Practical Experience Using Information Technology to Develop a Best Practice for Discharge Monitoring Reporting, 1998 Environmental Conference Proceedings

Robert Moore

Trinity Consultants Incorporated

Kristi Coats

Fort James Corporation

Information technology, through both existing systems and off-the-shelf software, can be leveraged to decrease the effort and increase the effectiveness of environmental data management. Instrumental to a successful information technology solution is first performing a work practice analysis to determine the methods currently in place. A work practice analysis has been performed at a pulp and paper corporation focussing on the improvement of specific environmental work practices, including discharge monitoring reporting (DMR). The submittal of DMRs can require daily testing of an abundance of effluent parameters at separate effluent outfalls as well as weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual testing of other parameters. Whether this testing is performed with an in-house or outside laboratory, the preparation of DMRs presents a significant environmental data management burden . . or opportunity. Utilization of advances in information technology can allow a facility to significantly reduce the time and effort required to prepare DMRs while increasing the accuracy of the data presented. The best way to complete DMRs, or “best practice,” as described in this paper, utilizes information technology and business process improvement to eliminate redundant data entry, computerizes tedious calculations, automates quality assurance, and ends typewritten carbon copies.