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VIM Technologies at CAPCA Spring 2025: Conference Highlights

We had a fantastic time at the CAPCA Spring Conference, held April 9–12, 2025, at the beautiful Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC! We’re so proud to have participated alongside so many great people—our customers, and friends—from Domtar, Duke Energy, Georgia Pacific, Giant Cement, Ingevity, Nucor, Smurfit Westrock, University of South Carolina, and many more. It was a privilege to share the floor with our industry-leading partners: Air Hygiene, Alliance Technical Group, B3 Systems, M&C Technical Group, STI CEMS, and Thermon.

Conference Highlights

The CAPCA Spring Conference brought together the best minds in air quality and environmental compliance for a week of learning, networking, and innovation. Some of our favorite moments included:

  • Deep Dives into CEMS Innovations: We explored the latest advancements in Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems and data-driven approaches for real-time compliance monitoring.
  • Insightful Regulatory Panels: Panels on emerging regulations and best practices for air permit management provided practical takeaways for staying ahead of compliance requirements.
  • Capital Project Commissioning Tips: Experts shared tips and strategies for commissioning capital projects that support environmental compliance and operational excellence.
  • Regulatory Updates: We received valuable updates from the EPA, as well as North Carolina and South Carolina regulatory agencies, helping everyone stay informed on the latest changes.

Thank You for Making It Special

We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth, joined our conversations, and contributed to the dynamic spirit of the event. Your insights, questions, and enthusiasm are what make the CAPCA community so special.

VIM Technologies is a proud supporter of the Carolina Air Pollution Control Association. We deeply value the relationships and knowledge shared at this conference—insights that drive innovation and help shape tomorrow’s solutions in emissions monitoring and environmental compliance.

We look forward to seeing you again at future CAPCA events!

 

ECMPS 2.0 Rollout Delayed to 2026: What You Need to Know

On April 22nd, 2025, EPA’s Clean Air and Power Division (CAPD) provided a status update on the ECMPS 2.0 re-engineering effort. The blog post can be found here.

The key takeaway from the message is the delay for ECMPS 2.0 implementation until at least Q1 2026 (from Q3 2025). This announcement didn’t take us by surprise considering the beta testing environment has been unavailable for 9 of the last 10 months!

If you haven’t already done so, we strongly encourage you to get set up with CDX and CBS test accounts and start playing around with the new ECMPS 2.0 web-based client tool. EPA created a quick start guide that will walk you through setting up your test accounts in all applications (CBS, CDX and Login.gov). It also describes the various roles and responsibilities within CDX and what to expect during the official migration expected sometime next year.  To get a copy of the startup guide click here or visit the re-engineering page at https://www.epa.gov/power-sector/ecmps-re-engineering-effort.

We are excited to hear that ECMPS 2.0 beta environment is back on-line, but most importantly to hear that it’s been backfilled with historical MP, QA, and EM data through Q3 2024. The ECMPS 2.0 tool, even when it was on-line, was relatively unusable due to out-of-date records in monitoring plans and the divergence of data between production and beta systems. Any JSON files that were produced by a DAHS likely contained outdated monitoring plan information that weren’t present in the beta system.

Some other good news is that there was no mention of any JSON schema updates. This means that any CEMLink6 DAHS systems running 6.2.620 or greater are equipped with the tools they need to start playing around in the beta environment. If you’re unsure the version you’re running or need help getting your DAHS updated, please contact our support group at support@vimtechnologies.com or call us 1-866-484-6435 and follow the prompts for support.

Unfortunately, one area where EPA is digging in their heels, is regarding Contractor Access. This is a topic we have been very vocal about to both EPA and industry for the last 3 years. This is a feature that’s available in CBS and the current stand-alone ECMPS 1.0 Client Tool and one that the vendors (DAHS, Consultants and Stack testers) rely on to access key information. Without an equivalent feature in ECMPS 2.0, industry will be forced to add a significant number of preparer agents under the sponsor (original DR or ADR) to get the support they need.  It’s imperative that industry press EPA on this subject because it will pose a significant burden to you as it’s currently architected.

VIM will continue to stay abreast of the ECMPS 2.0 developments and update this blog as relevant information becomes available. Please contact our COMPAS group at compas@vimtechnologies.com for more information concerning the ECMPS 2.0 implementation or any questions you may have.

 

President Signs Proclamation Granting MATS Rule Exemption For Certain Sources

On Tuesday, April 8, 2025, the President issued a Presidential Proclamation exempting specified stationary sources, listed in Annex I of the Proclamation, from compliance with the “National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units Review of the Residual Risk and Technology Review” (89 Federal Register 38508) (the “Rule”).  A copy of the Proclamation and Annex I list is available HERE.  As specified in the Proclamation, the President’s exemption extends the compliance deadline for two (2) years beyond the Rule’s current compliance date (i.e., for the period beginning July 8, 2027 through July 8, 2029).  During the 2-year exemption period, the coal-fired sources listed in Annex I are subject to the compliance requirements that they are currently subject to under the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) as the MATS Rule existed before the “RTR” MATS Rule (89 Federal Register 38508).

Facilities listed in Annex I must maintain compliance with the pre-RTR MATS standards. Monitoring, reporting, and quality assurance programs should continue to follow the requirements in place before the 2024 RTR amendments.  Affected sources not listed in Annex I must comply with the RTR MATS Rule requirements effective July 8, 2027.  It is unclear if MATS affected sources not listed in Annex I can request a similar Presential exemption.

While the exemption provides temporary relief to some sources, facilities should continue preparing for eventual compliance with the RTR MATS Rule.  Proactive planning and system readiness are essential for long-term compliance.

For more information or to schedule a compliance consultation, please contact VIM Technologies, Inc. (VIM).  VIM remains committed to being a trusted partner in environmental compliance, helping clients navigate regulatory changes with confidence and precision.

Stay tuned to the VIM Technologies News section for ongoing updates and expert insights on air compliance regulations.

 

The CEMS Academy Training in Reno Recap

VIM Technologies is proud to announce the successful completion of another sold-out CEMS Academy training event in Reno this month. Our Senior Air Compliance Specialist, Eric Wiley, was among the esteemed instructors who led this comprehensive two-day workshop.

The training, which took place on February 19-20, 2025, brought together environmental professionals from diverse industries, including power, oil and gas, mining, and pulp and paper. This diverse representation contributed to the uniqueness of the training experience, fostering rich discussions and knowledge sharing among participants.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the students who dedicated their valuable time to attend this event. The level of engagement and interaction between students and instructors was truly remarkable, leading to insightful conversations and a deeper understanding of CEMS-related topics.

The CEMS Academy continues to provide a unique opportunity for professionals to learn from a team of experts with over 120 years of combined experience in the field. This hands-on approach to learning has proven to be highly effective in addressing the complex challenges faced by environmental professionals in their day-to-day operations.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to announce that preparations are underway for the next CEMS Academy training event scheduled for late June. Details will be posted on the CEMS Academy website in the coming days. We encourage interested professionals to keep an eye out for this information and register early, as our events tend to sell out quickly.

At VIM Technologies, we remain committed to providing high-quality, practical training that empowers environmental professionals to excel in their roles. We look forward to seeing you at the next CEMS training workshop!

CEMS Mastery: Join VIM Technologies at The CEMS Academy in Reno

VIM Technologies is thrilled to announce our continued partnership with The CEMS Academy for their upcoming workshop in Reno, NV. Join us on February 19-20, 2025, for an intensive two-day training event hosted by UES at 6995 Sierra Center Pkwy, offering a unique opportunity for environmental professionals to learn from Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) experts representing over 120 years of combined experience.

This hands-on workshop brings together experts from four disciplines, including representatives from STI CEMS, Universal Analyzers, and Air Hygiene. VIM Technologies’ Eric Wiley, Senior Air Compliance Specialist, will be among the instructors leading breakout sessions.

Workshop Features:

  • Small group learning
  • Comprehensive rotating breakout sessions
  • Hands-on training experiences

Participants will rotate through critical learning stations:

  • CEMS Components (Probes, Sample Lines, & Conditioners)
  • Analyzer Teardown & Repair
  • Stack Testing Fundamentals
  • Data Acquisition Systems & Regulatory Overview

Our experienced professionals will share insights on common mistakes, practical solutions, and industry best practices. This two-day, hands-on format is designed to benefit your entire CEMS team.

Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge and optimize your plant’s CEMS operations. Register today before seats sell out!

For more information and registration, visit The CEMS Academy website.

We look forward to seeing you in Reno for this no-nonsense, practical training that breaks the traditional CEMS workshop mold!

ECMPS 2.0 Update EPA Announces Q3 2025 Rollout and Key Changes

On December 20th, 2024, EPA’s Clean Air and Power Division (CAPD) provided a status update on the ECMPS 2.0 re-engineering effort. The blog post can be found here.

Their message addressed the following three (3) key points:

  1. Copies of the ECMPS 2.0 monitoring plan, quality assurance and emissions reporting instructions were posted.
  2. They confirmed that the initial rollout of ECMPS 2.0 would NOT contain any new MATS related records.
  3. ECMPS 2.0 via the new web-based utility has a tentative earliest effective date of Q3 2025. 

Now that EPA has brought the ECMPS 2.0 beta system back on-line and penciled in a deadline of 2025 Q3, industry should be prepared to re-engage with the project. There are no plans to run both systems in parallel so the transition will be aggressive when it occurs. DAHS vendors have what we need to prepare industry for reporting. Detailed below are a few things you can do to prepare for the deadline:

  • EPA has finished migrating security and login capability for the ECMPS 2.0 beta systems from CAMD Business System (CBS) to Central Data Exchange (CDX) and Login.gov. If you haven’t already familiarized yourself with the CDX and Beta startup guide, we encourage you to do so. To access a copy of the startup guide please click here.
  • Reach out to your DAHS vendor to discuss their plans and to schedule an update. Most vendors have been testing in the beta environment since it came back on-line earlier this fall. VIM recently announced to all Part 75 CEMLink customers that an update (Ver. 6.2.620) is available for users who want it to test in the beta environments. We have been encouraging end users to update to familiarize themselves with the new ECMPS 2.0 web-based interface. EPA has been spending time on critical bug fixes rather than usability enhancements, so the look-and-feel of the screens are a bit crude.
  • Provide feedback on your experience with the new interface to EPA. Once your set up with the required test accounts (in CDX and CBS), you can provide feedback to EPA via ecmps-beta@camdsupport.com. It’s important that industry acquaint themselves with the new interface and workflow. There are significant changes to Agent designations and EPA has not re-established “Contractor Access” like we have in the current environment. It’s imperative that industry press EPA on this subject because it will pose a significant burden to you as it’s currently architected.
  • MATS-affected sources should contact their stack test contractors to ensure that they will continue to provide the applicable required MATS stack test data elements specified in Sections 17 through 30 of Appendix E to the MATS Rule in XML format. EPA will likely continue with the “attachment” approach until there are at least a few years of run-time in the new environment.  We don’t expect EPA to re-engage with vendors or industry until at least 2026 to discuss the additional MATS data elements.  

VIM will continue to stay abreast of the ECMPS 2.0 developments and update this blog as relevant information becomes available. Please contact our COMPAS group at compas@vimtechnologies.com for more information concerning the ECMPS 2.0 implementation or any questions you may have.

2024 CEMLink6 & Regulatory Training Recap

VIM Technologies, Inc. (VIM) is pleased to announce the completion of another highly successful CEMLink6 and Regulatory Training course held in Dallas, Texas on November 5 – 7, 2024. The 3-day training course included three (3) separate tracks: (1) regulatory, (2) CEMLink6 intermediate and (3) CEMLink6 advanced. The regulatory track featured a 2-day focused training on Part 75 as well as a half-day course on Part 60 Appendix F quality assurance/quality control procedures. Other regulatory topics included Part 63 Subparts EEE and LLLL. CEMLink6 tracks covered some of our usual subjects such as Overview Dashboards, Logbook and Calibration Utilities but also some refreshed material in the Configuration/PLC and advanced system troubleshooting sessions. Attendees were provided copies of the presentations prior to the course as well as PDF copies of other supporting documents. There were also opportunities to meet new friends and network. Comments from attendees included:

I appreciated the flexibility to change tracks to attend the training that was of most interest to me.”

I would highly recommend this course to my colleagues.”

The training material was thorough and useful as a reference document.”

Stay tuned for VIM announcements for future online and in-person training classes or visit our training page at www.vimtechnologies.com/training. VIM also provides site-specific training courses tailored to a facility’s monitoring methodology and applicable regulations. Contact us at sales@vimtechnologies.com for more information.

85th Glass Problems Conference Recap

VIM Technologies (VIM) exhibited at the 85th Glass Problems Conference in Toledo, Ohio, from September 16-19, 2024. This event brought together nearly 500 industry professionals, creating an ideal environment for networking and sharing insights into the glass manufacturing sector.

The conference, organized by the Glass Manufacturing Industry Council and Alfred University, served as a vibrant hub for innovation. VIM had the pleasure of meeting new clients and reconnecting with old friends, all passionate about advancing the glass industry. These interactions provided valuable insights into the challenges faced by glass manufacturers and allowed VIM to showcase its comprehensive environmental compliance solutions.

VIM’s booth became a hub for discussions on environmental compliance strategies. We discussed how our CEMLink 6 software not only monitors emissions but also provides predictive analytics to prevent compliance issues before they occur. We also discussed VIM’s COMPAS program, our comprehensive service for quality assurance and regulatory training.

VIM looks forward to next year’s conference and continuing to contribute to advancements in glass manufacturing!

To learn more about CEMLink 6 or our COMPAS program, or to schedule a personalized demo, please visit our website at www.vimtechnologies.com or contact us at sales@vimtechnologies.com.

What’s New In CEMLink6 — August 2024

We have some CEMLink6 news for you! Before we move further into August and forget Christmas in July, VIM Technologies is thrilled to announce a range of top-notch features we’ve rolled out in CEMLink6.

We understand that today’s requirements and trends are evolving rapidly, and our dedicated development team is here to meet those challenges head-on. By actively seeking feedback from our customers and Steering Committee, we collaboratively design and implement user-focused enhancements that ensure CEMLink6 remains at the forefront of technology in the emissions monitoring industry.

With these latest updates, we aim to empower you with greater flexibility, improved transparency, and smarter features tailored to your needs. Whether you’re looking to streamline data analysis, enhance alarm management, or simplify calibration processes, we’ve got you covered.

The features described below were developed into CEMLink6 release versions 6.2.220 thru 6.2.575, and are deemed the most important updates. If you are not running the latest version of CEMLink6 (6.2.575), please reach out to our support group 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.

Let’s dive into the exciting new features that will help you get the most out of your CEMLink6 experience!

Don’t forget the sunscreen, and have a great rest of your summer!

Key Enhancements

1. Data Viewer: Multi-Interval Selection

The Data Viewer in CEMLink6 now offers both single and multi-interval selection modes, providing users with unprecedented flexibility in data analysis. This feature allows for:

  • Simultaneous viewing of multiple data intervals, enabling more comprehensive trend analysis
  • Efficient comparison of data across different time periods
  • Customizable views that can be saved for quick access in future sessions
  • Enhanced ability to spot patterns and anomalies in emissions data

How to use: Simply open the Data Viewer and select the desired intervals using the new multi-select option. You can then analyze, compare, and export data from these multiple intervals simultaneously.

Figure 1 Select Data to View portion of Data Viewer

2. Calculation Activity Monitor: Enhanced Transparency

The upgraded Calculation Activity window in the Data Editor now offers more detailed information about ongoing recalculations, including:

  • Real-time visibility into the recalculation process, showing which averages are being calculated
  • Clear identification of the current average being recalculated, displaying the source, average name, and interval type
  • A progress tracker with a recalculation counter, allowing users to monitor the overall process

This enhancement provides users with a much clearer picture of the recalculation process, helping to identify potential issues or bottlenecks more quickly.

Figure 2 Calculation Activity tab in the Data Editor

3. Fuel Analysis: Automated GCV Conversion

To streamline compliance with EPA requirements, we’ve introduced an automatic conversion feature for Gross Calorific Value (GCV) data. This feature:

  • Automatically adjusts GCV samples from 60°F to 68°F
  • Reduces manual calculation errors
  • Ensures compliance with EPA standards

To enable this feature:

  • Click the Configuration button in the Fuel Analysis toolbar 
  • Navigate to the Fuel Analysis Configuration dialog
  • Navigate to the Fuel Analysis Configuration dialog

Once enabled, you can mark samples as taken at 60°F, and the system will automatically convert them to 68°F by reducing the GCV value by 1.52%.

Figure 3 Details tab with the new Sample at 60 degrees F and Converted to 68 degrees F fields

4. Auto Acknowledge Older Alarms

This new feature automatically acknowledges alarms older than a specified number of days, offering:

  • Reduced clutter in alarm logs
  • Improved focus on current, actionable alarms
  • Customizable timeframe for auto-acknowledgment

To set up this feature:

  1. Access the Alarms and Events UI under Alarm Settings
  2. In the Alarm Settings dialog, enter the desired number of days in “Auto Acknowledge Alarm Days”
  3. Set to “0” to disable this feature

Alarms are automatically acknowledged when the Alarm Service is started and the beginning of each subsequent day (just after midnight).

Figure 4 Alarm Settings with the new Auto Acknowledge Alarm Days fields

5. Calibration Status Indicator

The Calibration Control now includes a visual status indicator, providing:

Immediate insight into calibration status without the need to select individual calibrations

Color-coded indicators for quick assessment:

  1. RED: Any calibration step has failed
  2. YELLOW: Any step is in a warning state (and not failed)
  3. GREEN: All calibration steps have passed

This feature allows for rapid identification of calibration issues, enabling faster response times and improved system maintenance.

Figure 5 Calibration Control showing the Calibration Status Indicator turned green to show passing.

These enhancements demonstrate our commitment to providing a robust, user-friendly, and compliant emissions monitoring solution.

Staying Updated

Again, these enhancements are available in CEMLink6 versions 6.2.220 through 6.2.575. We strongly recommend updating to the latest version (6.2.575) to access all new features.

For update assistance, please contact our support team:

Your Input Matters

We value your feedback in shaping future enhancements. To provide input, please contact our Steering Committee at steeringcommittee@vimtechnologies.com.

At VIM Technologies, we remain committed to delivering intelligent, data-intensive, and user-friendly software solutions that meet the evolving requirements of the emissions monitoring industry. Thank you for your continued trust in CEMLink6.