Search Help

The "All Programs" search captures facilities regulated under the Clean Air Act (CAA), Clean Water Act (CWA), and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as well as current Toxics Release Inventory reporters. In addition, the All Programs search queries EPA's ICIS (Integrated Compliance Information System) database, which tracks EPA enforcement actions under additional statutes, such as the Federal Insecticide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Toxics Substances Control Act (TSCA).

The parameters displayed for each of the facilities returned reflect data drawn from the databases that store state and federal information related to compliance and enforcement under the CAA, CWA, and RCRA.

The All Programs search does not yet include data on public drinking water systems, regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). You can use the single-media Drinking Water Search to find information about drinking water systems, and see the Drinking Water Help to learn about the search and results.

The "Air," "Water," "Hazardous Waste," and "Drinking Water" searches capture individual records/permits/sites from the databases (AFS, PCS and ICIS-NPDES, RCRAInfo, and SDWIS-Fed, respectively) that store state and federal compliance and enforcement data related to the CAA, CWA, RCRA, and SDWA. Parameters presented for each of these records/permits/sites reflect data drawn from the media-specific database you have searched. In addition, results returned by the Air, Water, and Hazardous Waste searches include federal enforcement actions taken under the relevant statute which are tracked in EPA's ICIS database.

For information on the number of facilities that are included in the various ECHO searches, consult the Guide to Regulated Facilities in ECHO. This guide identifies the universe of facilities for searches using the default parameters and shows how the universe of facilities increases when "Minor Facilities" are included. Additional information can be found in the Compliance & Enforcement Data Entry Requirements Table.

For all searches, you may view individual facility data in detail using links from your search results. Helpful hints on selecting your search criteria and performing your search appear below.

Facility Name
Search for facilities or permits by name. Be sure to try all possible variations of a facility's name. For example, if an abbreviation doesn't work, try using the whole words (i.e., International Metals Company instead of INMETCO). The order of the words in a facility name does not affect the search results.

Search by Permit/ID
Use this link to search for facilities or permits by their AFS, PCS, ICIS-NPDES, RCRAInfo, or SDWIS identification numbers.

This query has default logic selected which could restrict the return of the IDs submitted. For an unrestricted permit search please use the ECHO Multiple ID Search. The current limit for the Multiple ID Search is 500 IDs.

SIC Code
The Standard Industrial Classification Code describes the primary activity of the facility. The first two digits in the code define a major business sector; the last two digits denote a facility's specialty within the major sector.
SIC Lookup ECHO allows users to:

• Choose one 2-digit SIC Code from the drop-down menu,
  --OR--
  
• Enter up to four 2-, 3-, or 4-digit SIC Codes into the text box. 

NAICS Code (All Data Search, Air Search, Water ICIS-NPDES Search, and Hazardous Waste Search)
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) has replaced the U.S. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. The system was developed to give special attention to developing production-oriented classifications for (a) new and emerging industries, (b) service industries in general, and (c) industries engaged in the production of advanced technologies. NAICS industries are identified by a 6-digit code. The first two digits represent the Industry sector, in which there exist 20 broad sectors. The third digit represents industry subsector, the fourth digit represents industry group, the fifth digit represents industry, and the sixth digit is U.S., Canadian, or Mexican National specific. ECHO allows users to search by general industry sector (the two-digit NAICS code) or by industry specialty (the three, four, five, or six-digit NAICS Code).

NAICS Lookup To search by NAICS code, type the code into the text box. ECHO allows users to:

• Enter up to four 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, or 6-digit NAICS Codes into the text box. 

Federal Agency
Use the dropdown menu to choose an agency. Users can search multiple agencies by using the "ctrl" key. Search for facilities that are classified as federal agencies in EPA's Federal Registry System (FRS) (installations that are owned and operated by the U.S. government).

Designation

Air Search

• Major: Facilities which meet the definition of a Major source under the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. A Major source is one for which actual or potential emissions are above the applicable major source threshold. Major source thresholds for regulated pollutants run from 100 tons down depending on the pollutant toxicity and ambient air quality.
• Synthetic Minor: A facility that avoids Major source requirements by accepting permit conditions which limit emissions below major source thresholds.
• Federally Reportable Minor: A Minor source subject to Part 61 National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). These sources are kept under close scrutiny because the standards are health based, and violation could imperil human health.
  
  OR
  Any Minor source that has received an administrative order or civil suit in the past three years.
OR
Any Minor source in High Priority Violation status in the last two years.
OR
Any Minor source with a Compliance Monitoring Strategy category code.

• Other Minors: A facility that is neither a Major, nor a Synthetic Minor, nor a Federally Reportable Minor source.

Hazardous Waste Search

• All: No restrictions on facility type
• LQG: Large Quantity Generator
• TSD (operating): Treatment, Storage and Disposal facility that is operating and actively managing RCRA-regulated waste.
• TSD (Full Enf): Composed of Operating TSDs, as well as TSD facilities that are inactive but not yet RCRA closed.
• SQG: Small Quantity Generator
• CESQG: Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator
• Transporter: Transporter of RCRA-regulated waste

CAA Program (Air Search only)
Search for facilities by Clean Air Act program.

• Acid Rain: The overall goal of the Acid Rain Program is to achieve significant environmental and public health benefits through reductions in emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) - the primary causes of acid rain.
• CFC: Chlorofluorocarbons - The CAA requires EPA to issue regulations to protect stratospheric ozone from ozone-depleting substances. This requirement included managing the gradual phaseout of the production and consumption of CFCs.
• FIP: Federal Implementation Plans.
• MACT: A key component of the CAA is a requirement that the EPA significantly reduce emissions of air pollutants known or suspected to cause serious health problems such as cancer or birth defects. The CAA refers to these pollutants as "hazardous air pollutants;" they also are known as air toxics. The 1990 CAA Amendments directed EPA to use a "technology-based" and performance-based approach to significantly reduce emissions of these pollutants from major sources of air pollution, followed by a risk-based approach to address any remaining, or residual, risks. Under the "technology-based" approach, EPA develops standards - known as "maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standards" - for controlling the "routine" emissions of air toxics from each major type of facility within an industry group (or "source category").
• NESHAP: The National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants is a technology-based standard of performance prescribed for hazardous air pollutants from certain stationary source categories under Section 112 of the CAA.
• NSPS: The New Source Performance Standard is an emission standard prescribed for criteria pollutants from certain stationary source categories under Section 111 of the CAA.
• NSR: The New Source Review (NSR) permitting program was established as part of the 1977 CAA Amendments. Under this program, stationary sources of air pollution are required to obtain an air permit before commencing construction or making certain modifications. The permit specifies what air pollution control devices must be used, what emission limits must be met, and how the facility must be operated.
• PSD: The Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permitting program is a CAA permitting program for new and modified major sources of air pollution such as power plants, manufacturing facilities, and other facilities that emit air pollution.
• SIP: A detailed descriptions of the programs a state will use to carry out its responsibilities under the CAA. State Implementation Plans are collections of the regulations used by a state to reduce air pollution.
• Title V: Title V of the 1990 CAA Amendments requires all major sources and some minor sources of air pollution to obtain an operating permit. A Title V permit grants a source permission to operate. The permit includes all air pollution requirements that apply to the source, including emissions limits and monitoring, record keeping, and reporting requirements. It also requires that the source report its compliance status with respect to permit conditions to the permitting authority.

Owner/Operator (Air Search, Water Searches)
Search for facilities based on the ownership type:

• CAA options: Privately Owned/Operated, Federal, State or Local Government



• CWA PCS options: Municipal, Industrial, Federal



• CWA ICIS-NPDES options: County Government, Corporation, City Government, Federal Facility (U.S. Government), GOCO (Government Owned/Contractor Operated), Individual, Municipal or Water District, Mixed Ownership (e.g., Public/Private), Privately Owned Facility, School District, State Government, Tribal Government, Unknown

Non-Attainment Area for Any Pollutant (Air Search only)
Search for facilities that are in a non-attainment area. A non-attainment area is an area that does not meet one or more of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six commonly found air pollutants ("criteria pollutants") designated in the Clean Air Act (particle pollution (often referred to as particulate matter), ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and lead).

Facility Status
Search for facilities with an active or inactive designation. The details of searching on facility status varies by media.

• RCRA (Hazardous Waste)
• Active Site designation
  is an indication based on the information currently in the Agency's RCRAInfo database, that there may be an activity on a site that could be subject to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Subtitle C, or to a state's authorized hazardous waste program. This designation has no legal significance and does not constitute a legally enforceable or binding determination about the status of a particular site or the obligations of an owner or operator.



• Inactive Site designation
  is an indication based on the information currently in the Agency's RCRAInfo database, that there may not be an activity on a site that could be subject to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Subtitle C, or to a state's authorized hazardous waste program. This designation has no legal significance and does not constitute a legally enforceable or binding determination about the status of a particular site or the obligations of an owner or operator.


• CAA (Air)
• Active Facilities include the facilities with any of the following statuses:
• Operating
• Temporarily Closed
• Seasonal
• Inactive facilities include the facilities with any of the following statuses:
• Permanently Closed
• Planned
• Under Construction


• PCS (Water - PCS system only)
• Select the check box next to "Active Only" to limit the query to only the active facilities in the PCS system.


• ICP (Water - ICIS-NPDES system only)
• "Active Facilities" include the facilities with any of the following statuses:
• Effective
• Administratively Continued

Facility Designation (Water Searches only)

• Major: Any NPDES facility or activity classified as such by the EPA regional administrator, or in the case of approved state programs, the regional administrator in conjunction with the state director. Major municipal dischargers include all facilities with design flows of greater than one million gallons per day and facilities with EPA/state approved industrial pretreatment programs. Major industrial facilities are determined based on specific ratings criteria developed by EPA/state.
• Minor: A non-major facility. States generally are not required to submit data to EPA on these facilities.

EPA Region
Search for facilities or permits within one of the ten EPA regions. You may not combine a region search with a city/state, state, or ZIP Code search. States in each EPA Region: 1 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont), 2 (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands), 3 (Washington DC, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia), 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee), 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin), 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas), 7 (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska), 8 (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming), 9 (American Samoa, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada), and 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington).

City/State
To search for facilities or permits in a particular city, you must also specify a state. Be sure to try all possible variations and alternate spellings: i.e., try both Saint Louis and St. Louis.

State
Use the dropdown menu to choose a state. Users can search multiple states by using the "ctrl" key." You may not combine a state search with a city/state, region, or ZIP Code search.

ZIP Code
Enter a five-digit ZIP Code. You may not combine a ZIP Code search with a city/state, state, or region search.

County
This dropdown menu is populated with state-specific county options which are available once you have selected a state.

In Indian Country
When this box is checked, your search results will be limited to facilities or permits that are located in Indian Country.

Tribal Land Code (Water ICIS-NPDES Search only)
Select facilities based on the facility Tribal Land Code in ICIS-NPDES. This list is based on Bureau of Indian Affairs tribal land codes.

Facility located near US-Mexico Border
When this box is checked, your search results will be limited to facilities within 100km of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Permit Type (PCS Only)
You can limit your search to one or more permit types by using the check boxes in this section. Below are permit types that you may search by (please note that PCS permit types are pulled on ECHO based on the third character of the NPDES permit number. If the permitting authority did not issue a permit number to a facility based on these types (which is not required), then that facility will not be included in this search):

• Standard - A standard-issued individual NPDES permit.
• Pretreatment - An NPDES permit that prescribes for the reduction of the amount of pollutants, the elimination of pollutants, or the alteration of the nature of pollutant properties in wastewater prior to or in lieu of discharging or otherwise introducing such pollutants into a publicly owned treatment works [40 CFR 403.3(q)].
• Stormwater - An NPDES permit regulating storm water runoff, snow melt runoff, and surface runoff and drainage [40 CFR 122.26(b)(13)].
• General - An NPDES permit issued under 40 CFR 122.28 that authorizes a category of discharges under the CWA within a geographical area. A general permit is not specifically tailored for an individual discharger.
• AFO/CAFO - An NPDES permit regulating discharge from Animal Feed Operations (AFOs) and/or Concentrated Animal Feed Operations (CAFOs). CAFOs are animal feeding operations where there are more than 1,000 animal units. All CAFOs are to receive permits, whereas permits are issued to AFOs with less than 1,000 animal units but with a point source discharge.

• NPDES Individual - A NPDES permit issued under 40 CFR Part 122 that authorizes and limits an individual facility's discharges under the CWA.
• General Permit Covered Facility - An individual facility discharging under the provisions of a Master General Permit.
• Unpermitted Facility - Facilities that are in the national database but do not have a NPDES wastewater discharge permit. This includes facilities that may need a permit, are inspected or are recipients of enforcement actions.
• NPDES Master General - A NPDES permit issued under 40 CFR 122.28 that authorizes a category of discharges under the CWA within a geographical area. A general permit is not specifically tailored for an individual discharger.

• Biosolids - Biosolids (formerly referred to as "sewage sludge") are the nutrient-rich organic materials resulting from the treatment of sewage sludge (the name for the solid, semisolid or liquid untreated residue generated during the treatment of domestic sewage in a treatment facility). When treated and processed, sewage sludge becomes biosolids which can be safely recycled and applied as fertilizer to sustainably improve and maintain productive soils and stimulate plant growth. Biosolids are regulated under 40 CFR Part 503. 40 CFR Part 503 establishes standards, which consist of general requirements, pollutant limits, management practices, and operational standards, for the final use or disposal of biosolids.
• Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) - An NPDES permit regulating discharge from Animal Feed Operations (AFOs) and/or Concentrated Animal Feed Operations (CAFOs). CAFOs are animal feeding operations where there are more than 1,000 animal units. All CAFOs are to receive permits, whereas permits are issued to AFOs with less than 1,000 animal units but with a point source discharge.
• Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) - A combined sewer overflow (CSO) refers to a discharge of untreated wastewater from a combined sewer system at a point prior to the headworks of the publicly-owned treatment works. (59 FR 18688) CSOs generally occur in response to wet weather events. Most combined sewer systems are designed to discharge excess flow directly to surface water bodies, such as streams, rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters.
• Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) - The term Publicly Owned Treatment Works or POTW means a treatment works as defined by section 212 of the Act, which is owned by a State or municipality (as defined by section 502(4) of the Clean Water Act). This definition includes any devices and systems used in the storage, treatment, recycling and reclamation of municipal sewage or industrial wastes of a liquid nature. It also includes sewers, pipes and other conveyances only if they convey wastewater to a POTW Treatment Plant. The term also means the municipality as defined in section 502(4) of the Clean Water Act, which has jurisdiction over the Indirect Discharges to and the discharges from such a treatment works.
• Pretreatment - An NPDES permit that prescribes for the reduction of the amount of pollutants, the elimination of pollutants, or the alteration of the nature of pollutant properties in wastewater prior to or in lieu of discharging or otherwise introducing such pollutants into a publicly owned treatment works [40 CFR 403.3(q)].
• Storm Water - Construction - Permit requirements associated with construction activities, as defined at 40 CFR 122.26.
• Storm Water - Industrial - Permit requirements associated with non-construction activities at industrial facilities, as defined at 40 CFR 122.26(b)(14)(i) through (xi).
• Storm Water - Medium/Large Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4s) - Additional requirements for medium/large municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s), as defined at 40 CFR 122.26.
• Storm Water - Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4s) - Additional requirements for small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s), as defined as 40 CFR 122.30-122.37.
• Blank (e.g., Standard-only) - A standard-issued individual NPDES permit without any additional permit components.

Permit Expiration Date
Search for PCS permits based on their expiration date.

Note: In most cases, facilities with expired permits have applied for a new permit, but have not been issued one. Facilities with pending permit renewal applications may legally continue operating under the terms of the expired permit. EPA and delegated states are working to reduce the backlog of expired permits that have not be renewed/re-issued.

Combined Sewer Systems
Search for PCS permits based on the number of combined sewer system outfalls. This is based on a current list, as of the EPA's 2004 Report to Congress, of all active CWA NPDES permits with associated combined sewer systems known by EPA. A combined sewer system is a wastewater collection system owned by a municipality which conveys sanitary wastewater (domestic, commercial, and industrial) and stormwater through a single pipe system to a publicly-owned treatment works. A combined sewer overflow (CSO) refers to a discharge of untreated wastewater from a combined sewer system at a point prior to the headworks of the publicly-owned treatment works. CSOs generally occur in response to wet weather events. Most combined sewer systems are designed to discharge excess flow directly to surface water bodies, such as streams, rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters.

Discharging into Impaired Waters (category 4 or 5)(Water Searches, All Programs Search)
Limit your search to permits discharging directly into category 4 and 5 waters impaired waters. The impaired waters search flag has been expanded from facilities that discharge into an impaired water body for which a plan has not yet been developed - these are listed waters under the CWA section 303(d) program (category 5 water body) - to also include facilities that discharge to an impaired water body for which the state has developed a plan to return the water to its designated uses - under the Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) program (category 4 water body).

Under section 303(d) of the CWA, states, territories, and authorized tribes are required to develop lists of impaired waters. These are waters for which technology-based regulations and other required controls are not stringent enough to meet the water quality standards set by states. The law requires that states establish priority rankings for waters on the lists and develop Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), for these waters. A TMDL is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and still safely meet water quality standards. For more information about impaired waters or TMDLs, please visit EPA's overview of impaired waters and Total Maximum Daily Loads Program web page. For detailed information on the categorization of impaired waters, see Section V of the 2006 Integrated Report Guidance.

• 5. Impaired - TMDL needed. Available information indicates that at least one designated use is not being supported and a TMDL is needed (also known as the 303(d) listed waters).
• 4. Impaired - TMDL not needed. Available information indicates that at least one designated use is not being supported, but a TMDL is not needed (see subcategories).
• 4a. TMDL completed. A TMDL has been completed, but impairment still exists.
• 4b. TMDL alternative. Impairment is being addressed by a method other than a TMDL (e.g., stream bank improvements).
• 4c. Non-pollutant causes. Cause of impairment is not a pollutant (e.g., habitat destruction).

Note that the locational data (latitude and longitude) are needed to index NPDES permits to the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) Reach Addressing Database (RAD). For some facilities, locational data are not available, so whether the facilities directly discharge into impaired waters cannot be determined.

For information on the completeness of 305b and 303d impairment data by state, see the Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds' NHD Reach Indexing Status by State page.

Formal Enforcement Actions
Search for a facility or permit based on the time elapsed since the most recent civil or administrative enforcement action taken against the facility. When a value other than 'No Restrictions' is selected, users may select which databases they would like to search. Choosing 'EPA Only' will search the ICIS FE&C database, whereas selecting 'EPA + State' will search all supporting databases.

Informal Enforcement Actions/Notices of Violation
Search for a facility or permit based on the time elapsed since the most recent informal enforcement action was issued to the facility.

All Programs Search

• No Restriction
  
  
• Any Violation Search for facilities or permits with any type of violation, or with significant violator status, in the most recent quarter.
  
  
• Significant Violation/Violator Search for facilities which have been determined to be in more severe noncompliance for the most recent quarter. For a definition of a High Priority Violator (under CAA) or a facility in Significant Non-Compliance (CWA or RCRA) please refer to the Air, Water and Hazardous Waste Program Search help below.
  
  
• Multiple Significant Violation(s)/Violator Search for facilities which have been determined to be in significant noncompliance for two or more programs (CAA, CWA, and RCRA) in the most recent quarter. For a definition of a High Priority Violator (under CAA) or a facility in Significant Non-Compliance (CWA or RCRA) please refer to the Air, Water and Hazardous Waste Program Search help below.

Air Program Search:

• High Priority Violator Search for permits which have been determined to be in more severe noncompliance for the most recent quarter. HPV designations are made according to the December 22, 1998 memo: Issuance of Policy on Timely and Appropriate Enforcement Response to High Priority Violations. The following criteria can trigger HPV status:
  • Failure to obtain a Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit
  • Violation of an air toxics requirement
  • Violation by a synthetic minor of an emission limit that affects the source's regulatory status
  • Violation of an administrative or judicial order
  • Substantial violations of a sources Title V obligations
  • Failure to submit a Title V permit application within 60 days of the deadline
  • Testing, monitoring, record keeping or reporting violations that substantially interfere with enforcement or determination of a facility's compliance requirements
  • Violation of an allowable emission limit detected during a source test
  • Chronic or recalcitrant violations, or
  • Substantial violations of 112 (r) requirements

  In the air program, the HPV designation is removed for a given facility once the facilities has demonstrated that it has resolved the violation that led to the HPV listing.
  
  

• In Violation Search for facilities or permits with violations in the most recent quarter. This measure does not reflect High Priority Violator status, although HPV facilities are likely to meet this criterion.
  
  
• On Compliance Schedule Search for permits or facilities who had an enforcement action and currently meet the requirements of a prescribed schedule of steps for returning to compliance.
  
  
• Compliance Status Unknown for the most recent quarter.
  
  
• No Violations for the most recent quarter.

Water Program Searches:

• In Significant Noncompliance (SNC) (majors only) Search for permits which have been determined to be in more severe noncompliance for the most recent quarter.

  The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program uses the term SNC. SNC designations are made in accordance with the December 12, 1996 guidance document: A General Design for SNC Redefinition Enhancement in PCS. Most SNC designations are based on an automated analysis of Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) that facilities with NPDES permits are required to submit on a monthly basis. The compliance designation of a facility in the PCS/ICIS-NPDES database is done using a mathematical formula that takes into account the amount, duration, and frequency of discharges in comparison with permit levels. In some instances facilities may be manually designated as SNC, even if the PCS/ICIS-NPDES data system does not automatically designate them as such. Examples of events that could result in the manual generation of a SNC code for a facility include: unauthorized discharges; failure of a POTW to enforce its approved pretreatment program; failure to meet a construction deadline; failure to file a DMR; filing a DMR more than 30 days late; or violating any judicial or administrative order. Manually entered compliance data, if present, override machine-generated compliance data.

  A facility may have multiple discharge points and different designations for each point. If any of these points show a SNC type code, then the overall facility status is listed as SNC, even if other discharge points are in compliance.

  Removal of the SNC designation occurs once the facility's DMR reports show a consistent pattern of compliance with permit limits, or if EPA or a state agency issues a formal enforcement order to address the violations that resulted in the SNC designation.

  The most recent quarter for PCS/ICIS-NPDES is the most recent official quarter for which the quarterly status is available. This is usually 2 1/2 months after the quarter has ended. Thus, the most recent quarter in PCS/ICIS-NPDES is often not the same quarter as that for AFS and RCRAInfo.
  

• Category I Violations (minors only) The national program database calculates the severity of violations according to the Clean Water Act regulations, which have specific criteria specifying the duration, severity, and type of violations that rise to the level of Significant Noncompliance (SNC). The calculation of Category I Violations is equivalent to the SNC calculations, but because the violations occur at smaller dischargers (non-major), EPA does not classify the violations as "SNC". ECHO distinguishes between "SNC" and Category I because this has a bearing on the government response used to address the violation(s). Repeat SNC occurrences normally are addressed through formal enforcement actions, while Category I Violations are often addressed via informal processes.



• Reportable Noncompliance (RNC) (or Category II violations for minor facilities) Violations that are insignificant upon first discovery but become significant if repeated. The non-compliance reports do not have to be submitted immediately, but are to be included the next time the facility submits monitoring reports to the regulatory agency.



• Effluent Exceedances Search for permits where effluent limits have been exceeded in the current quarter, based on monthly Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) submitted by major/federally-reportable facilities.
  
  
• Single Event Violations Search for non-automated violations arising from inspections and compliance monitoring.



• Compliance Schedule Violation Search for permits with compliance schedule violations in the current quarter.
  
  
• Permit Schedule Violations Search for facilities in violation of their permit schedules.



• Undetermined (PCS Search only) A "U" (Undetermined) code may appear as the SNC/RNC Status for Oregon major facilities. As a pilot project for Oregon facilities only, the U code indicates that the facility-level compliance status for the facility is undetermined by PCS due to a lack of DMR data in the system. For information on the pilot project, see the Data Alerts page.



• Not Available EPA's data system is not able to determine the facility-level compliance status based upon the information available. This information may be available from a state database.



• No Violations for the most recent quarter.

Hazardous Waste Program Search:

• In Significant Noncompliance (SNC) Search for facilities which have been determined to be in more severe noncompliance in the most recent quarter. Any determination to classify a site as a SNC is made using the guidelines set forth in the December 2003 Hazardous Waste Civil Enforcement Response Policy. A site can be designated as a SNC if any of the following are found to exist: the site has been determined to cause actual exposure or has a substantial likelihood of causing exposure to a hazardous waste or constituent; is a chronic or recalcitrant violator; or deviates substantially from the terms of a permit, order or agreement, or from RCRA statutory or regulatory requirements. Under the RCRA program, the SNC designation is removed for a given site when the site is in full physical compliance with statutory and/or regulatory requirements.
  
  
• In Violation Search for facilities with violations in the most recent quarter. This measure does not include SNC status, although facilities in SNC are likely to meet this criterion.
  
  
• Compliance Schedule Violation Search for facilities with compliance schedule violations in the current quarter.
  
  
• No Violations for the most recent quarter.
  
  
• Number of Current Violations Search for facilities based on the number of current violations.

History

• Number (#) of Effluent Exceedances (past 3 years) (Water Searches only)
  Search for permits based on the number of times their effluent limits have been exceeded in the past 3 years (12 quarters), based on monthly Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) submitted by major/federally reportable facilities.



• Quarters in HPV/SNC (past 3 years) (Air, Water, and Hazardous Water Searches)
  Search for permits which have been determined to be in more severe noncompliance in the last 3 years (12 quarters).
  
  
• Quarters in Violation (past 3 years) (Air, Water, and Hazardous Waste Searches)
  Search for permits based on the number of quarters they have been in violation in the past 3 years (12 quarters). This measure does not reflect High Priority Violator or Significant Noncompliance status, although HPV facilities and those in SNC are likely to meet this criterion.
  
  
• Pollutant Currently in Violation (Air Search only)
  Select facilities based on the type of pollutant that has the facility in violation status. The refresh date indicates the last time the data were updated.
  
  
• Stack Test Results (Air Search only)
  Search for facilities that have received a Clean Air Act source or performance stack test in the past five years, or for facilities with a source or performance stack test result of Pass, Fail, Pending, or Blank in the past three years.
  
  
• Compliance Tracking (Water ICIS-NPDES Search only)
  The Compliance Tracking menu selections can assist you in interpreting the compliance status, particular for non-major standard permittees. In ICIS-NPDES, the database must be set to make a facility-level compliance determination. There are several components of compliance tracking, including Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) non-receipt tracking and facility-level compliance status tracking. Regarding the ECHO menu choices, "On" generally means data are being entered, and all system compliance tracking is on. "Partial" generally means data are being entered, effluent exceedances and most facility-level status types are being identified, but DMR non-receipt is not being tracked. "Off" generally means data are not being entered and/or all compliance tracking is off (system won't determine facility-level compliance status). If you include the "off" option in your search, many of the facilities that are selected may actually have violations on their hard copy DMRs that are not recorded in the database.

Return All Facilities (Default)
Do not restrict facilities returned based on the programs under which they are regulated.

Must have Air ID
Return only facilities that are regulated under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

Must have Water Permit (PCS)
Return only facilities that are regulated under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and are in PCS.

Must have Water Permit (ICIS-NPDES)
Return only facilities that are regulated under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and are in ICIS-NPDES.

Must have RCRA ID
Return only facilities that are regulated under RCRA.

• Searching with Standard Output returns six default ECHO columns:
  • Facility Information: Name and address
  • Inspections (5 yrs)
  • Quarters in Noncompliance (3 yrs)
  • Informal Enforcement Actions/NOVs (5 yrs)
  • Current Significant Violations
  • Formal Enforcement Actions (5 yrs)

• Searching with Custom Output allows users to remove some of the default columns and/or add additional columns:
  • Days Since Last Inspection
  • Date of Last Formal Action
  • Penalties (5 yrs)
  • Date of Last Penalty
  • Amount of Last Penalty
  • Percent Minority (3-mile radius)
  • Major (Water PCS Search only)

• ECHO will return a list of all facilities that match the conditions you specified. 

• The length of this viewable list is limited to a maximum of 1,000 facilities. If your output exceeds 1,000 facilities but is smaller than 10,000 facilities, you will be given the option to download a comma-delimited text file. If your output exceeds 10,000 facilities, you must constrain your search.
  • A search on state only will always return too many hits. Consider specifying additional facility characteristics or program criteria.

It is possible to download the results as a text file and view the downloaded file off-line.

To get more permit, compliance, chemical release, and demographic information on a specific facility, click on the facility's name.  Each Detailed Facility Report provides a "Help" link to additional documentation.

Active: Facilities in operation.

Major/federally-reportable: Facilities for which states must submit compliance and enforcement data to EPA.

CAA: Under the CAA, federally reportable permits include "majors", synthetic minors, NESHAP Part 61 minors, and other minors in High Priority Violation (HPV), with recent enforcement actions, or included on a Compliance Monitoring Strategy (CMS) plan. Major sources are defined under the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. A Major source is one for which actual or potential emissions are above an applicable major source threshold.

CWA: Any NPDES facility or activity classified as such by the regional administrator, or in the case of approved state programs, the regional administrator in conjunction with the state director. Major municipal dischargers include all facilities with design flows of greater than one million gallons per day and facilities with EPA/state approved industrial pretreatment programs. Major industrial facilities are determined based on specific ratings criteria developed by EPA/state.

RCRA: No distinction is made between major and minor facilities under RCRA.

Minor/not federally-reportable: Facilities for which states are not required to submit data to EPA. EPA is therefore not able to verify the accuracy or comparability of data for these permits, although the Agency tracks their names and locations and may have some data about their inspections and enforcement activity.

CAA: Sources with emissions well below major source thresholds. Delegated agencies (state, local, or tribal) are not normally required to submit data on these sources to AFS. Reporting for these sources is only required when they receive formal enforcement actions such as administrative orders or civil filings.

CWA: EPA is currently working with the states on several pilot projects to begin electronic transmittal of self-reported Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs), so that effluent exceedance data for minor facilities may more easily be transmitted to federal data systems.

RCRA: No distinction is made between major and minor facilities under RCRA.

CAA Part 61 NESHAP minors/federally-reportable: Sources which are subject to health-based National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, but which emit pollutants in amounts below major source threshold amounts. Delegated air pollution control agencies (state, local or tribal) must submit surveillance, compliance and enforcement data on these sources to AFS.

Quarter: Three month interval over which many EPA databases track compliance and enforcement.

Synthetic Minor/federally-reportable: Air pollution sources which request federally enforceable state operating permits (FESOPs) to limit source emissions to less than major source emission thresholds. Delegated air pollution control agencies (state, local or tribal) must submit surveillance, compliance and enforcement data on these sources to AFS.