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EPA Records Schedule 496
Status: Final, 03/31/2011
Title: Air Quality System (AQS)
Program: Air
Applicability: Agency-wide
Function: 108-023-01 - Air Monitoring and Forecasting
NARA Disposal Authority:
This schedule authorizes the disposition of the record copy in any media (media neutral), excluding any records already in electronic form. Records designated for permanent retention must be transferred to the National Archives in accordance with NARA standards at the time of transfer.
- N1-412-08-12
Description:
The Air Quality System (AQS) serves as the national repository for ambient air quality measurements and descriptive information about the locations where the ambient air quality data are collected. The data, which is collected by state, local and tribal agencies, is periodically uploaded into AQS. It is used to track progress in implementing the national air pollution control program. For example, EPA uses the data to determine non-attainment areas for pollutants that have national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for trends analysis, modeling, providing the public with information about the cleanliness of the air in various areas, and for various air quality reports for Congress and others.
Users submit data via the EPA Central Data Exchange (CDX), on an as-needed basis, and the data is transferred from AQS to the Envirofacts information warehouse.
Disposition Instructions:
Item a: Electronic software program
This item is to be used only by the Office of Air and Radiation, National Air Data Group, Outreach and Information Division.
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Disposable
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Destroy when no longer needed to ensure access to, and use of, the electronic records throughout the authorized retention period.
Item b: Input
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Disposable
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Follow instructions for EPA 171.
Item c: Electronic data
This item is to be used only by the Office of Air and Radiation, National Air Data Group, Outreach and Information Division.
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Permanent
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Transfer data annually to the National Archives, as specified in 36 CFR 1235.44-1235.50 or standards applicable at the time.
Item d: Output and reports
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Varies
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File with related records and follow instructions for the related records.
Item e: System documentation
This item is to be used only by the Office of Air and Radiation, National Air Data Group, Outreach and Information Division.
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Permanent
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Transfer those records necessary to document how the system captures, manipulates, and outputs data to the National Archives, as specified in 36 CFR 1235.44-1235.50 or standards applicable at the time. Documentation is transferred with the electronic data (item c).
Guidance:
The Central Data Exchange is scheduled as EPA 097. See EPA 098 for Envirofacts.
Reasons for Disposition:
The following changes were made in the 04/30/2008 version:
- Revised disposition instructions for item b.
- Added applicability to disposition items a, c and e.
- Revised title of disposition item e.
This system was previously approved as the Aerometric Information Retrieval System (AIRS), N1-412-99-8, and consisted of four databases: Air Quality System (AQS), Air Facility System (AFS), Geo-Common (GCS), and a mapping utility called AIRS graphic (AG). Three of the four systems have been phased out. The emissions portion of AFS was phased out in 2000, and new submissions are submitted to the National Emissions Inventory (NEI), scheduled as EPA 002. The data from the Precision and Accuracy Reporting System (PARS), approved as NC1-412-81-12/33, was transferred to AIRS in 1992. The compliance data is now managed by the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) and will be scheduled separately.
Custodians:
Office of Air and Radiation, National Air Data Group, Outreach and Information Division
- Contact: Robert Coats
- Telephone: 919-541-5448
Related Schedules:
EPA 002, EPA 097, EPA 098, EPA 171
Previous NARA Disposal Authority:
NC1-412-81-8/7, NC1-412-81-8/13, NC1-412-81-12/33, NC1-412-82-4/2, N1-412-99-8
Entry: 06/05/1993
EPA Approval: 08/08/2008
NARA Approval: 01/23/2009