Emission Inventory
Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Emission Inventory?
The DOES point source emission inventory is an annual survey of actual emissions of pollutants emitted from approximately 675 sources located in over 220 facilities. 

Why did I receive a request to submit inventory data? 
Your facility was identified as having the POTENTIAL to emit one or more of the following pollutants at or above the following levels:

CRITERIA POLLUTANTS
* particulate matter - 25 tons/year
* sulfur dioxide - 25 tons/year
* nitrogen oxides - 25 tons/year
* carbon monoxide - 250 tons/year
* hydrocarbons - 10 tons/year
* lead - 5 tons/year

NESHAP's
* mercury - 1 ton/year
* vinyl chloride - 1 ton/year
* arsenic - 1 ton/year
* beryllium - any
* radionuclides - any
* acrylonitrile - 1 ton/year
* asbestos - any
* benzene - 1 ton/year

HAP's
* styrene - 1 ton/year
* methylene chloride - 1 ton/year
* formaldehyde - 1 ton/year

How does DOES inventory sources?
In January of each year, DOES mails out questionnaires (EI forms) to all facilities in our area of jurisdiction that meet inventory criteria. Each facility then completes the forms and returns the questionnaire by the specified due date. Once the form is received by DOES, staff members review the questionnaire for completeness and calculate the facility's actual annual emissions using data provided by the facility. The calculations are then quality checked and the data is entered into the inventory database. 

How is emission inventory data used? 
An inventory provides an important starting point for a regulatory program. Inventory data is used to determine how a regulated community is doing in terms of compliance. Major polluters can be easily identified and control strategies can be developed based on inventory data. This year's data is compared to previous years' to see what the overall trend is in pollution reduction. 

How are emissions calculated? 
Actual emissions can be calculated in a variety of ways. The most accurate method is through use of stack test data if the source has been tested recently. If such data is not available, emissions can be estimated using emission factors such as AP-42 or SCC factors. Material balance is also a common way of estimating emissions. 

You only gave me one form and I have several sources. What should I do?
We recommend photocopying the form to make additional copies or you may
download forms from this website. 

How do I fill out the forms?
This web site provides
guidance on completing forms. There is also a section containing reference materials such as conversion tables and solvent densities. Any other questions can be referred to DOES staff at (513) 946-7777.

When is this year's inventory due? 
Beginning in 2002, all inventory reports are due on April 15 for all facilities. Extensions are no longer be granted. 

I already have the information you want on a spreadsheet. Do I need to fill out the forms, or can I submit the data in my own format? 
You are welcome to submit the data in whatever format you have it as long as it contains all the information that we requested. You may want to use our form to provide data your spreadsheet doesn't already include. 

If I submitted MSDS sheets in the past, do I need to send them in again? 
No, as long as you are using the same coating materials that you used last year. Any new coatings will require a MSDS. You do not need to send in the entire MSDS - only the page that verifies the coating composition. 

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