Air Reporting System quality assurance messages
Reporters can run quality assurance reports in ARS before or after submitting the annual emissions inventory (EI). The quality assurance messages are designed to be brief and informative. Reporters can run the quality assurance program at any time in ARS by clicking on the Final Check/Submit Data link and then clicking the QA Report button on the Completeness Check & Submit Data screen. If corrections are needed and the EI has been submitted, contact DNR to rescind the EI in order to make revisions.
Get help
For assistance, contact Grant Hetherington.
Message explanations
This table describes each of the 18 quality assurance messages reporters may encounter when running the ARS quality assurance report.
| Message Type | Message Title | Meaning of Message | Suggested Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source | Number of employees reported must be greater than 0 | The number of full time employees on site must be greater than 0 | Make the correction under the Update Facility Info link |
| Source | The facility area must be greater than 100 square feet | The facility area from fence line to fence line is too small | Make the correction under the Update Facility Info link |
| Source | EPA Class Code does not match emissions | The EPA Class Code is defined in an operation permit. If the pollutant annual emissions exceed the permitted emission limit, then the facility may be in violation of the operation permit. | Go to the Emissions & Billing, QA, Summary Reports, Certification and Under-Thresholds-Notification UTN link. Click on rollup. Determine which pollutant(s) exceed permit limits. Review emissions for that pollutant and call DNR if permit limits need to be modified. |
| Throughput | Throughput did not change in consecutive years | It is unusual to have identical amounts of fuel burned or product produced for two years | Check throughput information. To make a correction, if the EI has not been submitted, revise the throughput. If the EI has been submitted, contact DNR to rescind the EI in order to make correction. |
| Throughput | Throughput reported in prior year but not in current year | If throughput increases, then emissions generally increase | Run a draft summary report and compare between last year's final report and the draft report. Make the correction. |
| Throughput | Throughput decreased over two years, but emissions increased | If throughput decreases, the emissions generally decrease | Run a draft summary report and compare between last year's final report and the draft report. Make the correction. |
| Emissions | PM2.5 greater than PM10 | PM2.5 is a subset of PM10 and should not exceed PM10 | Revise the emissions to correct the imbalance and re-run the emissions calculator. |
| Emissions | PM2.5 greater than PM | PM2.5 is a subset of PM10 and should not exceed PM | Revise the emissions to correct the imbalance and re-run the emissions calculator. |
| Emissions | PM10 greater than PM | PM10 is a subset of PM and should not exceed PM | Revise the emissions to correct the imbalance and re-run the emissions calculator. |
| Emissions | PM2.5 greater than PM10 | PM2.5 is a subset of PM10 and should not exceed PM10 | Revise the emissions to correct the imbalance and re-run the emissions calculator. |
| Emissions | PM2.5 greater than PM | PM2.5 is a subset of PM10 and should not exceed PM | Revise the emissions to correct the imbalance and re-run the emissions calculator. |
| Emissions | Sum of individual PM toxics greater than PM | Some toxics are considered particulate matter (PM) too. The sum of these toxics should not exceed the PM | Run a summary report and determine which pollutant(s) are causing the PM toxics total to exceed the PM. Revise the emissions to correct the imbalance and re-run the emissions calculator. |
| Emissions | PM10 greater than PM | PM10 is a subset of PM and should not exceed PM | Revise the emissions to correct the imbalance and re-run the emissions calculator. |
| Emissions | Sum of individual ROG toxics greater than ROG | Some toxics are considered ROG too. The sum of these toxics should not exceed the ROG | Run a summary report and determine which pollutant(s) are causing the ROG toxics total to exceed the ROG. Revise the emissions to correct the imbalance and re-run the emissions calculator. |
| Emissions | Sum of TRS toxics greater than TRS | Seven toxics are considered total reduced sulfur (TRS) too. The sum of these toxics should not exceed the TRS. | Run a summary report and determine which pollutant(s) are causing the TRS toxics total to exceed the TRS. Revise the emissions to correct the imbalance and re-run the emissions calculator. |
| Emissions | Sum of glycol ethers toxics greater than glycol ethers | Some toxics are considered glycol ethers too. The sum of these toxics should not exceed the glycol ethers. | Run a summary report and determine which pollutant(s) are causing the glycol ethers toxics total to exceed the glycol ethers. Revise the emissions to correct the imbalance and re-run the emissions calculator. |
| Stack | Stack Height greater than 500 feet | Stack height is too large | Revise in the Device information window |
| Stack | Stack diameter greater than 10 feet | Stack diameter is too large | Revise in the Device information window |
| Stack | Stack exit velocity is 0 or greater than 200 feet per second | Stack velocity is not in valid range | Revise in the Device information window |
| Stack | Stack temperature is 0, negative or greater than 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit | Stack exit temperature is not in valid range | Revise in the Device information window |