Quick Update on ICIS-NPDES
(PCS Modernization)
David Hindin, U.S. EPA
Director, Enforcement Targeting and Data Division
August 30/31, 2005
State EPA Network Operations Board (NOB) Meeting
Washington, DC.
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Outline
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Our World has Changed
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The evolving NPDES Program
ICIS-NPDES
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System Modernization
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Our World Has Changed
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Since its introduction in 1972, the NPDES permit program
is responsible for significant improvements to our Nation's
water quality.
The NPDES program has changed considerably since the
1980s
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Focus on the “wet weather” sources.
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Storm water runoff from municipal and industrial sources
Discharges from concentrated animal feeding operations
(CAFOs)
Sanitary sewer systems (CSOs and SSOs)
Moving from a facility population of 6,700 Majors to a much
larger number of Minor Sources in addition to the Majors.
Government Performance Results Act (GPRA)
OMB’s Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART)
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Managing the Changes

These changes in the NPDES program
require new tools and policies

PCS Modernization (ICIS-NPDES)
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Not part of this briefing, although important
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ICIS-NPDES Policy Statement
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Guidance on NPDES Wet Weather and CAFO Inspections
Single Event Violation Data Entry Guide for PCS and ICIS-NPDES
Wet Weather SNC Policy
NPDES Compliance Monitoring Strategy
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PCS Modernization: ICIS-NPDES

Before we move into the details:
Thank you
ICIS-NPDES has been designed with extensive State
involvement:
PCS Modernization Concept Workshops
24 state participants representing 18 states
General Design Requirements Gathering Workshops
42 state participants representing 26 states
Six NPDES Data Requirements Workgroups (6+ months)
36 state participants representing 21 states
Five NPDES Design Workgroups (7+ months)
27 state participants representing 14 States
Weekly Data Migration/Data Clean-up Calls (ongoing)
14 – 20 state participants
There’s not enough room for everything
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Need for a Modernized System

PCS does not support the changes in the NPDES
permit and enforcement program
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PCS focused on DMR processing while a great deal of our
work is now inspection-based.
New program focuses on different facility universes, not just
the traditional majors.
EPA and the States are under increasing pressure
from external stakeholders to provide data-driven
output and results measures.
Weaknesses in the data system and content in part led
to Legacy PCS being listed as a FMFIA Agency Level
Weakness since 1999.

Modernizing PCS is key component of remedying this
weakness.
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Need For A Modernized System –
Improving Systems Infrastructure and Compatibility
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PCS uses old technology and is not user friendly.
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Streamlined Data Exchange with States.
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ICIS NDPES will provide secure, easier access via webbased desktop tools.
ICIS NPDES will provide for “real time” data entry.
Will use the National Environmental Information Exchange
Network,and Central Data Exchange (CDX – EPA’s
Network node), to better exchange data with States.
Support EPA Information Technology Initiatives.

Will support data integration, EPA/State data standards,
and the Agency’s Enterprise Architecture.
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Terminology Check

Direct User State
 This is a state NPDES program, or EPA Region where the state is
not authorized, that will use ICIS-NPDES to manage the NPDES
program.
 Direct users enter data through the keyboard into web screens.
But they also will electronically transfer some data into ICISNPDES; this method of data entry will increase, especially with EDMR.

Indirect User State
 This is a state NPDES program that uses another software
system to manage the NPDES program; and only enters data into
ICIS-NPDES to satisfy national reporting responsibility.
 These states are expected to rely heavily on electronic transfer
(batch), but will also use keyboard data entry for some types of
data or some purposes.
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Schedule for “Direct Users”
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December 31, 2005: System ready for User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
January 13 – February 2006: User Acceptance Tester Training and
Testing
February – March 2006: Training
March 31, 2006:
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June 2006:
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Wave 1 : Live operations for 7 of the 14 Direct User NPDES States and
all Federal Enforcement and Compliance users
Region 1 (New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island) Region 2 (New
York) Region 3 (Maryland, DC) Region 5 (Indiana)
Wave 2: Live operations for the remaining 7 Direct User states
Region 2 (Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands) Region 6 (New Mexico) Region 8
(Utah) Region 9 (Hawaii) Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho)
August/September 2006:

Wave 3: Live operations for “all” remaining Direct User NPDES States to
include Territories and Tribes
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Schedule for “Indirect Users” (Batch)
Note: ( some direct user states will be included in this release since they use both
data entry methods.)
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July 2005:
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ICIS-NPDES Schemas have been reviewed and
approved
December 2005:
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NPDES Batch Transmission Independent Review to
evaluate applicability of lessons learned from the IDEF
project to the ICIS-NPDES Batch functionality.

See one pager attached at end.
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Spring 2006: Develop a detailed plan for the ICISNPDES Batch release
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User Previews to Prepare for the ICISNPDES Change
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Monthly 1 – 2 hour WEBX sessions
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First one held August 24, 2005 12:00 – 2:00 EST
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A repeat of the User preview from the July PCS National
Meeting – Big picture look at the process of entering a
Permit all the way through to an Enforcement Action.
Increase your familiarity with the look and feel
Target System specific areas
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ICIS-NPDES –
Outreach & Communication
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ICIS-NPDES News YOU Can Use
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A monthly newsletter – started in February 2005
Sent out via e-mail
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Contact [email protected] to get on the mailing list
The newsletter presents basic information on
topics, identifying contacts for more in-depth details
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ICIS-NPDES- EPA Support For States
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EPA has taken and is taking many actions to ease the
transition to ICIS-NPDES:
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Designing a new system that makes manual data entry much
easier.
Working to make sure that states can easily flow data to the new
system using the National Environmental Information Exchange
Network.
ICIS Batch Independent Review, planned for December 2005.
Using OEI and OECA grant programs to help states
prepare for ICIS-NPDES
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FY2004
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FY2005
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10 OECA grants were awarded, totaling $1.87 million.
6 OEI Exchange Network grants included ICIS-NPDES activities.
11 OECA grants, totaling $1.7 milion.
OEI Network grant announcements expected shortly.
FY2006: Anticipate continued support in both grant programs.
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Electronic DMRs: key to burden reduction
and better NPDES program management.
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Some states, with EPA grant funding, have
operational E-DMR systems.
In 2004, EPA, in consultation with states,
developed a proposal to create a national, multistate electronic DMR tool that states could use
as part of ICIS-NPDES and the Exchange
Network.
 See NETDMR paper at
www.epa.gov/idea/netdmr
FY2005 OEI Network grant applications from
states for developing this tool are currently
under review.
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