How to Create a Combined Cycle in ATTAINS
Version: 12/18/2019
Purpose: To explain how to create a combined Integrated Reporting Cycle in ATTAINS (for example, a combined
2018/2020 cycle). In ATTAINS, a Combined Cycle refers to a single set of Assessment decisions that applies to
both cycles without changes. It is accomplished by entering the Assessment decisions for the later of the
combined cycles and having the system apply the same decisions to the earlier cycle of the combined cycle.
Audience: State ATTAINS Assessment Administrators
Before Getting Started
Before trying to create a combined Integrated Reporting (IR) Cycle in ATTAINS, steps need to be taken.
1.	Consult with your EPA Regional contact to discuss a potential combined cycle and discuss your reasons
with them.
2.	Make sure the EPA Regional contact agrees with your request to do a combined IR Cycle.
How to Create a Combined Cycle of Assessments in ATTAINS
The labeling of an Assessment Cycle occurs when the Cycle is created in ATTAINS. Therefore, in order to label
the cycle as a combined cycle, the decision needs to be made before either of the cycles to be combined is
created in ATTAINS.
1. Make sure that your previous reporting cycle in ATTAINS has reached "EPA Final Action" status. For
example, if you want to request a combined 2018/2020 cycle in ATTAINS, then the 2016 Assessment
cycle needs to have reached "EPA Final Action" status in ATTAINS.
Assessments 2016 (EPA Final Action)
Assessment Unit Name
Assessment Unit ID - *	Water Type :
Organization IR
EPA IR Category i Category	Multi-IR Category - Cycle Last Assessed Last Modified ;
Cycle Last Modified Validation ;
2.
In ATTAINS, go to the Assessments tab. From the Menu button, select "Create Cycle".
Manage Cycle
Export Assessments
| Create Cycle |
3. In the Create Cycle screen, enter the last cycle of the combined cycle. When you enter a cycle that
seems to skip a cycle in ATTAINS, the form will change and provide an option for combining the cycle
you entered with any of the skipped cycles.

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Cycle Year
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ATTAINS - Test Organization B (TEST ORG B)
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Cycle Year
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Combined Cycle Years:
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4. Once created, the label in the Assessment tab and the Cycle Selection drop-down box will show the
combined cycle label (ex: "Assessments 2018/2020" and "2018/2020", respectively). However, the
Cycle data fields (e.g., Cycle Last Assessed, Cycle Last Modified) require a valid 4-digit year. Enter the
four-digit year of the latest cycle in the Combined Cycle. For this example, those fields should reflect
"2020" since it is the last cycle of the Combined Cycle.

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