5 New Years Resolutions to Consider in 2022

It’s the start of a new year, and the VIM Technologies team couldn’t be more excited. Many of us have made our New Year’s Resolutions and are on our way to making changes in the ways we live and work, and how we impact our surroundings. If you haven’t already, it’s time to start thinking about New Year’s Resolutions for yourself and your air compliance initiatives. We’ve pulled together our top five ideas to help improve your air compliance program and quality of work life while you’re at it…

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PADEP CSMM Revision 8 Requirements

VIM Technologies is offering an intermediate level, fully online Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) CSMM Revision 8 Requirements training course, by instructors Bill Mitchell (Sr. Environmental Engineer) and Ashley Partington (Compliance Specialist), February 22-23rd, 2022.

This course is designed to provide a summary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) quality assurance, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements. The course will begin Day 1 with an introduction to PADEP Revision 8 reporting requirements, monitoring specifications, certification/recertification process, and initial/ongoing QA testing requirements. Day 2 will explore the requirements of the quarterly PADEP EDR, data elements, and will also include a discussion of hourly validation and data substitution. An overview of RACT III will also be provided.

The course would be beneficial to Environmental Managers as well as Instrument & Control Technicians with CEMS responsibilities. The training would be valuable to personnel with limited PADEP experience, or as a refresher for more seasoned environmental professionals. The course will be presented in two(2), three-hour sessions over two consecutive days for $399. 

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VIM Technologies Introduction to Part 75: 3-Day Remote Training Course

VIM Technologies is offering an intermediate level, fully online Part 75 Emissions training course run by Senior Air Compliance Specialist Dru Sanders, February 16-18th, 2022. This course is directed toward environmental staff and Instrument & Controls (I&C) Technicians responsible for complying with 40 CFR Part 75 regulations. We will provide an overview covering general provisions required by the rule. This will include monitoring methods, data handling, quality assurance testing, recertification events, annual analysis, and reporting/recordkeeping requirements. General data assessment techniques will be discussed along with our 10-step program for success. The course consists of four (4) sessions, spanning three (3) days in February. Day 2 includes two (2) focused sessions addressing Part 75 requirements specific to gas & oil-fired units as well as a separate session focusing on coal-fired units. These two (2)  sessions are conducted in succession, providing flexibility to participate in one session or both. The Part 75 course will also cover any recent applicable regulatory or reporting changes or pending revisions. The price of the training is $599 and is recommended for intermediate-level attendees.

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CEMLink6 New Feature Highlights

It’s that time again!!  No, not the release of the pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks, it’s time for a recap and highlight of a handful of CEMLink6 features that have been introduced over the last year.  We’ve taken the entire list of enhancements and changes made to the product and narrowed the list down to the top 5 most significant.

This blog will focus on major features that were introduced between the 6.1.770 and 6.2.140 releases.  If you are not running the latest version of CEMLink6 (6.2.140.13), please reach out to our support group today so we can schedule an update.  The best way to contact us is support@vimtechnologies.com or call 1-866-484-6435 for immediate assistance.

If you wish to provide input towards future enhancements, please contact the Steering Committee at steeringcommittee@vimtechnologies.com.Read more »

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP)

The Environmental Quality Board (EQB) is moving forward on the Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) III rule that was proposed to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) on October 17, 2019. The purpose of this rule was to revise the State Implementation Plan (SIP) for compliance with the primary and secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone. RACT applies to major sources of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and/or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted statewide. This revision to the rule will provide additionally reduced emissions limits for NOx and VOCs from the previous PA RACT rules. The compliance deadline for RACT III will be January 1, 2023.Read more »

Version 6.2.140.9 of CEMLink6 Now Available

Version 6.2.140.9 of CEMLink6 is now available. Updates are available to those with an active maintenance contract.

If you would like more information, or to update your CEMLink6 system to this version, please contact VIM Support at 410-859-5455.

Just a reminder, VIM requires all DAHS server and Client computers to be running Microsoft .NET 4.8. If your server or client computers were deployed prior to September 2019 OR if you have had Windows updates deactivated, it’s likely that your systems will need to have this update installed. More information and documentation on determining your version of .NET, how to access an update, and when this needs to be completed is available here.Read more »

Are You Ready for the 2021 Alberta CEMS Code Update?

UPDATE: AEP Issues June 18, 2021 Memo
On June 18, 2021, AEP released a memorandum which states that previous authorizations to deviate from the 1998 CEMS Code apply specifically to the 1998 Code.  Affected sources should work with their approval coordinator to have any such deviation(s) authorized prior to January 1, 2022.  The installation requirements specified in the 2021 CEM Code apply to new installations, “therefore existing authorizations to deviate which are based on physical installation requirements (i.e., sampling location) may remain.”Read more »

VIM Steering Committee Announcement

First, we would like to express our deepest thanks to our two outgoing Steering Committee members,  Scott Nielson (Ash Grove) and Rockey Pollard (NIPSCO). We can’t say thank you enough for the knowledge and expertise you brought to the committee. We are grateful for your commitment and support to our CEMLink 6 community.

Second, we would like to welcome Joseph Arsenault (Ash Grove Cement), Brooks Butler (Georgia Pacific), Bill Kraft (National Grid), and Roy Srymanske (Nucor Steel) as the newest additions to the VIM Steering Committee. We are delighted to welcome such an outstanding group of new steering committee members. Each brings a unique background of expertise, each committed to helping shape the software functionality and usability of CEMLink 6 from an end user’s perspective.

Joe, Brooks, Bill, and Roy will be joining four other committee members. To view existing Steering Committee members, visit www.vimtechnologies.com/steering-committee/

The VIM Steering Committee is a multidisciplinary advisory group consisting of members from various industries that advise VIM on functional requirements associated with the CEMLink product.

CEMLink 6 Excel Add-In Released

VIM Technologies has released our latest version of the CEMLink 6 Excel Add-In – a CEMLink 6 tool designed to reduce the challenges associated with assembling and populating CEDRI reporting templates, state-specific reporting, and corporate fleet-wide data aggregation spreadsheets. This latest CEMLink 6 Excel Add-In is now available in the latest release (6.2.100), released on March 1, 2021.

Populate Excel Reports with the Click of a Mouse

The CEMLink 6 Excel Add-In will allow users to retrieve their compliance data directly, reliably, safely, and repeatedly from the CEMLink 6 server and use it to populate Excel reports with the click of a mouse. Users can manage and maintain connections to multiple servers, making it easy to run reports across an entire fleet.

Once licensed, users will be prompted to download the Excel Add-In from the DAHS server and can load the CEMLink6 plugin directly into Microsoft Excel. There are no limits on the number of workstations, users, or spreadsheets that can interface with a CEMLink6 DAS.

The first step in retrieving data is to configure and manage each of the CEMLink6 server connections. Users have the ability to collect and combine data from one or more servers across their fleet, all being tied into a single spreadsheet.

The next step involves the configuration of lists. “Lists” define the type of data that is being retrieved and contain details on the location where data is to be placed in each spreadsheet. Typically these steps are only done once, unless the reporting requirement or CEDRI template changes.

The final step entails running the report by using the “Get Data” feature and passing through a date range. With a few clicks of a mouse, it populates the Excel spreadsheet.

How to Get the CEMLink 6 Excel Add-In

To gain access to this feature in CEMLink 6, users will need to purchase a license. Complete configuration of your report(s) by VIM is also available, but not required. Please send an e-mail to support@vimtechnologies.com with the following information:

  • Desired delivery date
  • Number of DAS(s) the Excel add-in will communicate with
  • Type(s) of data needed (raw, calculated, other)
  • How are you planning to use the Excel Add-in? (provide sample files)
    • Ad-hoc query
    • Custom dashboards
    • Title V / Emission inventory / CEDRI / Other Sample Reports

Our Support Team will review your requirements and issue a proposal for the license and any configuration needed.


Want to know more about CEMLink6 Excel Add-In and CEDRI reporting requirements? Read VIM’s article in December’s World Cement Magazine