Why Good Facility ID Data Goes Bad

1
Why Good Facility ID Data Goes Bad

• Are we making an effort to understand whether our
  facility identification data is telling us the
  truth?
• Do we want to use or share data of unknown
  quality?
• We owe it to ourselves, our Exchange Network
  partners and other consumers of our data to make
  sure it is reliable!

Facility Data is often the Core Data for an
Environmental Record!
2
Whats wrong with these facility names? EXXON
DIV OF CFI 70014 160 ANDOVER ST DANVERS,
MA CANDIA, TOWN OF 119 NEW BOSTON ROAD
CANDIA, NH
3
They reflect the ownership not the identity of
the facilities.

• EXXON DIV OF CFI 70014 at 160 ANDOVER ST
  DANVERS, MA is, in fact, a CUMBERLAND FARMS
  EXXON STATION.
• CANDIA, TOWN OF at 119 NEW BOSTON ROAD CANDIA,
  NH is, in fact, the CANDIA RECYCLING
  CENTER.

4
Some reasons bad data happens

• Data Creation
• Unclear forms or instructions
• Data creators (often regulated facility
  employees) not trained
• Sometimes the reality doesnt fit the data
  structure (i.e. a town-wide storm sewer system
  has no address)
• Data Review
• No process for submitters to make corrections
• Data entry staff may not be trained to spot bad
  or suspect data
• Data Stewardship
• No formal process for identifying and correcting
  inaccurate data
• No one assigned responsibility

5
We Can and Must Do Better!So HOW?
6
Possible Solutions

• Instructions consistent with EDSC standard
• Facility Name The public or commercial name of
  a facility site (i.e., the full name that
  commonly appears on invoices, signs, or other
  business documents, or as assigned by the state
  when the name is ambiguous).
• Location address The address that describes the
  physical (geographic) location of the front door
  or main entrance of a facility site.
• Documentation Training for agency staff
• Data Stewardship identify who is responsible

7
Best Practices Discussion

• Lets get your ideas for
• Submitting accurate data
• Checking correcting data
• Making the process work

8
Submitting accurate data

• Address standardization software any
  suggestions?
• Provide a place on applications for directions
  (Supplemental Location), separate from the
  address line.
• Use standardized drop-down lists for counties and
  cities
• Sample Site Name standards
• What else works for you?

9
Checking correcting data

• Use GIS software to check point in county
• Any problems getting facilities to correct data
  submitted in an online application?
• Any systematic way to correct owners names and
  contact addresses used in place of facility/site
  names and addresses ?
• Government-owned property such as
• Municipal garage uses town name instead of
  facility name
• School district office instead of elementary
  building name
• Large companies with multiple properties

10
Making the process work

• Any successful data steward setups? (for agency
  or per program? Motivation?)
• How do you get a good latitude/longitude when
  there is no address?
• Other areas that need work?