• Getting Started
  • Hardware and Software Requirements
  • Common Questions
  • STEERS Home Page
  • Using STEERS
  • Tips/Internet Basics
  • Helpful Definitions
  • Copy of Record
• STEERS Participation Agreement (SPA)
• North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Codes
• STEERS Help Main Menu

General Definitions

Central Registry (CR) - A TCEQ database application that collects and maintains core data, across program areas. Core data includes such information as name, address, and telephone number for customers and regulated entities. You can search the TCEQ Central Registry at https://www15.tceq.texas.gov/crpub/

Customer - A business, governmental body, association, individual, or other entity that owns, operates, is responsible for, or is affiliated with a regulated entity.

Customer Reference Number (CN) - 11-digit unique number generated by the Central Registry for all customers. It starts with CN and is followed by 9 numbers.

Data Sources - There are multiple places where data may reside. The data may already be official data with the TCEQ, pending data in your user work area only, or data that has been submitted by you but not yet processed by the TCEQ. Data may also be marked as valid or error.

Official Data - This is data that has been previously submitted to the TCEQ and was pulled from one of the official TCEQ databases. This data is read-only and always available to the customer to view. When the customer wants to modify it, a copy of the data is put into the customer's work area.

Submitted Data - This is data that has been officially submitted to the TCEQ by the customer, but not yet processed and put in the official TCEQ database. Because it has been submitted, it cannot be changed. It is inaccessible, like a completed form put in the mail. Once it is in the TCEQ database, it will be displayed as Official Data, which may then be modified.

Work Area Data - This is data that is in the customer's work area. It is considered a "work in progress." Only customers that are authorized by the facility may view or modify this data. It is not considered submitted and therefore the TCEQ will not use it. You make your data in the work area available to the TCEQ by "Submitting" it.

NAICS - North American Industry Classification System Code for the company's product or service. NAICS replaced SIC (Standard Industry Codes) Nationally in 2001, and in Texas the fall of 2002.

Probationary - limited access. Accounts and program area access are created in probationary status. Full activation of an account or program area does not occur until STEERS receives a signed STEERS Participation Agreement.

Program Area - Environmental regulatory subject. STEERS is divided into separate "modules" which correspond to TCEQ programs. Users must add a program area to their account in order to access specific reporting areas. The current program areas for STEERS are listed below. For more information, click the link to view the program area's help.

• Air Emissions and Maintenance Events (AEME)
  Initial Reports
  Final Reports
  Verify/Repudiate Reports
• Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMR)
• Industrial and Hazardous Waste (IHW)
  Limited changes to NOR
  Annual Waste Summary
  Waste Receipt Summary
• Petroleum Storage Tank (PST) Self-Certification

Program Area ID - an ID that identifies a program area's site, registration, facility, or regulated entity. Most program areas require that a user specify an ID for which to report.

• Air Emissions and Maintenance Events (AEME) - Regulated Entity Number (RN) or air account number.
• Discarge Monitoring Reports (DMR) - EPA permit number.
• Industrial and Hazardous Waste (IHW) - Solid Waste Registration number (SWR).
• Petroleum Storage Tank (PST) -  registration number.

Regulated Entity - person, organization, place, or thing that is of environmental interest to the TCEQ, where regulatory activities of interest to us occur or have occurred in the past.

Regulated Entity Reference Number (RN) - 11-digit unique number generated by the Central Registry for all regulated entities. It starts with RN and is followed by 9 numbers.

Role - Not every STEERS customer has the same capabilities. Each customer signs up for a specific role for a program area or program area ID when submitting a STEERS Participation Agreement (SPA). Standard roles include:

Read
A read-only account may only view data. It cannot make any changes.

Edit/Prepare
An edit, or preparer, account may view and modify the data in the customer work area. However, it cannot submit those changes to the TCEQ.

Submit
An account with the submit role may view, modify and submit data to the TCEQ.

STEERS Participation Agreement (SPA) - form that must be submitted to STEERS to gain full access to a STEERS account. This agreement lists the program areas an account has access to and that the account holder is authorized to report for them. An SPA must be signed by the account holder and the persons authorizing the access.

Work Area - The work area is where your pending, valid and submitted records are stored. Once your submitted records are loaded into the main TCEQ database they are removed from the work area.