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Submit Data
The information below provides guidance for submitting Mining Bureau sample data to Montana DEQ’s EQuIS database. Montana EQuIS is DEQ’s main sample data repository and includes physical, chemical, biological, vapor intrusion, and habitat data from a variety of projects across the state.
If you need assistance during the EDD submittal process, contact the appropriate Mining Bureau Section (Hardrock, Opencut, or Coal) directly.
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Step 1: Prepare your EDD
Environmental monitoring data must be submitted to DEQ in a specific format. Data providers are required to download the Mining EDD (Electronic Data Deliverable) and populate it with their project’s data. Detailed guidance for populating the EDD can be found in the Montana EQuIS Mining EDD Guidance Manual.
- Mining EDD Excel format
- Montana EQuIS Mining EDD Guidance Manual
- Mining EDD Description
- Mining EDD Reference Values
Supporting documentation is required with all submittals. Refer to specific guidelines for your Mining Bureau Section.
- PDFs of lab sheets
- PDFs of field notebooks or data entry sheets
- Additional data sheets for non-EQuIS data
- Data logger worksheets
- Certifications and statements, as needed
Step 2: Verify your EDD
After Step 1 is complete, your Mining EDD is ready for data verification using the EQuIS Data Processor (EDP). The EDP is a standalone application that allows data providers to check their EDD files prior to submission to ensure they are formatted as described in the Montana EQuIS Mining EDD Guidance Manual. If the EDP detects errors, the errors will be identified and most can be corrected directly within the application. After the errors are corrected, the EDP must be re-run to ensure that no errors remain. Your EDD must have a clean verification from the EDP prior to data submission to DEQ.
DEQ may have a list of station names for your mine that already exists in the EQuIS database. These names can be requested from the appropriate Mining Bureau Section and used in the Location Worksheet so that station names remain consistent.
The EDP is downloaded from Earthsoft. Once downloaded, you will need to register with DEQ to obtain a software token. This step is explained in the EDP Guidance Manual, but you will need to specifically register the Mining EDD.
DEQ's Water Division has an EDP guidance manual which outlines how to use the software. The process for using it with DEQ's Mining EDD is essentially the same (MT-eWQX is the Water Division's format whereas Mining EDD is the Mining Bureau's format).
Step 3: Submit your EDD
After Step 2 is complete and your EDD has no errors, you’re ready to submit to Montana EQuIS.
Supporting documentation must be included in the submittal.
Once you have completed data validation according to your project’s requirements, please use File Transfer to send the EDD, Mining EDD Data Submittal Form, and supporting documentation to the appropriate Mining Bureau Section. Details on the submittal process and requirements can be found in the Montana EQuIS Mining EDD Guidance Manual.