About CDX

Introduction

In order to submit your XML document to the EIS the submitter is required to have a CDX account. The following steps outline the general process for how users acquire CDX accounts and access to the EIS community.

  • User goes to a registration area of the EPA Portal, registers as a new user, and asks for access to the EIS Community.
  • The EIS account manager is notified of the request and can approve or deny the account, and community access. This process results in a Web Access Management (WAM) identity, and authorization to access the EIS Community. The authorization will include the authorization to access the EIS Gateway and to submit files.
  • The user is notified of successful registration, after which they can then access the EIS and submit files.

The Exchange Network EIS Submission File

When submitting an XML document through the Exchange Network to EIS, S/L/Ts will use node-to-node transfers or may submit using the CDX Exchange Network Web Client. The EIS will support the transfer of files using only the 2.0 version of the Exchange Header. Additional information is available on how to use the Header on the Exchange Network and the services support in the EIS Flow Configuration Document. The submission file must include the Header, and only one CERS payload, and one or more supporting zip files. The entire submission file must be zipped.

Submitting an XML File To EIS

All file submissions are required for the user to have an authorized EIS and CDX account and access to the EIS dataflow. All files must utilize EPA's exchange network to transport their files. EPA's network of nodes makes it possible for SLT Agency users to exchange data with other exchanges, providing they have nodes. However, not all S/L/Ts have nodes. There are several options for how to transport the XML file through the network.

CDX Network Node: The CDX Node is a server that facilitates the interface between database systems and the Exchange Network. It is a partners "point of presence" on Exchange Network. The nodes support the following:

  • Server accessibility on the Web;
  • Complies with the protocols to ensure secure exchanges;
  • Sends and receives standards-based messages;
  • Returns requested information as XML; and
  • Each partner has only one Node.

Exchange Network Web Client: The Exchange Network Web Client is EPA's site for submitting environmental information via standard web browsers. The web client supports the following:

  • Users to submit data via web-based forms and file uploads;
  • Users to receive submission confirmation and processing reports;
  • Supports XML for the payload (must be zipped);
  • Supports Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) as a wrapper for the payload;
  • Web Services Description Language (WSDL) for network exchange functions and services; and
  • Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) for secure communication via the Internet.

Once files are pushed into the data flow, CDX will submit the XML document to the EIS back-end node and discards the submission payload; the XML file is archived for one year. Once the EIS back-end node accepts the XML file it generates submittal identification information and begins processing the data content within the payload.

Quality Assurance and Receiving Feedback

All EIS messages are submitted through EPA's CDX environment. To check that the data in your XML document have been prepared and formatted properly for submission to the EIS, you may do a Quality Assurance (QA) Submission to the EIS. Users are encouraged to use this environment as frequently as necessary to help ensure that the submission is of the highest quality. After submitting a QA submissions, a user will receive a feedback report. The feedback report indicates critical errors and potential issues, for a file submitted to the QA environment or the Production environment and after the EIS has completed all validations. A user is expected to correct the problems with any data content or the XML document structure and resubmit the file to ensure the entire content of the document is checked. After the EIS processes the payload content, the resulting data can be viewed online via the EIS Gateway.

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