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Basic Information
Verification ProcessThe EPA Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program is a voluntary program. The following are general criteria for submitting a technology for verification:
The ETV verification process typically includes the following steps:
Identification of Area-Specific Technology CategoriesETV is open to any technology. However, to organize and set priorities for verification activities, ETV identifies specific categories of technologies across all environmental media—air, water, and land. These area-specific technology categories are prioritized by the ETV verification centers and their stakeholders. In general, stakeholders apply three criteria in setting priorities among technology categories:
Existing priority categories are regularly reviewed by the stakeholders and are frequently adjusted to reflect changes in the marketplace. Identification of Verification FactorsOnce a technology category is accepted for verification, ETV stakeholders identify the verification factors, or performance considerations, about which purchasers and permitters need information to make decisions. For example, monitoring technologies are evaluated for verification factors such as measurement precision and accuracy. In the case of field monitors, the required technical proficiency and training of the operator, the time required for setup and breakdown, and the overall ruggedness of the instrument can be very important verification factors. For other technologies, energy consumption, downtime considerations, failure rates, and multimedia impacts (e.g., air control technologies that may produce water or solid waste residuals) can also be evaluated.Vendor Solicitation and ApplicationOnce a technology category is identified, ETV issues vendors solicitations and the verification centers begin accepting vendor applications in that category.ETV solicitation for vendors may occur in the following ways:
Verification ProtocolWhen the full list of verification factors has been identified, a verification protocol is usually developed by the verification organization. The protocol is either based on existing test procedures or is newly developed. Stakeholders and panels of technical experts review the protocol to determine whether the data to be collected in the verification test will definitively address the verification factors when published in the final verification report. In some cases, the protocol is developed prior to testing. In other cases, a generic protocol is developed after the verification is complete and reflects lessons learned during the testing experience.Test/Quality Assurance PlanOnce vendors and their products are identified for a particular test event, a test/quality assurance plan is developed by the verification organization and agreed to by EPA and the vendors. Sometimes, a generic verification protocol is developed prior to testing and the test/quality assurance plan is based on the protocol. Other times, the test/quality assurance plan is developed first, prior to testing, and a generic verification protocol is developed after verification is complete.If the technology is tested in the field, the test site is generally identified when the test/quality assurance plan is developed so that the plan can be tailored to a particular test location. Verification TestingVerification testing can be conducted for one product or for a group of similar products at the same time. To conserve resources, ETV evaluates technologies within a given category in groups when there are multiple vendors.According to the schedule specified in the test/quality assurance plan, and agreed to by all parties, the verification organization and vendors finalize the arrangements for testing. With assistance from the participating vendors, the verification organization tests the equipment using the procedures outlined in the test/quality assurance plan. Audits of the test event are conducted by EPA and the verification organizations. Rigorous quality assurance evaluations of the resulting test data are performed in accordance with the plan, the center-specific quality management plan, and the ETV Quality Management Plan (PDF) (84 pp, 744 KB). Verification Report and StatementWhen testing and data analysis are complete, a draft verification report and a summary statement (2 to 7 pages) are developed by the verification organization for each product tested. The report and statement are reviewed by EPA, the participating vendors, and peer reviewers. EPA management approves the final report and statement, and EPA management and the verification organization sign the verification statement. The final report and statement are published on the ETV Web site.OutreachThe technology vendor is solely responsible for outreach activities related to the performance verification of their product. However, companies and products that have been verified by ETV are posted on the ETV Web site and are included in other ETV outreach materials. EPA and ETV verification organizations also conduct on-going outreach to inform audiences about the activities of the program and the availability of performance verification information to aid in decision making.
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