Q: |
Where are
the requirements for electronic data deliverable
stated, and in what situations must they be
applied? |
A: |
The Administrative Requirements for the Remediation of Contaminated Sites (ARRCS Rule)(N.J.A.C 7:26C-1.6) and the Technical Requirements for Site Remediation (N.J.A.C. 7:26E-1.6) require that the results of
analysis must be provided in electronic format
as specified in the SRP
Electronic Data Interchange Manual (SRP-EDI). These requirements apply to samples collected after July 18, 1997.
See Technical
Requirements for Site Remediation (N.J.A.C.
7:26E-1.6)
and Who Needs to Submit Data for exemptions.
|
Q: |
What are the
requirements for electronic data deliverable?
|
A: |
A complete electronic data deliverable consists of a minimum of three files. The three files make up a "dataset." The dataset can be defined as the "electronic" equivalent of the hard copy of analytical results that are being submitted to the SRP. The electronic submission must be provided to the SRP. The three files that make up the dataset are the Dataset Table (DTST.TXT), the Sample Table (HZSAMPLE.TXT), and the Result Table (HZRESULT.TXT).
|
Q: |
Do I need
to submit electronic data for cases where there
were no releases of contaminants (i.e., "clean"
sites, where all samples are below detection
limits)? |
A: |
Yes, it is important for SRP, the Remedial Priority System
and other potential users of the information
to know that a site is "clean" and the extent
of the samples that indicate this.
|
Q: |
What do I
enter into the CONCENTRATION field for results
that are "non-detect"? |
A: |
All analytical results must
be included in the HZRESULT file, including
results that are "non-detect."
The correct entry in the CONCENTRATION
field will depend on the laboratory contract
under which the samples are analyzed. In general,
the entry should be 0. The preparer should never use a non-numeric entry (such as ND or <MDL). The laboratory
should either include this information in the
HZRESULT table, or submit it to the person completing
the HZRESULT table.
It should be noted that the
MDL value or the Quantification Level must still
be entered into the appropriate column in the
HZRESULT table.
|
Q: |
May I submit
the same tables that I prepare for the written
report? |
A: |
No, the tables required to
be submitted electronically must be in the specific
format identified in the SRP-Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Manual.
|
Q: |
Who is responsible
for submitting this information? |
A: |
An EDD may be prepared by a LSRP or a qualified data preparer on behalf of the responsible party, but the obligation of submitting an accurate EDD lies with the person responsible for conducting the remediation
|
Q: |
What is the
Dataset table? |
A: |
The Dataset table provides
basic information about the sampling event:
site description, phase, consultant, submittal
date, etc. There should only be one record in
each Dataset table.
The Dataset may represent more
than one sampling episode at a site. For example,
the analytical results of four rounds of quarterly
monitoring (at the same site) can be submitted
as a single dataset. Even thought the dataset
represents four quarters of sampling, the submittal
itself is still identified by only a single
record in the dataset table.
|
Q: |
What is the
Sample table? |
A: |
The Sample table contains information
about each sample collected at a site. The information
is roughly equivalent to field notes, such as:
sample number, date, matrix, field id, location
information, etc. There should be one Sample
record for each sample collected. A unique sample
record is created by the SRP ID, Sample Date
and Sample Number fields, so if need be, there
can be duplicate Sample Numbers in a dataset
as long as those samples were collected on different
dates.
|
Q: |
What is the
Result table? |
A: |
The Result table contains the
result of the analysis of the sample. The Result
table includes the Sample Number, Sample Date,
Lab ID, the name of the analyte or parameter,
the concentration of the result, QA Qualifier,
Method Detection Limit, etc. Each compound analyzed
at each sample collected requires a result record.
Although the lab is chiefly responsible for
submitting data in this format, the overall
submission is still the obligation of submitting an accurate EDD lies with the person responsible for conducting the remediation.
|
Q: |
How are the
tables structured? |
A: |
There is a hierarchical (i.e.,
parent-child) relationship between the Dataset,
Sample and Result tables. One dataset will have
many samples, and each sample will have many
results.
For example, if reporting on
one dataset, where five samples were collected
and they were each analyzed for twenty different
compounds, the tables submitted should be constructed
as follows: one Dataset table with one record,
one Sample table with five records, one Result
table with 100 records.
|
Q: |
What are the
tables to be named? |
A: |
The Dataset table is to be named DTST, the Sample table is to be named HZSAMPLE, and the Result table is to be named HZRESULT. All three tables should be followed by the extension .TXT and saved as text, tab delimited files.
If you are maintaining several datasets, you will need to put each set of three files into a separate directory. You should use the Directory field (in the DTST file) for the name of the directory to distinguish between datasets. If you compress ("zip") the files before submitting them to the SRP, the ZIP file should be named using the directory name with the .ZIP extension.
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