                                       
                                       
                                       
INFORMATION MEMORANDUM
                                       
SUBJECT:	Documenting Electronic Reporting Participation Rates for Authorized NPDES Programs
FROM:	Carey A. Johnston, NPDES Electronic Reporting Team Lead
		US EPA/OECA/Office of Compliance

TO:		Randolph L. Hill, Director
		Enforcement Targeting and Data Division
		US EPA/OECA/Office of Compliance

DATE: 	16 September 2019

Overview
The NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule ("NPDES eRule") requires EPA to calculate electronic reporting participation rates for each authorized NPDES program six months after the deadline for conversion from paper to electronic submissions and annually thereafter [see 40 CFR 127.26(j)]. The first electronic reporting deadline for the NPDES eRule was 21 December 2016 and it included NPDES Data Groups No. 3 (Discharge Monitoring Reports or "DMRs") and No. 4 [Sewage Sludge/Biosolids Annual Program Reports, where EPA implements the biosolids program (40 CFR Part 503)]. See Table 1 to 40 CFR 127.16.
This memorandum documents the third assessment of these electronic reporting participation rates since publication of the 2015 NPDES eRule. EPA used data in its national NPDES data system (ICIS-NPDES) as of 13 September 2019 to calculate electronic reporting participation rates for NPDES Data Groups No. 3. Separately, EPA used data from its biosolids annual report NPDES Electronic Reporting Tool ("NeT-Biosolids") as 31 July 2019 to calculate electronic reporting participation rates for NPDES Data Groups No. 4.
EPA will continue to work collaboratively with authorized NPDES programs to enhance implementation of the NPDES eRule. Authorized NPDES programs can request assistance from EPA by sending an email to: NPDESeReporting@epa.gov.

                                       

                                       
                                       
                  2019 NPDES Electronic Reporting Assessment
                               40 CFR 127.26(j)


Discharge Monitoring Reports (NPDES Data Group No. 3)

EPA's NPDES regulations require NPDES permittees to report their effluent monitoring data on Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs). See 40 CFR 122.41(l)(4)(i). The start date for permittees to electronically submit these DMRs was 21 December 2016 (see Table 1 to 40 CFR 127.16).

EPA created the "NPDES eRule Readiness and Data Completeness Dashboard" to collaborate with authorized NPDES programs and to calculate the annual electronic reporting participation assessments for NPDES Data Groups No. 3 (DMRs). This online tool shows how well authorized NPDES programs are doing in sharing facility, permit, and DMR data for DMR filers with ICIS-NPDES. To ensure that this dashboard accurately represents the progress states are making in implementing the NPDES eRule, EPA performs weekly updates of the dashboard with data from ICIS-NPDES. For the 2019 assessment for DMR filers, EPA calculated the percentage of individually permitted facilities that do not have permit limits data in ICIS-NPDES (shown as "Permit Limits Not in ICIS" on the dashboard). See Attachment 1. The dashboard has a drilldown feature that allows EPA and States to identify those facilities in the "Permit Limits Not in ICIS" category. EPA is helping the authorized NPDES programs so that they can provide us the minimum set of data as required by the NPDES eRule (see 40 CFR 127.23).
      
For the 2020 assessment and annually thereafter, EPA plans to expand the assessment to include all relevant data elements for tracking implementation for all DMR filers, except those that file DMRs irregularly and/or have an approved electronic reporting waiver. In particular, EPA will limit these calculations to facilities that report DMRs to the permitting authority on a regular frequency (i.e., "NPDES Data Group Number" = G3A) and exclude facilities that have an approved electronic reporting waiver (i.e., "Electronic Reporting Waiver Type" = TMP or PER). EPA will also identify if a DMR filer electronically submitted their DMRs by using the "Electronic Submission Type (Compliance Monitoring Activity)" data element (ES1, ES2, or ES7).

Sewage Sludge/Biosolids Annual Program Reports (NPDES Data Group No. 4)

EPA's biosolids regulations (40 CFR part 503) require certain generators of biosolids to file a Sewage Sludge/Biosolids Annual Program Report (NPDES Data Group No. 4). This annual report is submitted each February and documents the measures taken to protect public health and the environment from any reasonably anticipated adverse effects of certain pollutants and pathogens that might be present in sewage sludge/biosolids. The start date for regulated entities to electronically submit this report where EPA is the authorized NPDES program was 21 December 2016 (see Table 1 to 40 CFR 127.16).
      
EPA calculated the electronic reporting participation rates by EPA Region for NPDES-regulated entities that electronically submitted the annual report. This calculation was based on those NPDES-regulated entities that electronically submitted their annual report through EPA's NPDES Electronic Reporting Tool ("NeT") and those NPDES-regulated entities that submitted their annual report on paper or through non-standard electronic submissions (e.g., via email). For the 2018 Sewage Sludge/Biosolids Annual Program Report, which had a due date of 19 February 2019, EPA received 2,290 annual reports electronically through NeT. EPA also received 52 paper biosolids annual reports that should have been filed electronically through NeT-Biosolids. This equates to an overall electronic participation rate of 97.7%. See Attachment 2. 
      
With respect to the 52 reports submitted to EPA on paper or by non-standard electronic submissions, EPA plans to work with its Biosolids Center of Excellence (Region 7 in Kansas City, KS) to contact these filers to ensure they are aware of the electronic reporting requirement. In particular, EPA will offer additional training to these facilities so that they can submit their annual report using EPA's NeT application.


Attachments (2)


                                       
          Attachment 1  -  2019 NPDES Electronic Reporting Assessment
                     (DMR Filers - NPDES Data Group No. 3)
                                      No.
                          State, Tribe, or Territory
                Authorized for NPDES Program 
(40 CFR part 122)
                                  EPA Region
                 Number of Individual DMR Filers in ICIS-NPDES
Percentage of Individually Permitted DMR Filers That Do Not Have Limits Data in ICIS-NPDES
                                       1
                                    Alabama
                                      Yes
                                       4
                                     1,237
                                     0.1%
                                       2
                                    Alaska
                                      Yes
                                      10
                                      60
                                     0.0%
                                       3
                                    Arizona
                                      Yes
                                       9
                                      108
                                     0.9%
                                       4
                                   Arkansas
                                      Yes
                                       6
                                      788
                                     0.0%
                                       5
                                  California
                                      Yes
                                       9
                                      404
                                     1.7%
                                       6
                                   Colorado
                                      Yes
                                       8
                                      382
                                     0.0%
                                       7
                                  Connecticut
                                      Yes
                                       1
                                      150
                                     0.0%
                                       8
                                   Delaware
                                      Yes
                                       3
                                      41
                                     0.0%
                                       9
                             District of Columbia
                                      No
                                       3
                                      10
                                     0.0%
                                      10
                                    Florida
                                      Yes
                                       4
                                      416
                                     0.0%
                                      11
                                    Georgia
                                      Yes
                                       4
                                      630
                                     0.2%
                                      12
                                    Hawaii
                                      Yes
                                       9
                                      45
                                     2.2%
                                      13
                                     Idaho
                                      Yes
                                      10
                                      21
                                     0.0%
                                      14
                                   Illinois
                                      Yes
                                       5
                                     1,445
                                     0.3%
                                      15
                                    Indiana
                                      Yes
                                       5
                                     1,231
                                     0.4%
                                      16
                                     Iowa
                                      Yes
                                       7
                                      17
                                     41.2%
                                      17
                                    Kansas
                                      Yes
                                       7
                                      728
                                     0.0%
                                      18
                                   Kentucky
                                      Yes
                                       4
                                     1,386
                                     0.1%
                                      19
                                   Louisiana
                                      Yes
                                       6
                                     1,225
                                     6.6%
                                      20
                                     Maine
                                      Yes
                                       1
                                      149
                                     0.0%
                                      21
                                   Maryland
                                      Yes
                                       3
                                      473
                                     2.3%
                                      22
                                 Massachusetts
                                      No
                                       1
                                      207
                                     3.4%
                                      23
                                   Michigan
                                      Yes
                                       5
                                      15
                                     0.0%
                                      24
                                   Minnesota
                                      Yes
                                       5
                                      600
                                     66.5%
                                      25
                                  Mississippi
                                      Yes
                                       4
                                     1,134
                                     0.0%
                                      26
                                   Missouri
                                      Yes
                                       7
                                     2,390
                                     0.8%
                                      27
                                    Montana
                                      Yes
                                       8
                                      99
                                     1.0%
                                      28
                                   Nebraska
                                      Yes
                                       7
                                      680
                                     12.5%
                                      29
                                    Nevada
                                      Yes
                                       9
                                      88
                                     3.4%
                                      30
                                 New Hampshire
                                      No
                                       1
                                      69
                                     0.0%
                                      31
                                  New Jersey
                                      Yes
                                       2
                                      401
                                     0.2%
                                      32
                                  New Mexico
                                      No
                                       6
                                      112
                                     0.9%
                                      33
                                   New York
                                      Yes
                                       2
                                     1,333
                                     0.0%
                                      34
                                North Carolina
                                      Yes
                                       4
                                     1,103
                                     2.3%
                                      35
                                 North Dakota
                                      Yes
                                       8
                                      27
                                     3.7%
                                      36
                                     Ohio
                                      Yes
                                       5
                                     2,116
                                     0.1%
                                      37
                                   Oklahoma
                                      Yes
                                       6
                                      444
                                     0.0%
                                      38
                                    Oregon
                                      Yes
                                      10
                                      298
                                     0.0%
                                      39
                                 Pennsylvania
                                      Yes
                                       3
                                     3,809
                                     48.4%
                                      40
                                  Puerto Rico
                                      No
                                       2
                                      191
                                     0.0%
                                      41
                                 Rhode Island
                                      Yes
                                       1
                                      68
                                     0.0%
                                      42
                                South Carolina
                                      Yes
                                       4
                                      388
                                     1.3%
                                      43
                                 South Dakota
                                      Yes
                                       8
                                      201
                                     0.0%
                                      44
                                   Tennessee
                                      Yes
                                       4
                                      961
                                     0.1%
                                      45
                                     Texas
                                      Yes
                                       6
                                     3,041
                                     9.4%
                                      46
                                     Utah
                                      Yes
                                       8
                                      120
                                     0.8%
                                      47
                                    Vermont
                                      Yes
                                       1
                                      183
                                     1.1%
                                      48
                                Virgin Islands
                                      Yes
                                       2
                                      78
                                     0.0%
                                      49
                                   Virginia
                                      Yes
                                       3
                                      857
                                     0.1%
                                      50
                                  Washington
                                      Yes
                                      10
                                       6
                                     83.3%
                                      51
                                 West Virginia
                                      Yes
                                       3
                                     1,730
                                     2.8%
                                      52
                                   Wisconsin
                                      Yes
                                       5
                                      708
                                     0.1%
                                      53
                                    Wyoming
                                      Yes
                                       8
                                      286
                                     0.0%
                                      54
                               Other Territories
                                      No
                                    2, 6, 9
                                      20
                                     0.0%

Source: EPA's NPDES eRule Readiness and Data Completeness Dashboard. The dashboard selector "Issuing Agency" was set to "State" for states and territories that are authorized to administer the NPDES program. Conversely, this dashboard selector was set to "U.S. EPA" for states and territories that are not authorized to administer the NPDES program. Data for the 2019 assessment was retrieved from the dashboard on 16 September 2019 (which uses data from ICIS-NPDES as of 13 September 2019). 

Note: This table excludes EPA issued permits in states where the state is the authorized NPDES program (40 CFR part 122). The "Other Territories" row in this table includes: (1) American Samoa (AS), Guam (GU), Northern Mariana Islands (MP), Midway Island and Wake Island (MW), and Navajo Nation  -  these NPDES permits are issued by EPA Region 9 (NN); (2) Federal Offshore Oil and Gas permits in the Western Gulf of Mexico  -  these NPDES permits are issued by EPA Region 6 (GM); and (3) Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe - these NPDES permits are issued by EPA Region 2 (SR).
         Attachment 2  -  2019 NPDES Electronic Reporting Assessment 
(Sewage Sludge/Biosolids Annual Program Report Filers - NPDES Data Group No. 4)
                                       
                                  EPA Region
        Number of Sewage Sludge /Biosolids Annual Program Report Filers
Number of Sewage Sludge/Biosolids Annual Program Report Filers that Filed on Paper or Non-Standard Electronic Submissions
Number of Sewage Sludge/Biosolids Annual Program Report Filers that Filed Electronically via EPA's NeT
Number of Sewage Sludge/Biosolids Annual Program Report Filers that Filed Electronically via EPA's NeT (Regulated by State NPDES Biosolids Programs)
Percentage of Sewage Sludge/Biosolids Annual Program Report Filers that Filed Electronically as Required by 
                                  NPDES eRule
                                 (40 CFR 127)
                                       1
                                      162
                                       8
                                      154
                                      N/A
                                     95.1%
                                       2
                                      250
                                      10
                                      240
                                      N/A
                                     96.0%
                                       3
                                      271
                                       2
                                      269
                                      N/A
                                     99.3%
                                       4
                                      499
                                      12
                                      487
                                      N/A
                                     97.6%
                                       5
                                      306
                                       7
                                      310
                                      11
                                     97.7%
                                       6
                                      97
                                       2
                                      95
                                       0
                                     97.9%
                                       7
                                      248
                                       8
                                      240
                                      N/A
                                     96.8%
                                       8
                                      104
                                       2
                                      125
                                      23
                                     98.1%
                                       9
                                      238
                                       0
                                      242
                                       4
                                    100.0%
                                      10
                                      129
                                       1
                                      128
                                      N/A
                                     99.2%
                                     TOTAL
                                     2,304
                                      52
                                     2,290
                                      38
                                     97.7%

Source: EPA's NPDES Electronic Reporting Tool ("NeT"). These data represent reports that were received by NeT for the 2018 reporting year (as of 31 July 2019). 

Note: The following states are authorized to run the Federal biosolids program (40 CFR part 503): Arizona, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin. See: https://www.epa.gov/npdes/npdes-state-program-information. The NPDES eRule requires filers in these eight states to start electronically filing their annual reports no later than 21 December 2020. EPA received the following number of annual reports from filers in states authorized for the Federal biosolids program via NeT for the 2018 reporting year (as of 31 July 2019): Arizona (4), Michigan (5), Ohio (6), Oklahoma (0), South Dakota (19), Texas (0), Utah (4), and Wisconsin (0). EPA receive four paper annual reports from filers in states authorized for the Federal biosolids program: Ohio (2) and Wisconsin (2).
