Parameter Definitions

Note:  If the data on the Parameter Definition form is read-only for an existing parameter, the parameter may be part of a Parameter Set.

Essential provides a comprehensive monitoring system to verify that the equipment and sources at your entity comply with permit-driven limits or corporate performance requirements. For reporting purposes, you can define a list of materials you use at your entity and track properties about those materials. More importantly, you can assign parameters and establish their permit-driven limits. Then, you can collect monitoring data for use in emission equations and generate reports to show your compliance with the permitted limits. Permit limits can be established for your air, water, or waste emissions.

For instruction on defining parameters, click the following links or use the scroll bar to scan the page.

Overview of Parameters

A parameter identifies a measurable or definable quality that changes over time. Establishing parameters allows you to store operational data for a point in time that helps you to determine regulatory, permit-driven limit, and corporate performance compliance. Parameters can be monitored at the following levels:

• Entity

• Process Unit

• Production Unit

• Emission Unit

Assign a material to a parameter to monitor specifically for that material. For example, you might want to monitor the quantity of coal used over a time period for a boiler that uses coal. Establish "Quantity used" as the parameter and associate "Coal" as the material. In addition to the levels that are not associated with a material, the following levels are available for parameter monitoring:

• Entity Material

• Process Unit Material

• Production Unit Material

• Emission Unit Material

Note:  Not all levels apply to all modules. For example, parameters can be established for just the entity- and process unit-related levels in the Waste module.

The authorization to establish a parameter on one, two, or more levels can be granted on a per-user basis. For example, one user may need to be authorized to set up parameters on all levels while another user may only need to establish parameters on the process unit and process unit material levels. Authorization is granted as element permissions of the Parameter Definition security object. Refer to Overview of Security and Access Profiles for additional information.

Set up parameters on the Parameter Definition form. A parameter level and parameter are required. Initially, all of the parameter level-related fields appear on the form. As each entry is made, the fields that do not apply are no longer displayed. For example, when establishing a process unit parameter, after selecting the entity and process unit, the fields related to production/emission units no longer appear. To start over and re-display all of the level-related fields, the Reset form option is available. This option is only available before the parameter definition is saved and clears any entries already made. After the parameter definition record is saved, the title of the header section is changed to identify the parameter level. Using the same example, the "Parameter Definition" title would change to "Process Unit Parameter" upon save.

Media Access options on the Parameter validation form are used for designating which module(s) a parameter applies to—Air, Waste, and/or Water. The parameter will only appear as a form field list choice in the modules specified. For example, if you want to be able to set up parameter definitions for the parameter in the Air module, the Air check box must be selected. All parameters are available for selection in the Compliance Manager module where they are used to group regulations. For example, one regulation may apply only to air, while another might apply only to waste.

One or more of the following attributes can be applied to each parameter via the Parameter Definition form:

• A material qualifier can be specified to indicate the parameter is monitoring some aspect of the material such as the concentration of benzene.

• In the General section, enter information about how you sample for a parameter, such as the frequency, type, analytical method, matrix, and determination method. Specify whether monitoring results are SARA reportable and if deviations are to be tracked.  

• In the Result Settings section, enter a default unit of measure and data origin. Specify whether a data origin and/or a reason for change value is required when monitoring results are entered/edited. Indicate the percentage of the detection limit to use as a result when the result is below an instrument's Detection Limit. In the % Variation From Previous Value fields, define an acceptable variation between the previous parameter result and the current result. When the current result being entered is above or below the percentage limit, a comment is required to save the parameter result record.

• In the Permit Sample Information section, set up the permit-driven or corporate performance limits for each monitoring parameter to ensure that the monitoring data you collect complies with your requirements, such as how often you must monitor the parameter. Document your operating permits on the Permit form before you set up the requirements. You can also change how your sampling frequency appears on reports. For example, in Essential, you might indicate the frequency at which you monitor as "Once a Week". However, a report might require you to document the frequency as "1/7". When you enter a user-defined frequency for the parameter in this section, any reports you generate will use this frequency. You can also enter a code for the frequency if it is required by certain reports.

• In the Limits section, enter limits, such as minimum/average/maximum quality and quantity, for parameter monitoring results. Indicate whether the monitoring results you collect for the parameter should be greater than or less than the limit. Limits may change depending on the time of year. For example, during the ozone season, air emission limits may be more strict. To accommodate this fluctuation, specify a date range for the limit. The effective and end dates establish the time period when the limits are applicable. These dates allow you to account for time-dependent regulatory requirements and to retain past limit values for historical reporting and recordkeeping.

• In the Parameter Groups section, assign a parameter to one or more parameter groups whose results are commonly entered at the same time. Parameter groups can be established on the Parameter Group form.

• In the User Defined Properties section, assign properties to track values in emission equations and/or for reporting and recordkeeping purposes. Properties are fixed characteristics of a parameter that do not change over time. Validation criteria for each property can be entered when applicable.

• In the outfall Loading Information section, specify how the loading values for the parameter are calculated. A loading value is a quantity of a monitoring parameter over a certain amount of time. An expression that will calculate the quantity from the values of other monitoring parameters can be set up. This section is available only when the Parameter Definition form is accessed via the Water module.

Parameter Definition Browse View

The Parameter Definition browse view has been set up with a filter for each parameter level. Multiple filters can be applied at one time. Select a check box to include records for the level; clear the check box to exclude records for the level. The ability to quickly Select All or Select None of the filters is also available. It is important to note the My Default Entity and Exclude Inactive Parameters filters are not part of the select all/none capabilities.

The option to export search/filter results is available.

Establishing Parameters

Set up parameters on the Parameter Definition form. A parameter level and parameter are required. Initially, all of the parameter level-related fields appear on the form. As each entry is made, the fields that do not apply are no longer displayed. For example, when establishing a process unit parameter, after selecting the entity and process unit, the fields related to production/emission units no longer appear. To start over and re-display all of the level-related fields, the Reset form option is available. This option is only available before the parameter definition is saved and clears any entries already made. After the parameter definition record is saved, the title of the header section is changed to identify the parameter level. Using the same example, the "Parameter Definition" title would change to "Process Unit Parameter" upon save.

A material must be assigned for a parameter material level. Set up your materials on the Material form. A material qualifier can be associated with a parameter at any level when applicable.

To establish a parameter

Tip:  When accessing the Parameter Definition form in the Compliance Manager module via the Process Unit Compliance Parameters form, select a process unit material when applicable and begin with step 4.

1. Click Data Entry > Parameter Information > Parameter Definition in the Navigation Tree.
   
   The Parameter Definition list is displayed.

2. Click the New button.
   
   The Parameter Definition form is displayed.

3. Select an Entity from the list and use the guidelines below to define the parameter level. The fields displayed are based on the data entered.
   
   Note:  Once a parameter definition is saved, the parameter level for the record cannot be changed.

1. • Entity level - Continue to step 4.

   • Entity Material  level - Select an Entity Material from the list and continue to step 4. Just the materials assigned to the entity are available for selection. If the applicable material is not listed, click the Ellipsis button and add it.

   • Process Unit level - Select a Process Unit from the list and continue to step 4.

   • Process Unit Material level - Select a Process Unit and Process Unit Material from the list for each field and continue to step 4. Just the materials assigned to the process unit are available for selection. If the applicable material is not listed, click the Ellipsis button and add it.

   • Production Unit level - Select a Production Unit from the list and continue to step 4.

   • Production Unit Material level - Select a Production Unit and Production Unit Material from the list for each field and continue to step 4. Just the materials assigned to the production unit are available for selection. If the applicable material is not listed, click the Ellipsis button and add it.

   • Emission Unit level - Select an Emission Unit from the list and continue to step 4.

   • Emission Unit Material level - Select an Emission Unit and Emission Unit Material from the list for each field and continue to step 4. Just the materials assigned to the emission unit are available for selection. If the applicable material is not listed, click the Ellipsis button and add it.

   • To clear the selections made, click the Reset form button at any time before the record is saved.

4. Select a Parameter Name from the list and, when applicable, a Material Qualifier.
   
   If the appropriate value is not listed, click the Ellipsis button next to the field and add it.

5. Enter parameter attributes in the General and Results Settings sections.

6. Click Save on the form.
   
   The title of the header section displays the parameter level and the Parameter Groups, Permit Sample Information, Limits, and User Defined Properties sections are displayed.

7. Complete the appropriate fields in the other sections on the form and click Save.

8. Repeat steps 2 through 7 to set up another parameter definition.

Adding Parameter Attributes

Enter general attributes and information about how you sample for a parameter in the General section on the Parameter Definition form.

• Frequency at which you sample (e.g., daily, hourly). In order to identify missing values for a parameter in Process Data Manager (PDM) and to determine the dates when adding bulk results on the Parameter Data Entry form, a frequency with a defined Recurrence Pattern must be assigned to the parameter. A recurrence pattern defines the interval between expected parameter monitoring data imports and can be based on intervals of minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, or years. For weekly, monthly, or yearly recurrence patterns, a Frequency Pattern Effective Date is required to calculate the date range of each interval in the recurrence series. If no frequency is assigned to a parameter, or if a frequency with no recurrence pattern is assigned, the Process Data Manager Frequency Expansion process will not be applied for the parameter; the existing Pre-staging data will be used. For adding bulk results, no dates will be automatically populated. Define recurrence patterns on the Frequencies form.  

• Sample Type used to collect the results (e.g., continuous, grab, or composite).  

• Analytical Method - Matrix used to obtain monitoring results.

• Determination Method pertains to parameters that you monitor for an outfall. Typically, you should assign these parameters via the Outfall form if you are using the Water module.

• Inactive Date flags a parameter as inactive. No monitoring results can be saved for a parameter on or after its inactive date. To view results for an inactive parameter, clear the Exclude Inactive Parameters check box on the Parameter Data Entry browse view.

• External ID is required to import data with the External ID Parameter and the Parameter Groups Data Importer templates. The ID must be unique per entity and is used to identify/select parameters regardless of parameter level (entity, process unit material, emission unit, etc.). The External ID is not required for Process Data Manager; however, when a tag is mapped to a parameter, the External ID field is automatically populated with the tag name—if the field is blank. The parameter tag mapping process will not overwrite/modify existing IDs. The entry in the External ID field can be changed at any time.

Tip:  The External ID is not copied when using the Emission Model Copy, Advanced Process Unit Copy, and Simple Process Unit Copy wizards.

• To report the calculated loading value for the parameter on SARA reports such as the form R, click the SARA Reportable check box and select the determination method (basis of estimate). Do not select the check box if you are modeling emissions from an outfall using the Air module because the emissions will be counted twice on SARA reports.

• Set the Track Deviations flag to track potential deviations. The Track Deviations button will be displayed for parameter results (including abatement efficiency changes) marked as a potential deviation. The button opens the Deviation Details form in a separate window. Refer to Deviation Tracking for additional information.

Tip:  In the Water module, the frequency and sample type values are used for the eDMR. Refer to Generating a DMR or an MER for additional information.

To enter parameter attributes

1. Click Data Entry > Parameter Information > Parameter Definition in the Navigation Tree, select the parameter record, and expand the General section when necessary.

2. Select a sampling Frequency from the list. If the applicable frequency is not listed, click the Ellipsis button and add it.
   
   Note:  The Frequency field also applies to missing value identification for PDM. Based on the recurrence pattern established for the frequency selected, the Frequency Pattern Effective Date field is displayed when a date is required to determine recurrence intervals. Enter a date and time to indicate when the first interval begins. Refer to Frequencies for additional information.

3. Select a Sample Type and Analytical Method - Matrix from the list for each field.
   
   If the appropriate value is not listed, click the Ellipsis button next to the field and add it.

4. Select a Determination Method from the list when the parameter is related to an outfall.

5. Specify an Inactive Date when applicable. No monitoring results can be saved for the parameter on or after its inactive date.

6. Enter an External ID.
   
   The External ID is required to import data using the External ID Parameter and the Parameter Groups Data Importer templates. The ID must be unique per entity and is used to identify/select parameters regardless of parameter level (entity, process unit material, emission unit, etc.). The External ID is not required for Process Data Manager; however, when a tag is mapped to the parameter, the External ID field is automatically populated with the tag name—if the field is blank. The parameter tag mapping process will not overwrite/modify existing IDs. The entry in the External ID field can be changed at any time.

7. Select the SARA Reportable option to include monitoring results in SARA reports.
   
   Note:  Click the SARA Reportable check box and select a Determination Method to report the calculated loading value for the parameter on SARA reports such as the form R. Do not select this check box if you are modeling emissions from an outfall using the Air module because the emissions will be counted twice on SARA reports.

8. Click the Track Deviations check box to track potential deviations for monitoring results.

9. Click the Save button on the form.

Configuring Result Settings

Specify attributes that affect monitoring results for a parameter in the Result Settings section on the Parameter Definition form. Available options include:

• Default Result Units - Select the unit of measure in which the result should be entered. The unit selected is assigned to missing value records generated by the PDM Frequency Expansion process when no parameter-to-tag mapping record exists.

• Default Data Origin - Select the data origin to be automatically assigned when monitoring results are entered for the parameter.

• Data Origin Required on New - Click the check box to require that a data origin value be specified when a new monitoring result for the parameter is entered.

• Data Origin Required on Update - Click the check box to require that a data origin value be specified when an existing monitoring result for the parameter is updated.

• Reason for Change Required - Click the check box to require that a reason be selected when an existing monitoring result for the parameter is updated.

If an analysis of a parameter result was determined to be below the detection limit (BDL) of the instrument that analyzed it, there are two choices for reporting the result:

1. The first option is to report a percentage of the detection limit as the result. For example, a lab instrument may have a detection limit of 5 ppb for benzene. So, if the limit percent is 50%, the result is reported as 2.5 ppb. When specifying a percentage of the detection limit, also enter the lower limit of the lab instrument. A default detection limit and percentage may already be displayed and can be edited when necessary.

2. The second option for reporting the result is to specify a detection limit description. An example of a description is "< 8.0". You may want to use this description on a report instead of the result value.

% Variation Validation

In the % Variation From Previous Value fields, define an acceptable variation between the previous parameter result and the current result. Specify an upper and lower percentage limit. When the current result value being entered is above or below the limit, either the value must be changed or a comment is required to save the parameter result. Chronological order determines the previous parameter result for the validation calculation: Variation % = ((Current Result - Prior Result) / Prior Result) * 100%. When the prior result is zero or does not exist, the following calculations apply:

Important:  Validation applies only to new results entered, and previously entered results that are edited after % Variation limits are associated with the parameter.

For example, assume quarterly results for "Parameter XYZ" exist on the following days:

3/1/10   6/1/10   9.10

On 12/10/10, % Variation limits are assigned to Parameter XYZ. On 12/15/10, the 12/1/10 Parameter XYZ result is added. The variation between the 9.10 value (previous) and the 12/1/10 value (current) is validated because the 12/1/10 value is a new parameter result and was entered after limits were assigned to Parameter XYZ. No other % Variation validation takes place at this time.

Then on 12/20/10, the 6/1/10 Parameter XYZ result is edited. The variation between the 3/1/10 value (previous) and the 6/1/10 value (current) is validated because the 6/1/10 value was edited after limits were assigned to Parameter XYZ.

Note:  Any default % Variation limit values entered on the Parameter form, will automatically populate the % Variation From Previous Value limit fields when setting up a new parameter. The limits can be changed on the Parameter Definition form at any time.

To configure result settings

1. Click Data Entry > Parameter Information > Parameter Definition in the Navigation Tree, select the parameter record, and expand the Result Settings section when necessary.

2. Select a Default Result Units of measure from the list.
   
   The list contains every unit of measure that is of the same type as the parameter's base unit. If the appropriate value is not listed, click the Ellipsis button and add it.

3. Select a Default Data Origin that represents the source of monitoring data results from the list.
   
   If the appropriate value is not listed, click the Ellipsis button next to the field and add it.

4. Click the Data Origin Required on New, Data Origin Required on Update, and/or Reason for Change Required check box to apply the requirement to the parameter.

5. Click the Track Deviations check box to track potential deviations for monitoring results.

6. Enter the percentage of the limit to use for samples below the detection limit in the Detection Limit Percent field.

7. Enter the lowest limit the lab instrument that analyzes the samples can detect in the Detection Limit field and select the appropriate Detection Limit Units of measure from the list.
   
   If the appropriate unit is not listed, click the Ellipsis button and add it.

8. Enter a Detection Limit Description when applicable.

9. Change the % Variation From Previous Value Upper Limit and Lower Limit, or enter new ones, to indicate the acceptable variation between the prior parameter result and the current parameter result. When the current result being entered is above or below the limit, a comment is required to save the parameter result record.

10. Click the Save button on the form.

Establishing Permit Sample Information

In the Permit Sample Information section on the Parameter Definition form, set up the permit-driven or corporate performance limits for each monitoring parameter to ensure that the monitoring data you collect complies with your requirements, such as how often you must monitor the parameter and how the sample should be taken, such as via grab samples. Permitted sampling information is required on the federal DMR. Document your operating permits on the Permit form before you set up the requirements.

You can change how your sampling frequency appears on reports in the Permit Sample Information section. For example, in Essential, you might indicate the frequency at which you monitor as "Once a Week". However, a report might require you to document the frequency as "1/7". When you enter a user-defined frequency for the parameter in this section, any reports you generate will use this frequency. You can also enter a code for the frequency if it is required by certain reports.

To establish permit sampling information for parameters

1. Click Data Entry > Parameter Information > Parameter Definition in the Navigation Tree, select the parameter record, and expand the Permit Sample Information section when necessary.

2. Click Add Permit Sample.

3. Select a Permit - Effective Date and Permitted Sample Frequency from the list for each field.

4. Enter a reporting Frequency Code and/or a User Defined Frequency for reports when applicable.

5. Select a Sample Type from the list and click OK.
   
   The permit sample information is displayed as a line item in the Permit Sample Information section. Edit existing sample information using the buttons adjacent to the line item.

6. Click the Save button on the form.

Defining Parameter Limits

Specify limits for parameter monitoring results in the Limits section on the Parameter Definition form. Define limits for minimum quality and quantity, average quality and quantity, and maximum quality and quantity. Indicate whether the monitoring results you collect for the parameter should be greater than or less than the limit. The limits are used when parameter results are entered and validated.

Note:  Monitoring results are validated against parameter limits only when an entity, process unit, or emission unit parameter result is entered on the Parameter Data Entry, Parameter Group Data Entry, or Sample Quickfill form.  Refer to Parameter Result Validation Process for additional information.

Limits may change depending on the time of year. For example, one limit might be applicable in the summer, while another limit might be in effect for the remaining portions of the year. To accommodate this fluctuation, define each limit and enter the date range it is effective.

In addition to entering the values and effective date of limits, you can document the operating permits from which the limits are derived. To assign a driving permit to a parameter limit, be sure that the permit's effective date is earlier than or the same as the parameter limit's effective date and that the permit's expiration date is later than the parameter's end date. For example, Permit 27, with an effective date of 6/6/03 and an expiration date of 12/31/10, will only be available for limits that have start and end dates within that date range. If you did not specify an expiration date for a permit, the permit can drive any parameter limit that has an effective date the same as or later than the permit start date. However, if you did not specify an end date for a parameter limit, only permits that do not have an expiration date can drive that limit. The Parameter Limit Permits form can only be accessed via the Associate Permits link for an existing line item in the Limits section on the Parameter Definition form.

If the limit is an internal performance standard, you can set up your standard as a permit. Document your permits on the Permit form before associating them with a parameter limit.

Parameter limit-related custom fields can be configured for entity, process unit, and emission unit parameters only, and are displayed when adding/editing a limit.

To define parameter limits

1. Click Data Entry > Parameter Information > Parameter Definition in the Navigation Tree, select the parameter record, and expand the Limits section when necessary.

2. Click Add Limit and select a Limit Type and Qualifier from the list for each field.

3. Enter the emission Limit Value and enter the number of significant digits to use after the decimal when the limit value specified ends in zero in the Limit Decimal Precision field.
   
   Decimal precision applies to parameters set up on the process unit level.

4. Select a limit value Units of measure from the list.
   
   For parameter definition records established for the Water module, any unit of measure may be selected. For parameter definition records established in all other modules, the values available for selection are limited to the parameter's base unit of measure.

5. Enter a Limit Effective Date and Limit End Date for the limit or use the Calendar button to select one. If you leave the Limit End Date field blank, the limit will always be effective.

6. Enter a Limit Description and click OK.
   
   The limit information is displayed as a line item in the Limits section. Edit existing limits using the buttons adjacent to the line item.

7. Click the Save button on the Parameter Definition form.

8. Click the line item Associated Permits link to open the Parameter Limit Permits form and associate operating permits with the limit. Otherwise, skip to step 12.

9. Click Select Existing Permits and click the check box adjacent to each applicable permit to select it.

10. Click OK.
    
    Each permit is displayed as a line item in the Permits section. To remove a permit association, click the Delete button adjacent to the line item.

11. Click the Save button on the Parameter Limit Permits form and close the window to return to the Parameter Definition form.

12. Repeat steps 2 through 11 to add other parameter limits.

Assigning Parameter Groups

In the Parameter Groups section on the Parameter Definition form, assign a parameter to one or more parameter groups whose results are commonly entered at the same time. Parameter groups can be established on the Parameter Group form.

To assign parameter groups

1. Click Data Entry > Parameter Information > Parameter Definition in the Navigation Tree, select the parameter record, and expand the Parameter Groups section when necessary.

2. Click Add to Parameter Groups to select one or more existing groups.
   
   When necessary, use the New Parameter Group link to access the Parameter Group form and establish a new group.

3. Select one or more groups by clicking the check box adjacent to the group and clicking Add to Parameter Groups.
   
   Each group selected is displayed as a line item in the Parameter Groups section. Click the Delete button adjacent to a line item to remove an existing parameter group assignment.

4. Click the Save button on the form.

Adding User-defined Properties

In the User Defined Properties section on the Parameter Definition form, assign properties to track values in emission equations and/or for reporting and recordkeeping purposes. Properties are fixed characteristics of a parameter that do not change over time. Enter validation criteria for each property when applicable. For additional information, refer to User-Defined Properties.

To add user-defined properties

1. Locate the parameter on the Parameter Definition list, click the link to display the Parameter Definition form, and expand the User Defined Properties section when necessary.

2. Click Add User Defined Property.

3. Select the Property from the list.
   
   The remaining fields displayed are based on the type of property selected, Numeric, Boolean, Text, or Validation List.

4. Complete the remaining fields with the applicable validation data and click OK.
   
   The property is displayed as a line item in the User Defined Property section. Edit existing property information using the buttons adjacent to the line item.

5. Repeat steps 2 through 4 to add other user-defined properties.

6. Click the Save button on the form.

Setting Outfall Loading Options

Note:  Outfall loading options are available on the Parameter Definition form only when it is accessed via the Water module.

In the Loading Information section, specify how the loading values for the parameter are calculated. A loading value is a quantity of a monitoring parameter over a certain amount of time. For example, the number of pounds of a pollutant discharged per day (lb/day). There are two options available for indicating the quantity of each parameter:

• Directly input the value.

• Set up an expression that will calculate the quantity from the values of other monitoring parameters.

To set up an expression, specify the quality and quantity parameter, along with a conversion factor. The conversion factor allows you to convert the base units that result from the quality/quantity function to the base units associated with the loading result. For example, to calculate the quantity or loading of benzene, you would multiply the concentration of benzene by the flow rate of the outfall:

To set outfall loading options

1. Locate the parameter on the Parameter Definition list, click the link to display the Parameter Definition form, and expand the Loading Information section when necessary. The section is only displayed when the form is accessed via the Water module.

2. Select the appropriate loading option, Calculated or Directly Inputted, and follow these guidelines:

1. • For Calculated, continue to step 3 to begin identifying the expression.

   • For Directly Inputted, skip to step 6..

3. Select a Quality Parameter and a mathematical Operator from the list for each field.

4. Select a Quantity Parameter and a mathematical Operator from the list for each field.

5. Enter a number that represents the conversion Factor.
   
   The conversion factor allows you to convert the base units that result from the quality/quantity function to the base units associated with the loading result.

6. Select a Loading Result Parameter and corresponding Units of measure from the list for each field.
   
   The parameter selected here is used to determine average loading BDL values for reporting. Refer to Average Quality/Loading BDL Determination for additional information.

7. Click the Save button on the form.

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