Glossary of FIRE Terms

Air Emissions Report (AER)

An AER report is a periodic data summary report submitted by the facility in response to an applicable regulation after the facility achieves initial compliance. Typically, AERs include the following information, depending on the purpose of the AER (e.g., demonstration of ongoing compliance, reporting of excess emissions): the facility name and location; the beginning and end of the reporting period; description of the affected process unit(s) and monitoring equipment; the regulated pollutant; the emissions and/or operating limits specified by the applicable regulation; the total operating time of the affected source during the reporting period; date of the latest performance test or evaluation of control devices and monitoring systems; continuous monitoring system (CMS) downtime, excess emissions or times when operating outside of operating parameter limits; and the name, title, and signature of the responsible official who is certifying the accuracy of the report contents.

Applicability

Applicability describes the types of emission sources and pollutant control measures, where available, that are the basis of the emissions factor.

Air Facility System (AFS)

The AFS is an EPA database that contains compliance and permit data for stationary sources regulated by EPA, state and local air pollution agencies. The environmental regulatory community uses the information in the database and the AFS ID to track the compliance status of point source facilities with various regulatory programs under the Clean Air Act. Additional information regarding AFS can be found at:
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/data/systems/air/afssystem.html.

Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number

The CAS registry number is the unique numerical ID assigned to a specific chemical substance by the CAS. The CAS registry number is universally recognized as uniquely identifying a chemical structure that may have many synonyms.

Conditions

Conditions provide "if-then" statements for determining the applicability of an emissions factor (e.g., an emissions factor applies only when the fuel sulfur content is less than 0.4 percent).

Composite Test Rating (CTR)

The CTR is a weighted-average quality indicator for groups of test reports used to derive an EPA or user-defined emissions factor. The CTR can range from 0 to 100 and is calculated using the following equation:

Where:
CTR = Composite Test Rating,
ITR = Individual Test Rating (assigned by ERT), and
N = Number of tests with ITRs equal to or greater in value as those included in the candidate data set.

Control Device Configuration

Control device configuration refers to the sequence of devices, if any, used to reduce pollutant emissions from a particular source. Examples of control devices include fabric filters, venturi scrubbers, and gravity collectors. WebFIRE accommodates up to five control devices in series. Level 1 refers to the first control device applied to the process emissions; Level 2 refers to the second control device in the series; etc. For example, an external combustion boiler burning pulverized bituminous coal could have a spray dryer (the Level 1 control device) followed by a fabric filter (the Level 2 control device). A source that does not use a control device is categorized as “uncontrolled.” In WebFIRE, numeric control device codes are used to refer to each type of control device (e.g., “202” for spray dryer, “127” for a fabric filter).

Derivation

Derivation provides background information, where available, describing the development of the emissions factor (e.g., test data used, assumptions).

Detection Limit Flag

A detection limit flag of "ADL" (above detection limit) is used to denote cases where all of the data used to calculate an individual test data value or an emissions factor were at or above the minimum detection limit (MDL) of the test method used to collect the emissions measurements. A detection limit flag of "DLL" (detection level limited) is used to denote cases where some of the emissions measurement data used to calculate an individual test data value or an emissions factor were below the MDL. A detection limit flag of "BDL" (below detection limit) is used to denote cases where all of the emissions measurement data used to calculate an individual test data value were below the MDL. Emissions factors are not calculated in cases where all of the available individual test data values are BDL. Section 5.3 and Appendix B of the "Procedures for the Development of Emissions Factors from Stationary Sources" ( http://www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/efpac/procedures/index.html) present the EPA's procedures for handling ADL, DLL, and BDL data when developing emissions factors.

Emissions Factor

An emissions factor is used to estimate air pollutant emissions from a normally-operating process or activity (e.g., fuel combustion, chemical production). An emissions factor relates the quantity of pollutants released to the atmosphere from a process to a specific activity associated with generating those emissions. For most application purposes, users typically assume that an emissions factor represents the average emissions for all emitting processes of similar design and characteristics (i.e., the emissions factor represents a population average). The simplest form of an emissions factor is a ratio of the mass of pollutant emitted per unit of activity generating the emissions (e.g., pounds of particulate matter (PM) emitted per ton of coal burned). Typically, emissions factors are used to estimate process emissions as follows:
       E = A x EF x [1-(ER/100)]
where:

• E = emissions estimate,
• A = activity rate,
• EF = emissions factor, and
• ER =overall emission reduction efficiency (%).

Emissions Factor Date

The factor date is the year the EPA finalized the development of the emissions factor.

Emissions Factor Quality Indicator

Historically, the EPA assigned the following letter grades to emissions factors to characterize the ability of the factor to represent the national annual average emissions factor for the source activity:

• A = Excellent. Emission factor is developed primarily from A- and B-rated source test data taken from many randomly chosen facilities in the industry population. The source category population is sufficiently specific to minimize variability.
• B = Above average. Emission factor is developed primarily from A- or B-rated test data from a moderate number of facilities. Although no specific bias is evident, is not clear if the facilities tested represent a random sample of the industry. As with the A rating, the source category population is sufficiently specific to minimize variability.
• C = Average. Emission factor is developed primarily from A-, B-, and C-rated test data from a reasonable number of facilities. Although no specific bias is evident, it is not clear if the facilities tested represent a random sample of the industry. As with the A rating, the source category population is sufficiently specific to minimize variability.
• D = Below average. Emission factor is developed primarily from A-, B- and C-rated test data from a small number of facilities, and there may be reason to suspect that these facilities do not represent a random sample of the industry. There also may be evidence of variability within the source population.
• E = Poor. Factor is developed from C- and D-rated test data from a very few number of facilities, and there may be reason to suspect that the facilities tested do not represent a random sample of the industry. There also may be evidence of variability within the source category population.
• U = Unrated (Only used in the EPA's Locating and Estimating (L&E) documents). Emission factor is developed from source tests which have not been thoroughly evaluated, research papers, modeling data, or other sources that may lack supporting documentation. The data are not necessarily "poor," but there is not enough information to rate the factors according to the rating protocol. "U" ratings are commonly found in L&E documents and FIRE rather than in AP 42.

These subjective ratings were based on the EPA analysis of the quality of the underlying test data and the number of available data values.

In 2013, the EPA revised its historical approach to developing emissions factors to reduce the level of subjectivity involved in the emissions factor development process. Under the EPA's revised objective approach, the EPA assigns quality indicators of "Highly Representative," "Moderately Representative," or "Poorly Representative" to characterize the factor's ability to estimate emissions for the source category of interest on a regional and national level. The quality indicators are based on both the quality and number of individual test data values used in developing the emissions factor. For a more detailed discussion of the EPA's approach to rating emissions factors, see the EPA's "Procedures for the Development of Emissions Factors from Stationary Sources" (http://www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/efpac/procedures/index.html).

Currently, the majority of emissions factors in WebFIRE retain the subjective, letter-grade ratings. However, as the EPA develops new or revises existing emissions factors, the subjective letter grades will be replaced with the agency's objective quality indicators.

Emissions Factor Status

The emissions factor status is used to denote the stage of development of an EPA emissions factor. EPA's current emissions factors are designated as "Final." Emissions factors designated as "Proposed" are those factors that are currently undergoing public review. Older emissions factors that EPA has replaced over time with updated or revised versions are flagged as "Revoked."

Facility Registry System (FRS) Identification

The FRS is a centrally managed database that provides Internet access to a single integrated source of comprehensive (air, water, and waste) environmental information about facilities, sites or places. The FRS ID is used to identify facilities, sites or places subject to environmental regulations or of environmental interest. Additional information regarding FRS can be found at:
http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/fii/index.html.

The FRS system can be searched to obtain FRS IDs using any combination of facility name; geographic location; facility industrial classification; affiliated organization and contact; program category; and national system at:
http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/fii/fii_query_java.html.

Individual Test Data Value

An individual test data value is the average emissions value, expressed as a mass of pollutant emissions per unit activity, calculated based on the results of multiple test runs conducted during a single emissions test.

Individual Test Rating (ITR)

The ITR value is the quality indicator assigned to individual source test reports by the EPA's Electronic Reporting Tool (ERT). This value is based upon the level of documentation available in the test report, the use and conformance with established the EPA reference test method (or other test methods with comparable precision and accuracy) and the operation of the source and associated emissions controls at known and representative conditions. The ITR ranges from a high of 100 to a low of 0.

National Emissions Inventory (NEI) Pollutant Code

The NEI pollutant code is an ID assigned by the NEI to a specific chemical. NEI pollutant codes are not assigned to groups of related chemicals (e.g., chromium compounds, glycol ethers, polycyclic organic matter).

Notification of Compliance Status (NOCS) Report

An NOCS is a report submitted by a regulated facility that notifies the designated authority that the facility has achieved compliance with an applicable regulation. Typically, the NOCS is signed by the responsible official of a regulated facility and specifies: the citation of the applicable regulation; general facility information (e.g., name, address); methods used to determine compliance; results of any performance tests, observations, or evaluations; methods to be used for determining continuing compliance; type and quantity of regulated pollutants emitted by the affected source; major/area source determinations (if applicable); and descriptions of air pollution control equipment used to achieve compliance.

Performance Evaluations: Relative Accuracy Test Audits (RATAs)

A RATA is a field test procedure performed in a stack or duct in which a series of concurrent measurements of the same stack gas stream is taken by a reference method and an installed monitoring system. A RATA usually consists of series of 9 to 12 sets of such concurrent measurements, each of which is referred to as a RATA run. In a volumetric flow RATA, each reference method run consists of a complete traverse of the stack or duct.

Performance Test

A performance test, also referred to as a stack or source test, means the quantitative collection of emissions measurement data from a process or activity by the execution of a test method, typically consisting of three or more separate test runs. A performance test can be conducted for a variety of purposes, such as:

• Demonstrating the performance of a process modification or an emissions collection system and control device(s).
• Demonstrating compliance with a specific regulatory emissions limit.
• Establishing monitoring parameter values or ranges.
• Conducting RATAs, linearity checks, and routine calibrations of continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS).
• Developing regulations or emissions factors.
• Developing and evaluating test methods.
• Optimizing process and/or control device operations.

Performance Test Report

A performance test report provides the data and supporting information necessary to document the objectives of the performance test and to determine whether proper procedures were used to accomplish these objectives. A performance test report typically includes the following information:

• Summary of test program,
• Key personnel,
• Process and control equipment descriptions,
• Sampling locations,
• Objectives and test matrix,
• Field test changes and problems,
• Presentation of results,
• Methods for measuring emissions and process parameters,
• Sampling and analytical procedures,
• Quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) problems, and
• QA audits.

Additional information regarding the contents of a test report can be found in EPA's Emission Measurement Center guideline document, "Preparation and Review of Emission Test Reports" (http://www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/guidlnd/gd-043.pdf).

Facility performance test reports are submitted to WebFIRE using two formats: (1) the EPA's Electronic Reporting Tool (ERT), and (2) the data upload spreadsheet.

ERT
The ERT is a Microsoft Access® application that is used to create and submit stationary source sampling test plans and test results in an electronic format. The ERT replaces the time-intensive manual preparation and transcription of test plans and reports by facilities and their contractors and the time-intensive manual quality-assurance evaluations and documentation performed by State regulatory agencies. Additional information regarding the ERT can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/ert/index.html.

The ERT files are submitted to WebFIRE as a zip file. The zip file contains the project data set (PDS). The PDS is a Microsoft Access® database that contains the following information for a single test report:

• Four-level SCC specification
• Process data from existing air permits (e.g., process throughput rates)
• Process rate levels during testing
• Descriptions of the source, unit process, and control devices associated with the test
• Process upsets or malfunctions during testing
• Process flow diagram
• Sampling locations
• Test methods used
• Deviations made to any test method, and
• Output flow rates and pollutant concentrations

The ERT application also incorporates the EPA's evaluation system so that each test is assigned a numeric score that assesses the quality of the measurement data and associated information collected during an emissions test.

WebFIRE Data Upload Spreadsheet
To allow non-ERT documented data to enter the emissions factor development process, EPA developed a spreadsheet tool for companies, associations, and agencies to provide EPA with emissions data collected prior to January 1, 2012 or that is infeasible to document in the ERT (http://www.epa.gov/ttnchie1/ert/). This spreadsheet has a structured format which organizes the basic source emission information used for emissions factor development including supplementary information for more detailed characterization of the source and the measurements. The spreadsheet also includes a two part check sheet that is identical to the one in the ERT for assessing the information in the supplied emissions test report. The first part of the check sheet is for use by the provider of the test data and is used to document the presence of supporting documentation needed to assess the representativeness, accuracy and precision of the information in the test report. A numeric quality rating is determined for each test report based upon the answers to these questions. As with the ERT completeness and quality assessment, the quality rating determined by the report supplier can be adjusted based on responses from an independent regulatory agency using the second part of the check sheet. The second part of the check sheet provides for a more thorough and detailed assessment of information in the test report.

Pollutant

In general, a pollutant is a chemical or other material present in emissions from industrial and non-industrial processes or in ambient air that can harm human health, the environment, and property.

Pollutant Group

Multiple pollutants grouped into a single category, such as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) registry numbers are not assigned to pollutant groups.

Reason for Exclusion

The WebFIRE emissions factor development tools include procedures for handling test data that are below the method detection limit (BDL), for identifying statistical outliers, and for calculating the emissions factor value and related quality assessments (i.e., factor quality indicator, composite test rating). In deriving an emissions factor for a candidate data set selected by a user, WebFIRE may exclude certain data values from the emissions factor calculations for the following reasons:

• The data value was identified as a statistical outlier.
• Inclusion of the data value in the calculations did not improve the factor quality.
• A BDL value is greater than the highest measured value in a candidate data set.

Additionally, if all of the data values in a user's candidate data set are BDL values, WebFIRE will not calculate an emissions factor.

Source Category

Sections 111(b)(1) and 112(c)(1) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) require EPA to develop lists of sources and activities that have similar processes and emissions characteristics for the purpose of developing emissions standards. Each listed source or activity (e.g., external combustion boilers, petroleum and solvent evaporation, waste disposal) is referred to as a source category.

Source Classification Codes (SCCs)

The EPA uses SCCs to classify different types of emissions activities. Each SCC represents a unique source category-specific process or function that emits one or more air pollutants. The SCCs are used as a primary identifying data element in EPA's WebFIRE, the NEI, and other EPA databases. The SCCs are also used by many regional, state, local and tribal agency emissions data systems.

There are several types of SCCs: those for point, nonpoint, mobile, biogenic, onroad and nonroad sources. WebFIRE primarily uses the point source SCCs to link emissions factors to an emission process. Point source SCCs have eight digits and follow the pattern 1-22-333-44. The 10-digit SCCs primarily represent non-point emissions source and follow the pattern 11-22-333-444.

SCCs use a hierarchical system in which the classification of the emissions process becomes increasingly more specific with each of the four levels (moving from left to right). The first level of description provides the most general information on the emissions category. The fourth category is the most detailed and describes the specific emissions process. For example, the 8-digit SCC 3-03-013-09 (entered without dashes, as “30301309” in WebFIRE searches) has the following designation:

• Level 1: Industrial Processes = 3
• Level 2: Primary Metal Production = 03
• Level 3: Gold Processing = 013
• Level 4: Melt Furnace = 09

Tribal ID

"Tribal ID" is a general term used to refer to identification codes assigned by American Indian regulatory entities (e.g., the Cherokee Nation Facility Registry System, the Navajo Nation Environmental Management System) to facilities located on tribal lands.

User-Defined Emissions Factor

A user-defined emissions factor is a factor created by applying WebFIRE's emissions factor development tools to a candidate set of individual test data values selected from the WebFIRE database by the user. Section 9 of the EPA's “Procedures for the Development of Emissions Factors from Stationary Sources” (http://www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/efpac/procedures/index.html) discusses the derivation of user-defined emissions factors.

Variables

Variables are the symbols (e.g., "CS" for the sulfur content of coal) used in conditional statements regarding the applicability of emissions factors and in factors expressed as formulas. The variables are placeholders for input data provided by the emissions factor user.

Report Sub Type

Report Type	Report Sub Type	Description	Regulatory Citation	Regulation Name
AER	MATS_CR	Semiannual compliance reports.	40 CFR Part 63, Subpart UUUUU	NESHAP for Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units
	MATS_LEED	Low Emitting EGU (LEE) Ongoing Demonstration Test	40 CFR Part 63, Subpart UUUUU	NESHAP for Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units
	MATS_TDR	30-boiler operating day rolling average reports for PM CEMS, PM continuous parameter monitoring system (CPMS), and approved hazardous air pollutants (HAP) metals CEMS	40 CFR Part 63, Subpart UUUUU	NESHAP for Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units
NOCS	MATS_NOCS	Notification of Compliance Status	40 CFR Part 63, Subpart UUUUU	NESHAP for Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units
	NOTIFICATION	Notification of Compliance Status	40 CFR Part 63, Subpart DDDDD	NESHAP for Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters
ST	ERT	Performance test report in ERT format.	Not applicable.	Not applicable.
	MATS_LEEQ	LEE Qualification Test	40 CFR Part 63, Subpart UUUUU	NESHAP for Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units
	MATS_PT	Quarterly and annual performance stack test reports	40 CFR Part 63, Subpart UUUUU	NESHAP for Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units
	MATS_RATA	Relative Accuracy Test Audits (RATA) reports for sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, and mercury continuous emissions monitoring system (CEMS)	40 CFR Part 63, Subpart UUUUU	NESHAP for Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units
	MATS_RCA	Relative Calibration Audit (RCA) reports for particulate matter (PM) CEMS	40 CFR Part 63, Subpart UUUUU	NESHAP for Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units
	MATS_RRA	Relative Response Audit (RRA) reports for PM CEMS	40 CFR Part 63, Subpart UUUUU	NESHAP for Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units
	MATS_TDR	30- (or 90-) boiler operating day mercury LEE test reports	40 CFR Part 63, Subpart UUUUU	NESHAP for Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units