At the Milfoil Summit this year, you were informed about some data entry changes for the 2017 season. DEP is urging all boat inspection programs to enter their own data this season using an Excel form created by DEP. This form looks very similar to the paper inspection form making it easy to understand and use.
Here's how it will work: boat inspections will still be collected on paper forms at the ramp. At the end of shift, or soon after, someone from your organization will enter the information from the paper form into the electronic Excel form. The Excel form can be opened in Microsoft Excel and Google Docs. Once the inspection data are entered for a shift, you save the form on your computer and email it to DEP (Karen.A.Hahnel@maine.gov
). We still need to receive the paper inspection forms. They should be mailed to Karen Hahnel, Maine DEP, SHS 17, Augusta, ME 04333.
Please note that if you are
not
entering the data yourself forms should be sent to Mary Jewett at LEA: 230 Main Street, Bridgton, ME 04009
.
To save time, much of the Site information at the top of the form is already filled in by DEP such as the Agency Name, Lake Name, and Town Name. The Ramp Name is in a dropdown list that you choose from as will be the Inspector Name. So the remaining information that must be entered is the date, shift time and whether the inspector is paid (P) or a volunteer (V), and then all the inspection information.
By entering your own data you will be able to see and correct errors quickly assuring that all your data are entered accurately. By the time LEA or DEP sees an error it is long after the inspection and if mistakes aren't easily corrected then those inspection forms aren't entered. Also, by entering your own data, the inspection forms will be on your computer, readily available making it unnecessary to copy the forms before sending them to DEP.
DEP strongly urges that groups enter their own data in 2017 as this will be a requirement in the future. The combination of increasing inspections (the number of 2016 inspections reached an all-time high of 88,165) and loss of st
aff means DEP can't enter the inspection data in a timely fashion. DEP will email the electronic data form with instructions once the CBI grants are awarded in May.
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