Toxics Release Inventory
Made Easy (TRI-ME)
Software Overview
Reporting Year 2002
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Introduction
The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Reporting
Software CD-ROM introduces and installs the Toxics
Release Inventory—Made Easy (TRI-ME) software
and provides easy access to EPA's TRI guidance
documents.
The TRI-ME software helps facility owners and
operators in determining and completing their
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know
(EPCRA) Section 313 (TRI) Form Rs and Form A
certification statements/ TRI-ME is an interactive,
intelligent, user-friendly" software tool that guides
facilities through the TRI reporting experience.
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The Automated TRI Reporting Software (ATRS) is
not available toy preparing TRI submissions for
RY2002":Z£«l&\va!l, however, allow you to load
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your prior year ATMS data as a starting point for your
RY2002
ding Data
ISM
Xyoa used EPA&|.|&S o^TRI-ME software, or even
thud-'paihl^'ERIi6 software, you may want to load a
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Toxics Rg base Inventory Made Easy
How much of this chemical was released as fugitive or nwv
you want to report it on the Form R, If the estimate is less(
also have the option 01 entering a range code. Range codes
Thrash did
Facility
Employee
In addition, any estimate of 0 pounds or higher requires that you provide a baste of estimate, using the
codas provided in the pick fist below.
Chemic a! Select
Forni select
Total Section 5.1 Quantity:
•or-
RsngeCwte;
Part I, Facility
Parti, Chemical
Part II. Section 1
Section
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5.1
Basts of Estimate Code:
Toxics Release Inventory Made E
Coratnuenitti Questionnaire
More on Basis eTEstmnfa
There are three ways that you can submit your facility e data to the US. EPA: (1) Using Ina Internet wa EPAs
Central Data Exchange (CDXJ system; (2) OB a diskette mailed to EPA's TO Data Processing Center (the
envelope must include a signed certification letter); (3) On paper forms mailed to EPA's TRI Data Processing
Center. Please select jour preferred method of submission below and 7W-*fEwiil guide you through the
process.
Select a Submission Method:
Navigation Column
Continue,
Mora on btontetvia oix
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Step 3. Completing the Facility Information
If you are new to TRI reporting, TRI-ME's
Questionnaire tab will guide you through each of the
facility-specific data elements on the Form R. As you
answer the questions, TRI-ME completes the TRI Form
R for you. If you are an experienced TRI reporter, you
may click on the Form tabs and directly complete an
electronic facsimile of Part 1 of the Form R report or the
Form A certification statement. And, if you want more
help, you can always go back to the Questionnaire tab,
or click on the TRI Assistance Library. The facility-
specific information you enter one time will be
duplicated for all forms. If you want to research
the requirements for your state, you can use the
State Information tab.
Step 4. Providing Chemical-Specific Information
TRI reports are chemical-specific, so you must first use
the Select Chemical window to select a chemical. Once
you have selected a chemical, you can use the
Questionnaire to guide you in completing the release
and other waste management information for that
chemical, or you can open the Form R tab and complete
an on-screen facsimile of the Form R. If you are
completing a Form A certification statement for a
chemical, TRI-ME automatically completes Part II of
the Form A for you, so there is nothing to do in this step.
At any point, you can switch to another chemical by
using the Select Chemical window. You may complete
an entire Form R for one chemical and then switch to
• another chemical, or for example, you may decide to
complete the air releases for one chemical and then
switch to another chemical and enter the air releases for
that chemical.
Remember, TRI-ME is flexible: if you are using the
Form R tab to complete chemical release and other
waste management information, but you need more
help, simply switch to the Questionnaire tab or the TRI
Assistance Library tab.
Step 5. Preparing Submissions: Checking for Errors and Filing Forms
After you have completed entering information on your
releases and other waste management activities using
the direct form entry method, you should click on
"Submission" at the bottom of the Navigation Column.
Or, if you have been using the Questionnaire tab, TRI-
ME automatically takes you to "Submission" TRI-ME
will then check your forms for missing information and
critical errors. TRI-ME will also provide you with
warnings about potential errors you may want to
double- check. After you fix any critical errors, TRI-ME
enables you to submit your data over the Internet using
EPA's Central Data Exchange (CDX) with electronic
signature. As hi the past, TRI-ME will also prepare
diskette and paper submissions.
You do not have to wait until the end to check for errors.
At any time, you can use the Tools menu (Validate
Chemical) option to check for errors on a particular
chemical submission. Don't forget to use the Reports
menu, where you can get handy summary reports of the
data you have entered as well as electronic copies of
your forms that can be shared via e-mail.
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nee Library
Integrated into TRI-ME is the TRI Assistance Library,
a searchable, indexed file that contains the statutes,
the regulations, and the key TRI guidance documents
a person is likely to need for TRI reporting. To access
this feature, click on the TRI Assistance Library tab in
TRI-ME and then search the index or table of contents
to find information on a particular subject. If you are
using the Questionnaire feature in TRI-ME, you will
find, preselected TRI definitions and "More on"
guidance from the TRI Assistance Library that are
relevant to the specific screen you are viewing.
System Requirements
In order to run TRI-ME, you must have the following
minimum system configuration: IBM PC or
compatible; Windows 95/98, 2000, XP, ME, or NT;
Pentium I; 166 megahertz minimum; 32 megabyte
RAM minimum; 170 megabytes hard disk space
available; CD-ROM; and optionally a 56k speed
modem and Internet account, or a LAN-based
Internet account, with Adobe Acrobat Reader to allow
access to certain web-based documents not integrated
into TRI-ME. If you do not already have Acrobat
Reader, it can be downloaded from the TRI Reporting
Software CD or from .
Feedback
TRI-ME is an interactive, intelligent, user-friendly
software program that assists facilities in determining
and completing their TRI reporting obligations. EPA
invites users to provide comments and suggestions,
especially on how subsequent versions of TRI-ME
can be made easier to use and more helpful.
Comments may be submitted by visiting the TRI
Web Site , sending an e-mail to
TRI-ME@ epa.gov, or faxing your comments to TRI
at 202 566-0715.
More Information or Assistance
TRI Software Support:
If you have questions about how to install
or use TRI-ME or the TRI Assistance Library,
please contact:
Phone: 877 470-4830 (toll free)
E-mail: tri_software_support@sdc-moses.com
Time: 4/1/03-7/31/03
Monday-Friday, 8am-7pm ET
During other times of the year, please leave a
message and we will return your call within three
business days.
TRI Regulatory Questions:
If you have a question about a TRI reporting
requirement, please call the EPCRA Call Center at:
Phone: 800 424-9346 or 703 412-9810
Time: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm ET
Central Data Exchange (CDX) Help Desk:
For questions about your electronic submission,
please contact:
Phone: 888890-1995
Time: Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm ET
E-mail: epacdx@csc.com
,
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New TRI-ME Features for RY2002
• Electronic submission over the Internet via the Central Data
Exchange (CDX), including electronic signature.
• Loads prior year data from ATRS for RY2000 or RY2001, submission
diskettes from RY2000 or RY2001, or TRI-ME for RY2001. (Unlike
last year, loads directly into the form, rather than picklists.)
• Loads RY2002 data from submission diskettes prepared by any
software that meets EPA's TRI Magnetic Media File Formats for
RY2002.
• To ensure a complete functional overlap between TRI-ME and
discontinued ATRS, a basic module has been installed in TRI-ME that
allows facilities to report by part.
• More intelligence to prevent common errors and alert users to
potential errors.
• Addition of a State Information tab that provides links to individual
state Web Sites that describe the TRI reporting requirements for
each state.
Installing TRI Reporting Software
To install the TRI Reporting Software, place the CD into your CD-ROM
drive. The installation program should start automatically. If the CD does
not run automatically, click on Windows "Start," "Run," and then
"Browse." Browse the CD-ROM drive, and click on the "launch.exe" file.
After selecting the launch.exe file, browse through the screens, or just
click on the "Install" button to open the installation window. From the
"Install" window, select the "TRI Software" button to run the installation
program for TRI Assistance Library alone or TRI-ME with the integrated
TRI Assistance Library. Follow the prompts to complete the installation.
If you have any problems installing the software, call the TRI Software
Support Hotline toll free at 877 470-4830.
OFFICE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL
INFORMATION
EPA 260-F-03-001
Recycled/Recyclable
Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on 100% Posteonsumer, Process Chlorine Free Recycled Paper
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