page.
Reports:
The RBLC Web provides several pre-defined formats for viewing and downloading search results. Both summary and detail formats are available. The list of available formats is contained in a pick-list at the bottom of the Search Results page. Details about these reports can be found in Sections 2.4 and 2.5 of the RBLC User’s Manual.
On-Line Documentation for RBLC
The RBLC is documented in this set of Quick Start Instructions, the RBLC Data Entry Form Instructions, the RBLC Annual Report, and the RBLC User’s Manual. Short descriptions of each are listed on the Web page where they are located. The user’s manual should be kept as a reference for codes, standard units, and detailed instructions for using the system. In addition to these traditional forms of documentation, the system includes the context-sensitive on-line HELP function that is available throughout the entire system.
1.1 BACKGROUND
Welcome to the RACT/BACT/LAER Clearinghouse (RBLC) Web. EPA initially established the RACT/BACT/LAER Clearinghouse to assist State and local air pollution control personnel in making control technology determinations and in sharing technology information. Moreover, the RBLC is a resource to industries and consultants when they are preparing permits and researching control options and to the public and environmental groups when they are reviewing and commenting on permitting activities. This document describes how to use the RBLC Web to access information pertinent to these users.
1.1.1 The Purpose of RBLC
The basic purposes of the RACT/BACT/LAER Clearinghouse are:
The Clearinghouse should serve as a reference or a starting point for State and local agencies when considering RACT, BACT, or LAER decisions
The RBLC data base system performs the following three functions:
The most typical use of the information in the data base is to identify and compare available control technologies, either for the sake of selecting the most appropriate control in a specific situation or identifying the range of controls available for a process.
The RBLC Web on-line search functions allow users to build searches specific to their needs. These searches can be used to identify the most commonly used control technologies for a particular pollutant and process, or those being used within a specific period of time or geographic region. These subsets can be downloaded and used with PC-based data base or spreadsheet software to do more complex searches. Search options and the mechanics of searches are discussed thoroughly in Sections 2.
1.1.2 Information in the RBLC Data Base
The RACT/BACT/LAER Clearinghouse data base includes RACT, BACT, and LAER determinations made by various air pollution control agencies. Each data base entry contains information on the permitted facility at facility, process and pollutant levels. Examples of the data included for each level are:
The RBLC is accessible on the World Wide Web, and access requires only a PC, an Internet connection, and a browser. The RBLC is available from the Clean Air Technology Center (CATC) home page located at: www.epa.gov/ttn/catc/. No account or password is required to search and browse the data base.
Authorized State or local air pollution control agency personnel may enter and edit their RBLC data on-line. An RBLC edit user ID and a password are required for a user to be able to add information to the data base on-line. Contact the RBLC/CATC to receive an edit authorization form. An EPA staff person is available to assist authorized users in obtaining RBLC edit authority as well as security clearance for inputting determinations. Inquiries concerning RBLC and completed data input forms and files (additions to the RBLC data base) should be directed to:
RACT/BACT/LAER Clearinghouse (D243-05)
Sector Policies and Program Division
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
Clean Air Technology Center (CATC): Voice - (919) 541-0800,
FAX - (919) 541-3207
E-Mail: catcmail@epa.gov
For Web-related issues, the RBLC Webmaster can be contacted through email: Steigerwald.Joe@epa.gov.
1.1.4 Making Suggestions and Reporting Problems
Comments on the RBLC Web are always welcome. Improvements to the Web are a continuing goal of the CATC. Please use the contacts listed in Section 1.1.3 to make suggestions or report problems. You also may use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of each RBLC Web page to contact the RBLC.
1.2 OVERVIEW OF THE RBLC WEB SITE
1.2.1 Web Site Organization
The RBLC home page provides access to the RBLC data bases, and links to related sites. Connect to the RBLC home page from the CATC home page: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/catc/. Options that are available from the RBLC home page are:
1.2.2 On-Line Help Options
The RBLC Web includes a context-sensitive on-line HELP function that is available throughout the entire system.
On the RBLC Search page, click on the "on-line help" link for an on-line version of this user’s manual, including step-by-step instructions on using the system’s permit search options, and data element definitions and reporting formats.
1.2.3 On-Line Documents
Reference documents available for the RBLC are the User’s Manual (this document), the Quick Start Instructions (included with the User’s Manual, Volume I), the RBLC Data Entry Form Instructions, and the RBLC Annual Report. These documents can be accessed on line or saved to disk as a portable document format (PDF) file. A PDF version of any of these documents has the advantage of being searchable by the Adobe Acrobat® software. Short descriptions of each are listed on the RBLC Documents Web page where they are located. The user’s manual is divided into multiple volumes:
The user’s manual should be kept as a reference for codes, standard units, and detailed instructions for using the system.
SECTION 2: RBLC PERMIT DATA BASE SEARCHES AND DATA STRUCTUREThe RBLC permit data base contains information about control technology determinations submitted by State and local agencies. Click on "Search Data Base" from the RBLC home page to search the RBLC data bases. From the data base search page, users may view on-line help for the search options, perform a search on the permit data base, or link to additional resources. This section outlines the permit data base options, provides a detailed listing and description of the data elements in the permit data base, and shows how to use the five permit data base search options.
2.1 Permit Data Base Search Options
Choose the Basic Search (default) option or one of the options under "Other Search Options: Permit Data Base" to locate information in the permit data base. Then, follow the directions on the screen to define a search. The RBLC Web offers the following search options:
All RBLC search options present an overview of the search results in a table with links to pages that provide details about facilities, processes, and pollutants. Each option also supports saving results in any of the RBLC standard output formats.
Navigation buttons are provided near the top of each facility, process and pollutant data page to assist in moving through the search results, data base and Web site. Use these buttons rather than the Web browser’s navigation buttons to avoid potential errors that can result from the way that browsers cache information.
The RBLC navigation buttons can be used to return to the search page and re-specify search criteria for another search, or use the link at the bottom of the results page to return to the main RBLC page in order to choose another search option. If a search is not successful, return to the search page and re-specify the search criteria. Check to make sure that a misspelled word or an invalid value for a search element is not the problem.
The RBLC data base contains information about a variety of data elements. This information is separated into three main categories: facility data, process data, and pollutant data. The data are organized so that each facility determination may have multiple processes and each process may emit multiple pollutants. Each facility has at least one process and at least one pollutant. The information that EPA maintains in the data base on each of the three levels (facility, process, and pollutant) is listed below. Data elements that can be used in a search are marked with a (*).
Facility Information:
The RBLC data base includes a character field for each of the above dates that indicates whether the date is estimated or an actual date.
Process Information:
Pollutant Information:
The RBLC Web permit data base classifies permit data into three categories. These categories are:
2.3.1 Planning the Search
Before starting any search, consider the information to be gathered in the search. Review the description of each option in Section 2.1 to identify these options’ specific uses and strengths. The standard and advanced searches allow the user to build a more sophisticated search, taking into account more search criteria than the basic search option. However, these search options can return an overwhelming number of determinations if the search is not specific. We recommend that users familiarize themselves with the search criteria that are available so that they can search efficiently.
2.3.2 How To Run a Search
A search allows the user to create a subset of the data base using available search criteria. A search may include any combination of data elements available. The user can select one, several, or all data elements as search criteria. After selecting one of the five search options on the RBLC Web, specify the search criteria in the input form and then start the search by clicking the "Run search now" button. Once the search has located matching determinations, the results can be viewed on-line or downloaded as a report file. The results can be sorted by permit date, facility name or state (which also sorts by RBLC ID). Additional instructions and search information are available on the search Web pages and through the help system.
The Basic Search option provides a simple mechanism to run a search based on some of the most basic data fields in the RBLC. The data elements available in the basic search are as follows:
After entering the search criteria, click the "Run search now" button to execute the search. The results of the search are displayed in a table. Section 2.4 and 2.5, Search Results and Data Base Reports, describe how to view and download search results.
2.3.4 Find Lowest Emission Rate
This option finds the lowest emission rate for a selected process and pollutant. This search is available for any processes with an emission limit expressed in standardized emission units. To use the lowest emission rate search, first select the process type and pollutant from the dynamic menu by moving your cursor through the expanding menu. Click on the pollutant of interest in the final menu. Next, choose the country/countries you wish to search and enter the date range to find the lowest emission rate. Click the "Run report now" button to run the report. The "New Search" button will return the user to the process type and pollutant selection menu. Search results are displayed in a table, which is discussed in Section 2.4.
The standard search option provides more flexibility in examining the permit data base. It allows searches on almost all searchable data fields and it supports searches based on multiple data fields. When a data value must be one of a particular set of choices, these choices are presented in a pick-list.
Multiple search criteria may be used. Try to select enough criteria to match a manageable number of records, without being so restrictive that the search finds no matches or so vague that it finds to many matches or so complex that it takes too long to run. Usually, two to three criteria work well. Be sure not to specify mutually exclusive criteria, such as selecting North Carolina as the facility location, but a permitting agency in Texas.
Search criteria are used to identify matching data base records. In most cases, the data specified will need to be exact matches. Some records (i.e., date of determination entry, facility identifier, and control efficiency) allow the use of comparison operators to define a range of potential values. For numbers, the allowable operators are equals, greater than, or less than. Operators for alphanumeric fields allow you to match any part of the data, match the beginning characters only, or specify an exact match of every character.
A total of eight data elements can be searched and include:
1) Country/Countries
2) RBLC Date Selection
3) Facility or Industry Identifiers
4) Facility Location (State or EPA Region)
5) Permit Information
6) Process Information
7) Pollutant Information
8) Emissions Abatement Information
All of these eight data elements that can be searched using the RBLC standard search are described below, along with instructions on their use.
Country/Countries
Enter a "from" date and/or a "to" date. The search will find dates the same as or more recent than the "from" date and the same as or earlier than the "to" date. (Please Note – If a “to” date is not entered the search will be open-ended (i.e., the search results may contain determinations whose estimated permit dates are in the future).)
Example - Search by Date
Problem: To get a summary of determinations entered and modified by a specific agency during the last three months of the year 1999.
Solution: Choose Date determination last modified, and in the date fields, enter 09/01/99 and 12/31/99. In the Permit Information section of the search, select the agency’s name from the pick-list (e.g., AZ002 - Maricopa Co. Air Pollution Control, AZ), then run the search.
The RBLC Web is flexible about the format of dates. Dates may be entered in a numeric mm/dd/yyyy or m/dd/yy format. If the system cannot recognize the date as it has been entered, it will prompt the user to go back and enter another date value.
Facility or Industry Identifiers
These selections allow the user to search based on a facility or company name, an RBLC ID, by SIC code, or by NACIS code. Select a facility identifier from the pick list (see the items listed below) and enter the appropriate value to match.
Any of these facility identifiers may be entered as either complete or partial names. Enter a complete RBLC ID to locate one specific determination. When the search criteria is the RBLC ID, the search will run faster if the exact match operator is used. Choose one of the following comparison operators:
Comparison operators are particularly useful when searching text fields such as the facility name. For example, when using the Beginning With operator and specifying THE PA as the value to match, the result set will include "THE PAPER CLIP FACTORY," "THE PA ELECTRIC PROJECT," and "THE PASTRY SHOP," but not "PASTEURIZATION INC." Using the Exact Match operator would probably give you an empty result set. Specifying PA as the value to match with the Containing operator would find all of these facilities, plus names such as "PRINCIPAL REPAIRS" and "CONSOLIDATED PAVERS."
For a more general industry-based search, choose from the pick list of SIC or NAICS codes to retrieve a broad set of facilities in a particular industry. A link to a downloadable list present on the CHIEF web site is provided in the RBLC Reference Library.
The data base may be searched by EPA Region; State or U.S. territory; or Class One/U.S. Border areas in combination with the facility’s distance to Class One/U.S. Border areas (up to 20 areas may be selected at one time). The latter combination will find facilities that are near any of the National Parks and other protected areas that have been selected. Selection options are:
The permit information option allows a search based on the permitting agency, or a permit number. Search options are:
The data base can be searched by process information by entering a word or phrase that describes a particular process and by selecting from the pick-list of process type codes/names. Process type codes/names are the primary method of classifying source categories in the permit data base, and a search is most likely to be successful if the process code is specified. Process names can be used to narrowly define a broad process category. Detailed process information may not be available for NSR early notification entries.
Pollutant information includes the pollutant name or its Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) number. When conducting a search based on a pollutant, it is strongly recommend that some facility or process-level criteria be included in the search to reduce the size of the search results. Search options are:
Emissions Abatement Information
Emissions abatement information includes the case-by-case regulatory program under which the limit was established, the method used to control emissions, a particular pollution prevention technique or add-on control that was used to achieve the emissions limit, and/or the percent efficiency of the control method used. Partial words work best for searches on control description, because they allow for spelling variations. For control efficiency information, specify a comparison operator.
EXAMPLE: USING THE STANDARD SEARCH FORM
Problem: Too many determinations.
The RBLC Web data base is being consulted to identify nitrogen oxide (NOx) control methods applied to large, combined-cycle, natural gas turbines. A quick Basic Search using the generic process type code 15.210 Natural Gas (includes propane & liquefied petroleum gas), and the pollutant selection NOx yields 240 determinations, an overwhelming number. What sort of search options can be used to refine the search?
Solution: Define needs, experiment with options, run several searches.
The process type code being searched is correct , however, the search can be further refined by limiting the geographic area searched to EPA Region 9. Using the specific process type code, the pollutant NOx, and EPA Region 9 still yields 25 determinations.
A further limit is that results of this work will be used in the state of California; therefore, specifying California determinations should reflect State rules and practices. Using the location/state option, along with those previously selected, results in 9 determinations and 9 processes, both very manageable numbers. Further research could identify states with similar NOx rules, or, having identified a likely pollution control method, the standard search or advanced search could be used to identify all instances of that control method for review.
Once all search criteria for the standard search have been specified, click on the “Run search now” button to begin the search, or click the “Reset” button to start over with a blank standard search form. A pop-up window allows you to choose whether you want the results sorted by state/RBLC ID, facility name, or permit date.
The results of the search are displayed in a table. Examining the results of the search or downloading the results to a local PC are discussed in Section 2.4.
The advanced search option lets the user create search criteria by choosing from pick-lists of all searchable data elements and data operators, and entering desired values. Three search criteria can be combined using ‘AND’ or ‘OR’ logical connectors for more selective searches.
Although similar to the standard search, the advanced search option does not provide sets of allowable values for data elements. These must be entered by the user. In general, the user should know what information each data element contains to use this option effectively. Use the on-line help and this document’s discussions of data base elements in Section 2.2, and standard search options in Section 2.3.5, when running the advanced search. As with other search options, the user must select one or more RBLC permit data bases. See Section 2.2.1 for more information.
First, you must choose at least 1 country to search for sites. The default is USA
Second, you must Select a Subset of the Database (See Section 2.2.1 for more information)
Specify the first search criteria by choosing a data element and a comparison operator from the pick-lists. Then type the desired alphanumeric value for the data element in the text box. Entries are not case sensitive. The searchable data elements are:
There are certain data fields that use codes for specific values. The fields Control Method Code, Distance to Class-1 Area, NAICS Code, Pollutant Group(s), Pollutant Name, and SIC Code. To see a pop-up list of field values click on the specific field name listed at the bottom of the Advanced Search page.
The operator you choose defines which values of the specified data element you are interested in. In the simplest criteria, you are usually trying to match a value and will use the equals operator, for example, "State equals TX". Not all operators work with all types of data. The available operators are:
"Equals" can be used with all data elements and "Contains" cannot be used with date data elements. Other than a few simple limitations because this is the Advanced Search, we have tried to leave the search as open or "non-structured" as possible. For example, even though it may not make much sense a user may use the "Contains" operator with a numeric data element and/or the "Less Than" operator with an alpha-numeric field like the Facility State!
All three fields (i.e., data element, operator, and value) must be entered. At this point, the user can click the "Run search now" button to run the search using only one set of search criteria, or a second set of search criteria can be added by choosing one the following logical connectors:
If a connector is selected, the second criteria set must be specified by choosing data elements from the second criteria pick lists, and entering a desired value. Be careful not to specify mutually exclusive criteria. For example, specifying “State equals NC and State equals FL” will not find any matching records.
At this point, the user can click the "Run Search Now" button to run the search using two sets of search criteria, or a third set of search criteria can be added by choosing a logical connector and data elements from the third criteria pick list, and entering a desired value. Please note that the same logical connector (AND/OR) will be applied to the third criteria set. The result is that if more than one criteria set is selected, either all criteria sets must be connected with the "AND" operator or the "OR" operator.
Click the "Run search now" button to run the search. The "Reset form" button can be used to start over with a blank search form. Search results are displayed in a table, which is discussed in Section 2.4.
2.3.7 RBLC ID Search
This option is the fastest way to find a permit on the RBLC web. A search by the RBLC Identifier requires only one input, the RBLC ID. Up to three RBLC identifiers can be used in a single search. This search will find all valid RBLC IDs (Draft and Final) in the RBLC data base.
The correct format of an RBLC ID is AA-nnnn, where AA is the 2-letter state abbreviation and nnnn is a 4-digit number that uniquely identifies the permit. Some older permits use a single letter suffix (e.g., CA-0001.A) to further distinguish among related determinations. Input for this single letter suffix field is not case sensitive.
Click the "Run search now" button to start the search. Search results are displayed in a table that is discussed in Section 2.4.
The results for all RBLC search options are displayed as a table of links to additional information. For all searches except the Find Lowest Emission Rate Search, the table displays the RBLC ID, corporate/company and facility name, city, state, process type code, process name, permit number, and permit date. Initially, the results table is sorted by permit date, but the results can also be sorted by permit date, state/RBLC ID (the first two characters of the RBLC ID are the state abbreviation), or corporate/company and facility name by using the "Sort By" buttons at the top of the table. Each row in the table represents a determination and process that matched the search criteria. A facility may appear with multiple rows, one for each matching process found by the search. Results can be viewed on-line or saved in any of the RBLC standard output formats, which are discussed in Section 2.5. To view and navigate through data on-line, click on the RBLC IDs or process description links. RBLC ID numbers are linked to facility level data (general information about the permitting action). Process descriptions are linked to the process details page that includes links to pollutant data.
Depending on which option you have selected, the results table displays either all of the records or 150 records at a time. The "Show 150 records per page" option is selected be default. To display all of the records your search may find on the same page the user will need to select the "Show all" option (a radio button) found towards the top of the search conditions page. Any reports generated from the results table will contain only the facilities displayed on the current page. If you have selected "Show 150 records per page" and more than 150 records are returned by a search, a link to the "NEXT 150 FACILITIES" appears just above and below the results table. Users can move through pages of results using the "Next 150 Facilities" and "Previous 150 Facilities" links.
For the Find Lowest Emission Rate Search, the results table displays the RBLC ID, permit date, corporation/company name and facility name, and standard emission limit. The search criteria used for the search (Process Code, Process Name and Pollutant) appears towards the top of the page as a reminder. By default the results are listed from the lowest limit to the highest limit and are grouped by the emission units. This allows users to compare similar limits (i.e., apples to apples). The standard emission units are dictated by process/emission unit and pollutant, however, there are instances where this rule was not followed. Grouping the standard emission limits by the units helps the user bypass this problem. To view and navigate through data on-line, click on the RBLC IDs or standard emission limit links. RBLC ID numbers are linked to facility level data (general information about the permitting action). Standard emission limits are linked to the pollutant details page. Although all of the usual report formats are available, no report format lists just the lowest emissions results. Users can print or save the results table itself.
2.4.1 Navigating the Search Results
Each RBLC Web page that displays facility, process or pollutant permit data has navigation buttons near the top of the page to assist in moving through the Web site, search results and data screens. Buttons are provided for the following: "RBLC Home", "New Search", "Search Results", "Facility Information", "Process List", "Process Information", and "Pollutant Information". (Please Note: Not all navigation buttons are visible on all search results pages.) Use the navigation buttons and links rather than the Web browser’s navigation buttons to avoid potential errors that can result from the way that browsers cache information. If a search is not successful, return to the search page and re-specify the search criteria. Check to make sure that a misspelled word or an invalid value for a search element is not the problem.
2.4.2 Viewing Search Results
Information about each permit determination in the RBLC data base is organized by facility, process, and pollutant. Each RBLC ID in a search results table links to details about the permitted facility for that determination. Each process listed in the results table links to details about that process in the permitted facility. Process links are not provided in the Find Lowest Emission Rate search results table; however, each standard emission limit listed in the Find Lowest Emission Rate search results table is linked to pollutant details for the pollutant selected. Successively deeper levels of information are viewed by clicking on the navigation buttons that appear near the top of each data page (i.e., the "RBLC Home", "New Search", "Search Results", "Facility Information", "Process List", "Process Information", and "Pollutant Information" buttons) or the linked process name and/or pollutant name text found on the Process List and the Process Information pages, respectfully. Refer to Section 2.2 for more information about facility, process, and pollutant level data elements. For other than Find Lowest Emission Rate searches, pollutant level data is accessed from the linked process name text located on its associated process list page. Use the "Search Results" navigation button near the top of the page to return to the search results table and pick another facility to view.
The first page that is displayed when the RBLC ID link is selected is the determination’s facility level information, the Facility Information page. Navigation buttons are available on this page for viewing search results and process information.
If a facility has multiple processes, they are all displayed on a process list page. Use the "Process List" navigation button to display the list of processes. Each process in the list is a link to a process detail page that displays additional information about that process. (The title at the top of this page is "Process Information - Details".) The process detail page appears immediately upon selecting the "Process List" button if the facility has only one process.
The process detail page presents specifics about the process. Use the navigation button near the top of the screen to go back to the process list (if any) to select other processes for viewing. A pollutant list for the process is present in the lower right corner of the process information page. Each pollutant name is an active link to the pollutant level detail page. (Pease Note: The "Process Information - Details" page is the only page that displays links to the pollutant level data.)
The pollutant detail page presents specifics about emissions of the particular pollutant. Use the "Process Information" navigation button at the top of the Pollutant Information screen to go back to the "Process Information - Details" page which lists the process information and a list of any other pollutants emitted by the process (if any).
There are five pre-defined report formats available for RBLC permit data base searches and two of these reports allow the user to select the data fields that will be displayed in the report. These reports can be viewed on-line or downloaded to a PC.
2.5.1 Generating a Report
There are two options regarding the number of records displayed in a report: "Show all records," or "Show only selected records on this page." Note that, due to data base restrictions, a maximum of 1000 facility records may be printed in any one report. If more than 1000 facility records are identified by the search results, the "Show all records" options will change to "Show first 1000 records." If you selected "Show All" in your search criteria on the previous Web page, all records are displayed on one results page. Therefore, if you did not uncheck any of the records on the results page, both report options will be the same. If you did uncheck records, the "Show only selected records on this page" option will include only the checked records in the report, and the "Show All Records" option will include all records (checked or unchecked, up to 1000 records) in the report.
If you selected "Show 150 records per page" in your search criteria on the previous Web page, only 150 records will be displayed on a results page. If your search identifies 150 or fewer records, all records will be displayed on the same page and the report options will function as indicated above. However, if your search has more than 150 records, the "Show only selected records on this page" option will be limited to the selected (checked) records on the current Web page. You must select the "Show all records" report option to print all (first 1000) records that met the search criteria on the current and subsequent pages. You may also choose the "Show only selected records on this page" option and generate separate reports for the records displayed on each results page.
Available report formats are listed in a pick-list at the bottom of the results page. Both summary and detail formats are available and both summary and detailed reports include all selected facilities displayed in the results table. The summary reports are fairly short and do not take a long time to create. Detail reports can be very lengthy depending on the size of the result set. Formatting time for reports can be reduced by selecting specific facilities using the check box in the first column next to each RBLC ID in the results table. Initially all affected facilities are checked and will be included in the summary and the detail reports. Use the check box next to each affected facility to de-select the facility. The "Check" and Uncheck" buttons at the top of the results table can also be used.
Choose a report from the list. Most reports allow you to choose the desired format (Text - TXT or Adobe Portable Document Format - PDF). Click the "Create report" button to generate the report. Formatting a report may take some time, especially for a large number of facilities. In general, as the number of permits in the report and the detail of the report increases, the time needed to generate the report increases. The detail reports take the longest time to generate because they include the most information. Also see Appendix F - Examples of RBLC Standard Reports.
The following report formats are available:
2.5.2 Downloading RBLC Information
When the RBLC Web has finished creating the report, either a Save dialog box or the report itself will be displayed. The exact action depends upon the browser configuration. If the report appears within the browser, choose the "Save As" command from the browser File menu to save the report file. Then, use the "Previous Page" button (in the upper right hand corner or the lower left hand corner of your browser window) or, if there is no "Previous Page" button, the browser's "Back" button to return to the results table. Please note that any file you save may have the default extension is ".cfm" which could cause problems when the file is re-opened. Unless you are creating a PDF file, we recommend using a ".txt" file extension if the file will be used with word processing or spreadsheet software.
Finally, a report can also be printed directly from the RBLC Web using the browser print function.
[1] In general, a user should know what each data element contains to use this option effectively. Refer to Section 2.2 and Appendix A of the RBLC User’s Manual for more information about individual data elements.