I am a new certifying official, how do I get EPA approval for my Electronic Signature Agreement?

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Description

Certifying Official Role

Person of authority at a facility designated to certify (or prepare and certify) TRI files for submission to EPA and the appropriate State.

New Certifying Officials in RY 2012 – New option available to obtain an ESA online

Important Notice to obtain an Electronic Signature Agreement (ESA)!

Please note that in order to use TRI-MEweb to certify any pending forms transmitted to CDX, new certifying officials must create a new user account and add TRI-MEweb in CDX. The CDX user account must apply for a certifying official role. This new role requires

1. the printing, signing, and mailing of an ESA to EPA's data processing center (address below), or
2. New in RY 2012: Apply for an ESA online using a third party identification proofing vendor. Please allow adequate time for the mailing and processing of this form, which is estimated to take a minimum of 5 business days.

Applies to ALL Returning Certifying Officials in RY 2012

Important Notice about a new CDX Electronic Signature Agreement (ESA)

Please note that upon logging into your CDX user account for the first time during the RY 2012, you will be prompt, in addition to new security questions, to sign electronically a CDX Electronic Signature Agreement. This ESA does not need to be mailed to EPA. It just allows you to add any new facility accounts without sending an ESA or requesting one in real-time. No more ESAs are needed for each new facility account in TRI-MEweb. It will also help in restoring your access to a facility account if it is accidentally deleted.

When does/doesn't your certifying official need to request a new ESA?

• An ESA is needed for a new certifying official that is designated to a TRI facility. There are two options to obtain their ESA. Printing, signing, and mailing of an hardcopy         ESA to EPA's data processing center (address below) or apply for an ESA online using a third party identification proofing vendor.
• An ESA is needed if your certifying official used CDX to transmit and certify submission(s) in RY 2008 using the now outdated TRI-MEdesktop/cd software and has not added TRI-MEweb to their CDX account (rare occurrence).
• An ESA is needed if your preparer accidentally deletes the certifying official user profile with a previously approved ESA from TRI-MEweb after the 45 day reactivation period has expired.
• An ESA is not needed if your certifying official submitted a signed ESA and EPA approved it in a previous year. He/she may continue to certify forms in following reporting years for the same facilities registered in their CDX certification module.

How to obtain a copy of your ESA

Option 1: Certifying official will receive an email upon creating a new CDX account and adding a facility account in TRI-MEweb with a PDF attachment of their ESA form that will need to be signed and mailed to EPA's Data Processing Center, if opting not to use the real-time third party vendor to obtain the ESA approval.

Option 2: Certifying official may log into CDX and obtain a copy of his/her ESA in the MyCDX in box.

Where do I send my signed ESA paper form?

You have two options to mail your signed hard copy ESA form to EPA for approval.

Regular mail service:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Attention: TRI Reporting Center
PO Box 10163
Fairfax, VA 22038


Certified mail or overnight delivery (i.e. Fed Ex, UPS, etc.) only:

TRI Reporting Center
c/o CGI Federal, Inc.
12601 Fair Lakes Circle
Fairfax, VA 22033