The Ecology program/division to which data is being submitted.

files submitted from outside of Ecology

Unique ID to identify the field location in EIM.

Free text.

Must be unique within EIM.

Enter just one location per point on the Earth’s surface.

Don’t enter additional locations for each sample, depth, matrix/source, etc. from that point. Enter that info in the Results template.

Borings converted to wells: Don’t add a new location where an existing EIM soil boring location later had a monitoring well installed. Ask your Data Coordinator to convert it to a well location.

• For monitoring well MW4 at Voluntary Cleanup site NW0001, use VCNW0001_MW4. Don’t use MW-4. It isn’t unique.
• For soil boring SB08 at hypothetical “Lake Gas Station 111,” LakeGas111-SB08 is acceptable and unique.

Use a consistent naming convention for all locations. Prefixing with one of these is a good option:

• Facility/Site ID
• VCP number
• Cleanup Site ID
• Site abbreviation or acronym
• Study ID

Well locations can use Well Tag Number (ABC123) since it’s unique.

Download help for How to Name and Describe Field Locations.

Unique ID to identify the study in EIM.

Also see info about Study ID Alias (in this document).

Free text / preferred format

• WQC-2015-00104
• VCSW0123
• AJOH0012
• BCWTAC95

Grants - see “Naming Conventions for EIM Studies,” link below.

Voluntary Cleanup Program - use "VC" followed by your VCP number (ex. VCSW0123).

Sediment studies - use 8 or fewer characters. First 6 characters represent the study or facility; last 2 are study start date (ex. BCWTAC95).

Download help for Naming Conventions for EIM Studies.

Unique ID to identify the Study in EIM.

Must be valid EIM Study ID.

Use Study ID from:

1. Your Study form, or
2. A Study already in EIM

In a single template, don’t submit data for more than one study.

To load data for more than one study, use separate templates for each.

Unique ID to identify the Study in EIM.

Must be a valid EIM Study ID.

Use Study ID from:

1. Your Study form, or
2. A Study already in EIM

In a single template, don’t submit data for more than one study.

To load data for more than one study, use separate templates for each.

Unique ID to identify the Study in EIM.

Must be a valid EIM Study ID.

Use Study ID from:

1. Your Study form, or
2. A Study already in EIM

In a single template, don’t submit data for more than one study.

To load data for more than one study, use separate templates for each.

Unique ID to identify the Study in EIM.

Must be a valid EIM Study ID.

Use Study ID from:

1. Your Study form, or
2. A Study already in EIM

In a single template, don’t submit data for more than one study.

To load data for more than one study, use separate templates for each.

Unique ID to identify the field location in EIM.

test and reference samples

Must be a valid EIM Location ID.

Location IDs are from Column A in your Location template or an existing location in EIM.

You will commonly have multiple bioassay records associated with a Location ID. The Location ID indicates a specific sampling location. All bioassay records associated with that sampling location use that Location ID.

Unique ID to identify the field location in EIM.

Must be valid EIM Location ID

Location IDs are from Column A in your Location template or an existing location in EIM.

You will commonly have multiple results records associated with each Location ID. All results records associated with a particular sampling location use that Location ID.

Unique ID to identify the field location in EIM.

Must be valid EIM Location ID.

Location IDs are from Column A in your Location template or an existing location in EIM.

You will commonly have multiple result records associated with a Location ID. The Location ID indicates a specific sampling location. All result records associated with that sampling location use that Location ID.

Descriptive name for a field Location.

Free text

• Skagit River at I-5 bridge
• VCNW0001 MW4
• Walla Walla WWTP Outfall
• UST excavation sample

Tip: For wells, you can use the Ecology Well Tag Number, like ABC123, for the Location Name.

Download help for How to Name and Describe Field Locations.

ID used to uniquely identify the instrument that was used to measure your result values.

Free text

Use the ID on the instrument. If it doesn't have one, create one.

• E-61326
• FlowMeter 3A
• Instrument7

This field is required to uniquely identify sets of time-series data within a batch that were collected by the same instrument.

If you have two or more instruments measuring the same parameter over the same period of time at the same location, this is the field you would use to uniquely identify the different datasets based on instrument.

Name of the Organization that submitted the data to EIM. Often an environmental consultant or government agency.

files submitted from outside Ecology

GeoEngineers - Tacoma WA

Palouse Conservation District - Pullman WA

WA Department of Ecology

UNIQUE title that describes the study.

Free text

• USA Petroleum Facility #190, Soil and Groundwater Cleanup, Lynnwood, WA
• Long term marine waters monitoring data for water year 1989.

Tip - This is a searchable field in EIM Search, so include key words that will assist users in searching.

General physical setting of a field location.

For most wells, enter Land. For in-stream piezometers, use Stream/River.

These aren’t regulatory definitions.

Unique ID to identify the field location in EIM.

Must be valid EIM Location ID.

Each time-series batch must contain only one Location ID for all records.

Location IDs are from Column A in your Location template or an existing location in EIM.

You will commonly have multiple result records associated with the same Location ID. All results records associated with a particular sampling location use that Location ID.

Unique ID to identify the field location within a particular Study. Only needs to be unique to the Study, not all of EIM.

Can be same as Location ID, an abbreviation of Location ID, or something totally different.

Free text / preferred format.

IDs of 8 characters or fewer will display better on GIS map.

• If your Location ID for a monitoring well is "CITGO-34586-MW4," your Study-Specific Location ID (SSLID) could be "MW-4."

SSLID is often the location identifier written on the sample jar label.

Each Location ID must be paired 1-to-1 with a SSLID. Once you establish a Location ID/SSLID pairing (by submitting results), use the same pairing for all future data submittals to your study.

If you aren’t sure what Location ID/SSLID pairings were previously used in your study, download your results data from EIM Search or contact your Data Coordinator.

Download help for How to Name and Describe Field Locations.

Indicates if data loaded into EIM has undergone a documented review for accuracy and completeness of data entry. The review process varies by environmental program within Ecology.

This field differs from the QA Assessment Level, which is a rank of overall data quality according to Study-specific quality assurance procedures.

Ecology staff only

Reviewed - Data loaded into EIM has undergone a documented review for accuracy and completeness of data entry.

Not Reviewed - Data loaded into EIM has NOT undergone a documented review for accuracy and completeness of data entry.

Note: This field is for internal use only and is not available for Ecology partner data submitters.

Studies loaded to EIM by external partners default to "Not Reviewed." If the receiving program at Ecology has a documented EIM data review process, the EIM data coordinator who loads the study into EIM can set the Status to "Reviewed" if and when appropriate.

Ecology programs that don’t have a documented EIM data entry review process should choose "Not Reviewed."

Ecology programs that have a documented process should follow their guidance to determine when the study's EIM Data Entry Review Status should be set to "Reviewed."

Unique ID to identify the field location within a particular Study. Only needs to be unique to the Study, not all of EIM.

Can be same as Location ID, an abbreviation of Location ID, or something totally different.

Free text / preferred format.

An ID of 8 characters or less displays better on a GIS map.

• If your Location ID for a monitoring well is "CITGO-34586-MW4," your Study-Specific Location ID (SSLID) could be "MW-4."

Each Location ID must be paired 1-to-1 with a SSLID. Once you establish a Location ID/Study Specific Location ID pairing, use the same pairing for all future data submittals to your Study.

If you aren’t sure what Location ID/Study-Specific Location ID pairings were previously used in your Study, download your results data from EIM Search to view them or contact your Data Coordinator.

Download help for How to Name and Describe Field Locations.

Unique ID to identify the field location within a particular Study. Only needs to be unique to the Study, not all of EIM.

Can be same as Location ID, an abbreviation of Location ID, or something totally different.

test and reference samples

Free text / preferred format.

IDs of 8 characters or fewer will display better on GIS map.

• If your Location ID is "USACE-34586-SED-4," your Study-Specific Location ID could be "SED-4." It's often the location identifier that's written on the sample tag or label.

SSLID is often the location identifier written on the sample jar label.

Each Location ID must be paired 1-to-1 with a SSLID. Once you establish a Location ID/SSLID pairing (by submitting results), use the same pairing for all future data submittals to your study.

This ID also needs to be the same as what you used for chemistry data in your Results template.

If you aren’t sure what Location ID/Study-Specific Location ID pairings were previously used in your Study, download your results data from EIM Search to view them or contact your Data Coordinator.

Download help for How to Name and Describe Field Locations.

General type of data collection conducted in field.

For Observations, use only if a measurement was planned or required but not obtained. Download help for Entering Observations.

For Transducer data, use the Time-Series Results template.

General type of data collection conducted in field.

Also flags method blank data for low-level PCB congeners by EPA1668C, B, or A

Measurements are collected in-situ. If you removed environmental media and analyzed it in a secondary location, such as a vehicle, enter as a Sample and enter a Result Lab Name (BC) of “Mobile lab at data collector field site.”

Download help for Field Measurements

For Observations, use only if a sample or measurement was planned or required but not obtained. Download help for “Entering Observations."

For Time Series data, (deployed instrument that collected continuous measurements) use the Time Series Template.

Download help for Low-Level PCB Congener Data.

Name or type of organization that collected the data.

test and reference samples

• Consultant
• Ecology

Unique ID to identify the field location within a particular Study. Only needs to be unique to the Study, not all of EIM.

Can be same as Location ID, an abbreviation of Location ID, or something totally different.

Free text / preferred format

Each time-series batch must contain only one Study-Specific Location ID for all records.

An ID of 8 characters or less will display better on the GIS map.

• If your Location ID for a monitoring well is "CITGO-34586-MW4," your Study-Specific Location ID (SSLID) could be "MW-4."

Each Location ID must be paired 1-to-1 with a SSID. Once you establish a Location ID/SSLID pairing (by submitting results), use the same pairing for all future data submittals to your study.

If you aren’t sure what Location ID/SSLID pairings were previously used in your study, download your results data from EIM Search or contact your Data Coordinator.

Download help for How to Name and Describe Field Locations.

Short narrative description of field location.

Free text

• Skagit River upstream of I-5 bridge, north bank
• Walla Walla WWTP Outfall on Mill Creek

Tip: Include details that helps someone find your field location.

Cleanup site locations can have more general descriptions, like NW corner of property or SW wall of UST excavation.

Download help for How to Name and Describe Field Locations.

General nature of the study.

Pick a value from the drop-down list in the Study form.

• Contaminated site investigation (characterization, includes RI/FS and remedial design)

VCP sites - use a VCP-specific Study Type.

Time zone of the Field Collection Start and End Time

time series files

For additional help, download "How to Submit Time-Series Data to EIM" and see the section "Time zone and daylightsaving time."

Summary of the study's purpose, reason(s) for initiating, and goals and expectations.

Free text

• Investigate ground-water quality, surface-water quality, water levels, streamflow and the relationship between ground water and surface water in the Quilceda Creek watershed.

General type of data collection conducted in field.

Enter an observation if you want to document a data gap (timespan of unsuccessful or rejected measurements). Enter one observation, with appropriate start and end date/time values, per timespan. Documenting data gaps in EIM is optional.

Download help for Entering Observations

ID of facility or site where the field location exists, from Ecology’s Facility/Site database.

cleanup and permit sites

Must be a valid Facility/Site ID

Search for Facility/Site ID in one of these places:

• Facility/Site Database (online)
• EIM Map (online) (add the Facility/Site layer and use the Identify tool
• Cleanup and Tank Search Database (online)

• 1529149
• 4085

Date of sample collection in the field.

test and reference samples

MM/DD/YYY

• 06/23/1999
• 12/15/2022

Note: This isn’t the date the bioassay was started in the lab. That goes in Bioassay Start Date field.

Name or type of organization that collected the data.

• Consultant
• Ecology

Name or type of organization that collected the data.

• Consultant
• Ecology

Name of the Ecology program and region OR external entity under which a Study was conducted.

Pick a value from the drop-down list in the Study form.

• Ecy Toxics Cleanup Program, Southwest Region
• Ecy Water Quality Program, multi-region or statewide

Time of sample collection in field, in local time.

test and reference samples

HH:MM:SS or HH:MM

• Enter 24-hour time
• Enter local time

• 19:20 (interpreted as 7:20 PM)
• 07:00 (interpreted as 7:00 AM)
• 00:07:00 (interpreted as 12:07 AM)
• 00:00:00 (interpreted as 12 AM midnight)

Leave blank for unknown time - don’t enter zero.

Date of measurement or observation in field.

MM/DD/YYYY

• 06/23/1999
• 12/15/2022

Indicates the field location is a Well.

N - no (is optional; will be automatically populated by EIM if left blank)

If “Y,” enter additional data in columns AH-BM.

Tip: Temporary Environmental Investigation Wells, or EIWS, are considered wells in EIM as of February 2015, but have fewer data entry requirements. Most are installed by direct push/Geoprobe®. Most soil gas samples are from wells

Download help for Temporary Environmental Investigation Wells and Air, Vapor, and Soil Gas Data

Date of measurement, sample collection, or observation in field.

For temporal composites, including passive samples, this is the date the composite began.

MM/DD/YYYY

• 06/23/1999
• 12/15/2022

Download help for Passive Sampling Data

Name or type of organization that collected the data.

• Consultant
• Ecology

Name of the person at Ecology to contact about this study. Includes site manager, grant manager, project lead or other Ecology contact.

Pick a value from the drop-down list in the Study form.

• Smith, Brian

Tip - Start by typing the last name of the person.

For "Pollution Liability Insurance Agency (PLIA)," Ecology Contact is not required.

Point from which the indicated collection depth was measured.

records with an indicated Field Collection Depth

If your instrument is recording measurements while simultaneously being moved in a vertical profile, submit your results using the EIM Result Template as discrete data.

Physical address of field location. Might not be the same as mailing address.

Must be a valid address

• 424 128th Street NW

Time of measurement, sample collection or observation in field, in local time.

For temporal composites, including passive samples, this is the time the composite began.

Parameters that commonly exhibit diel (daily) fluctuation or have a holding time of 48 hours or fewer.

HH:MM:SS or HH:MM

• Enter 24-hour time
• Enter local time

• 19:20 (interpreted as 7:20 PM)
• 07:00 (interpreted as 7:00 AM)
• 00:07:00 (interpreted as 12:07 AM)
• 00:00:00 (interpreted as 12 AM midnight)

Leave blank for unknown time - don’t enter zero.

Measurements: Important for parameters measured in the field that commonly exhibit diel fluctuation.

Samples: Important for calculating if holding times specified in the analysis method are met.

Time of measurement or observation in field, in local time.

Measurements

HH:MM:SS or HH:MM

• Enter 24-hour time
• Enter local time

• 19:20 (interpreted as 7:20 PM)
• 07:00 (interpreted as 7:00 AM)
• 00:07:00 (interpreted as 12:07 AM)
• 00:00:00 (interpreted as 12 AM midnight)

Leave blank for unknown time - don’t enter zero.

Comments or descriptive information about the collection of data in the field.

Free text.

• Spatial composite sample of four individual collections

You can have only one Field Collection Comment per field collection event.

A field collection event is:

• All samples collected at the same location, depth, date, matrix and source, and Sample ID.

For Samples, this means you can only have one Field Collection Comment per Sample ID.

If you enter more than one Field Collection Comment per field collection event, EIM only takes the first one loaded.

All results associated with a specific field collection event have the same Field Collection Comment.

If you want to comment about a particular result or group of results within a field collection event, enter it as a Bioassay Value Comment or Bioassay Positive Control Comment.

Download help for How to Use EIM’s Comment fields.

Point from which the collection depth of the field data was measured.

test and reference samples

Download help for Entering Field Collection Depth or Height.

Level of quality assurance planning for a particular Study.

Pick a value from the drop-down list in the Study form.

Download the Study Help to see expanded table of Study QA Planning Level valid values and definitions.

City (or closest city) or area where field location exists.

Free text

• Seattle
• Mt. Rainier National Park