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fl-L.5L^200|-35 Cl 3^ ydlberra ENVIRONMENT Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 https://archive.org/details/rapidsevaluationOOalbe /diberra ENVIRONMENT RAPIDS Evaluation Project Report Prepared for: By Science and Technology Branch Environmental Sciences Division Alberta Environment LGS Group Inc. March, 2000 Pub. No. T/561 ISBN: 0-7785-1 391 -2 (Printed Version) ISBN: 0-7785-1 393-9 (On-Line Version) Web Site: http://www.gov.ab.ca/env/protenf/publications Although prepared with funding from Alberta Environment (AENV), the contents of this report/document do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of AENV, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. Any questions on this document may be directed to: Environmental Sciences Division Alberta Environment 4^^ Floor, Oxbridge Place 9820 - l Oe^'^ Street Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2J6 Phone: (780)427-5883 Fax: (780) 422-4192 Email: [email protected] Additional copies of this document may be obtained by contacting: Information Centre Alberta Environment Main Floor, Great West Life Building 9920-108'^ Street Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2M4 Phone: (780)944-0313 Fax: (780)427-4407 Email: [email protected] SUMMARY Alberta Environment (AENV) is seeking a s ystem that will satisfy its current and identified future emission inventory requirements. This project evaluates the Regional Air Pollutant Inventory Development System (RAPIDS) to determine its applicability, its usability, and how electronic data transfer of emissions and other data can be facilitated. RAPIDS was found to be generally suitable as an emissions inventory system. It p rovides an excellent data framework to manage emissions inventory information for AENV. It can ensure consistency of information, and it p rovides standardised methodologies for estimating and reporting emissions. Because RAPIDS was developed and is supported by the Great Lakes Commission to serve as a c ommon emission inventory system for agencies, AENV can potentially participate in a c ommon support and development process for RAPIDS. As part of the evaluation RAPIDS was presented to selected industry representatives through a one-day workshop and feedback was solicited. RAPIDS can serve as a c ommon emissions inventory system for both AENV and industry, and some participants expressed interest in using RAPIDS as their facility emissions management system. RAPIDS has the capability to export from one user’s system to another, so the submission process can be very straightforward. If some users wish to maintain their own data management system and not use RAPIDS, then a s tandard data format can be derived. Through the workshop, RAPIDS was found to be complex to use, and in its current form it m ay not satisfy industry’s need to streamline their emission information reporting process. It was also noted that some industries either had their own software or were intending to develop software for maintaining this type of information for submission to AENV For RAPIDS to be effective for use by AENV, it must be linked with other AENV systems and specific interfaces for information submission and access must be developed. Should RAPIDS not be adopted, these same standards must also apply to an alternate. RAPIDS Evaluation Project Report i RAPIDS Evaluation Project Report ii TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY I 1 PROJECT OVERVIEW 1 1 . 1 Obj ecti ve of Proj ect 1 1 .2 Overview of Emission Inventory Status 1 1 .3 Influencing Factors 2 1.4 Project Goals 2 1. 4. 1 Suitability as Emissions Estimation and Compliance Tool 3 1. 4. 2 Determine RAPIDS Software Usability 3 1.4.3 Suitability of R APIDS for CEM Data 3 1.4.4 Set Standards for Electronic Data Transfer 4 1 .5 Approach to Project 4 2 ASSESSMENT OF RAPIDS 5 2.1 Overview of RAPIDS 5 2.2 Suitability as an Emissions Estimator for AENV 6 2. 2. 1 Assessment of R APIDS informational capability 6 2. 2. 2 Definition of A ENV Requirements 8 2.2.3 Specific Applicability of R APIDS for AENV / 1 2.3 RAPIDS Usability 14 2. 3. 1 Workshop Example Description 15 2. 3. 2 RAPIDS - U sabil ity Overview 16 2. 3. 3 RAPIDS - E ase of Use as an Emission Estimation Tool 16 2. 3. 4 RAPIDS - E ase of Use as a C ompliance Data Submission Tool 17 2. 3. 5 Strengths of R AP IDS 17 2. 3. 6 Deficiencies in RAPIDS 18 2. 3. 7 Integration with Existing Industry Data Systems 19 3 MECHANISMS FOR ELECTRONIC DATA TRANSMISSION 20 3 . 1 Summary of Current Electronic Data Transfer Mechanisms 20 3. 1. 1 Summary of D ata Transfer Mechanisms Currently Used by EMS 20 3.1.2 Summary of I ndustry Technical Environment Capability 21 3.1.3 Summary of R APIDS Ability to Provide a M echanism for Electronic Data Transmission 23 3.2 Identified Requirements 23 3. 2. 1 Reporting Specifications 24 3. 2. 2 Electronic Data Transmission Mechanisms 24 3. 2. 3 Encryption 25 3.2.4 Data Validation 25 3.2.5 Data Access 26 3. 2. 6 Data Confidentiality 26 3.3 Conceptual Architecture 27 4 NEXT STEPS 29 APPENDIX I: WORKSHOP MATERIALS A1 APPENDIX II: QUESTIONNAIRE AND CONSOLIDATED INDUSTRY FEEDBACK A2 RAPIDS Evaluation Project Report iii LIST OF TABLES Table 1 AENV Emission Inventory Data (Approved Industrial Operations) 10 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 Workshop Example 15 Figure 2 Conceptual Architecture 28 RAPIDS Evaluation Project Report iv