On this page:

• Getting started
• Application technical guidance
• Application forms
• Maintaining compliance

The tools and templates on this page are designed to help in determining CROMERR applicability and assist in application preparation for state, tribal and local governments authorized to administer EPA programs.

Information for EPA Programs

EPA has designated the Central Data Exchange (CDX) as the Agency's mechanism for providing CROMERR-compliant electronic reporting services for all EPA data collections. All systems that are subject to CROMERR must use CDX's CROMERR services to ensure that their data collections or exchanges have met Agency enforceability requirements.
For more information, reference the Enterprise Architecture Policy’s Data Exchange Procedure (CIO 2122-P-04.0) on EPA's intranet.

Many EPA programs using CDX’s CROMERR services are no longer required to complete CROMERR checklists. Further, the review and approval process for CDX customers is significantly streamlined.

See: CROMERR Overview for EPA Programs and Regions

Information for State, Tribal and Local Governments

Getting started

Determine whether your electronic reporting system is subject to CROMERR and learn about the CROMERR application process.

• Does CROMERR Apply to Your E-Reporting System?
• CROMERR Frequently Asked Questions
• CROMERR Step-by-Step Guide to Create and Submit a Successful Application

EPA’s Office of Water (OW) and Office of Environmental Information developed a hybrid approach for processing requests to modify approved POTW NPDES pretreatment programs to allow for electronic reporting.
For more information, see: CROMERR Compliance for the Publicly Owned Treatment Works Pretreatment Program

Local governments interested in reporting NPDES pretreatment data electronically should email the CROMERR program or contact the CROMERR program (cromerr@epa.gov) or contact EPA’s OW Pretreatment Team (CromerrPOTWrequest@epa.gov).

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Application technical guidance

Plan your CROMERR compliant system and start preparing your CROMERR application.

Legal Certification Guide for State Attorney General or Local Government or Tribe Certifying Official Statement 
This document provides guidance, templates and examples that will help when preparing official statements from an attorney general or a certifying official from a local government or tribe.

The following documents are useful for preparing the CROMERR checklist for applicants pursuing custom systems:

• CROMERR Application Reviewer Guide (DOC)(43 pp, 96 K, April 2014)
  This draft document provides detailed technical specifications around the CROMERR requirements.

• CROMERR Application Challenges and Solutions
  This document overviews common application challenges, examples of effective approaches to resolving them and the EPA-approved systems that use these effective approaches.

• User Identification, Verification, and Authentication: Challenge Question Second-Factor Approach
  The use of challenge questions is one approach to ensure that an individual’s credentials have not been compromised.

• Crosswalk between CROMERR rule requirements and system checklist (XLS)(16 pp, 75 K)
  The CROMERR system checklist is an application tool built around the CROMERR requirements. This document identifies how the system checklist relates to CROMERR rule language.
   
• CROMERR Electronic Signature Agreement
  This document provides an example of electronic signature agreement language that may be used, in part, to satisfy the electronic signature agreement or subscriber agreement requirement of CROMERR

Additional technical assistance materials may be available to applicants. Contact the CROMERR program for more information.

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Application forms

To apply for CROMERR approval, start by completing the Application Cover Sheet.

• Application Cover Sheet

NOTE: Customized application cover sheets exists for several off-the-shelf solutions. Applicants pursuing these solutions can complete the cover sheet above but will likely find it easier to complete the cover sheet specifically tailored for the system they are implementing.

Next, locate your system in the following list and, if applicable, complete any addtional form(s) and/or template(s) specific to that system.  Applicants pursuing off-the-shelf approaches not yet evaluated by the CROMERR program or custom-developed solutions will find relevant forms under the link for custom-built systems.  

• Shared CROMERR Services Applications

  Shared CROMERR Services (SCS) are component solutions aimed at addressing the most challenging CROMERR system requirements.

  To learn more about SCS, visit: Shared CROMERR Services and Components Integrated Project Team Exit

  To ask a question, contact the Shared CROMERR Services Help Desk

• EPA-developed off-the-shelf solutions

  
  EPA National NetDMR
  Uses: Stormwater and pretreatment Discharge Monitoring Reports under National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
  See: EPA National NetDMR

  NetDMR Application Cover Sheet

  * EPA-authorized programs applying to use National NetDMR are not required to complete a CROMERR system checklist. Please refer to the system-specific cover sheets for application documentation that may be required.

  EPA NPDES e-Reporting Tool
  Uses: Supplements NetDMR for additional NPDES reporting
  See: Final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Electronic Reporting Rule

  EPA NPDES e-Reporting Tool (NeT) Application Cover Sheet

  * EPA-authorized programs applying to use NeT are not required to complete a CROMERR system checklist. Please refer to the system-specific cover sheets for application documentation that may be required.

  EPA Compliance Monitoring Data Portal
  Uses: Reporting of drinking water lab sample data

  EPA Compliance Monitoring Data Portal (CMDP) Application Cover Sheet

  * EPA-authorized programs applying to use CMDP are not required to complete a CROMERR system checklist. Please refer to the system-specific cover sheets for application documentation that may be required.

• Commercially-developed off-the-shelf solutions

  Mention of trade names, products, or services does not convey, and should not be interpreted as conveying, official EPA approval, endorsement, or recommendation. These are solutions that applicants have used; this may not be a complete list.

  American Resource Management
  Uses: Hazardous waste reporting
  See: ARM Waste Reporting Software SolutionsExit

  CGI Regulatory Service Portal (RSP)
  Uses: Enterprise applications
  See: Regulatory Service PortalExit

  RSP core product assessed by CROMERR program for general compliance. Contact CGI for CROMERR checklist preparation.

  enfoTech Solutions
  Uses: Enterprise applications and reporting of air, water, and land protection
  See: enfoTechExit

  enfoTech Template(37 pp, 345 K, 01/28/2015) Note: This CROMERR checklist template is suitable for use with all enfoTech e-reporting system products.

  LinkoExchange Software
  Uses: Reporting of pretreatment data
  See: LinkoExchange SoftwareExit

  LinkoExchange Template(32 pp, 244 K, 04/10/2014)

  Premirus Edoctus Environmental Portal
  Uses: Enterprise applications
  See: Premirus Edoctus Environmental PortalExit

  SAIC Electronic Sample Entry (e-SE) Verify
  Uses: Drinking water lab sample data

  e-SE core product assessed by CROMERR program for general compliance. Contact SAIC for CROMERR checklist preparation.

  Windsor Solutions SLEIS Product
  Uses: Reporting of emissions inventory data
  See: SLEIS: Emissions Inventory SystemExit

  Windsor SLEIS Template(21 pp, 232 K, 11/14/2013) Note: This CROMERR checklist template currently only reflects the state/local hosted version of SLEIS.

  Windsor Solutions nForm Product
  Uses: Enterprise applications and e-Permitting
  See: nForm: Online e-Permitting SolutionExit

  Windsor nForm Template(21 pp, 205 K, 6/26/2015)

• Custom-built systems

  Applicants not using an off-the-shelf solution or component-based solutions such as Shared CROMERR Services usually have custom-built systems.

  To minimize rework, such applicants are encouraged to work with the CROMERR program during the design phase and to submit system documentation for draft review.

  Blank System Checklist (DOC)(13 pp, 120 K) * Typically, applicants with custom-built systems are required to provide additional documentation beyond the CROMERR checklist that describes their system’s conformance with the CROMERR standards

  For more information about documenting signature approaches on CROMERR applications, click on the following diagram for additional detail:

  

Questions? Contact the CROMERR Help Desk.

Maintaining compliance

Applicants are responsible for informing the CROMERR program about changes that may affect their CROMERR compliance.

Examples of significant changes could include changes to the types of file formats that affect how the copy of record (COR) is maintained, as well as changes to the technologies that may be used for file transfer or for creating electronic signatures on transmitted reports.

For information, see: Notification and Approval of Changes to Approved CROMERR Applications: For State, Tribal and Local Governments