PROGRAMS AND PLANS--Data Networks; unique number identification for federally funded stations.


                                                September 11, 1979


QUALITY OF WATER BRANCH TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM NO. 79.15

SUBJECT: PROGRAMS AND PLANS--Data Networks; unique number 
         identification for federally funded stations.

For federally funded water-quality stations, the log-in procedure 
for samples sent to the two central laboratories has been changed. 
The log-in and accounting will be controlled by a preassigned 
unique number. Effective September ll, 1979, the unique number 
will be substituted for the station number on all bottles and log-
in forms pertaining to NASQAN and Benchmark samples.

The unique number defines the station number, work to be 
performed, number of samples to be charged to the Federal 
accounts, any distribution of charges for all samples of that type 
between Federal and district accounts, cost center, and fiscal 
year to be charged. The unique number, date, and time are all that 
is required on the log-in form. On the individual bottles, the 
unique number, date, time, and sample designation are required. 
Remarks, field data, etc. still can be included on the log-in form 
and will appear on the analytical sheet.

The unique number format is eight digits. The cost center code, 
XX, is the first two digits of the unique number, XXOYYYYN, the 
third digit is the last number of the fiscal year (F.Y. 1980), 
YYYY are assigned numbers unique for that cost center, and N 
identifies to the computer that the unique number is not a station 
number.

UNIQUE NUMBERS FOR FEDERALLY FUNDED STATIONS

A series of unique numbers has been established for each NASQAN 
and Benchmark station. By using the JCL in attachment A, each 
District or cost center can retrieve the list of unique numbers 
presently established for their NASQAN and Benchmark stations or 
retrieve all unique numbers assigned nationally.

Attachment B is an example of the four unique numbers assigned to 
NASQAN station 07146500, Arkansas River at Arkansas City, Kansas:

2005021N    This unique number is used to identify monthly samples 
when quarterly samples are not taken. Monthly samples (major ions, 
nutrients, and total organic carbon) are included in schedule 1904 
(schedule 1704 plus lab code LC0114, TOC). The NASQAN account will 
be charged for the first 8 uses of this number by the assigned 
cost center. Further (extra) samples will be charged to the 
default district account.

2005022N    This unique number requests schedule 1706 for 
phytoplankton to be charged to the the NASQAN account for the 
first 7 uses.

2005023N    This unique number requests schedule 1708 for 
periphyton to be charged to the the NASQAN account for the first 
4 uses.

2005024N    This unique number requests schedules 1705 and 1704, 
the quarterly sample (major ions, nutrients, and trace metals), to 
be charged to the NASQAN account for the first 4 uses.

Four unique numbers were assigned to a typical NASQAN station; 
five if it is also a radiochemical station. Samples for 
phytoplankton and periphyton go to the Atlanta lab and are 
collected on a different frequency than the monthly and quarterly 
samples: thus they were assigned individual unique numbers. Sample 
volumes and treatment types remain the same as last year. Lab 
schedule 1707 which was lab code LC0114, total organic carbon, has 
been combined with schedule 1704 into a new schedule 1904.

After September 11, 1979, NASQAN and Benchmark samples which 
arrive at the laboratories without the unique numbers assigned to 
that station will be charged to the District's default account. 
Later, an adjustment will be made for those samples submitted 
prior to the receipt of this memo. Unique numbers should be used 
as soon as possible to minimize the adjustment. Adjustments will 
be made after the November 13 billing and will appear on your 
December billing.

All stations other than NASQAN and Benchmark which receive Federal 
funding will be assigned unique numbers during the period 
September 15 through November 13. Each district will be notified 
of these numbers directly as they are assigned. A one-time-only 
adjustment will be made for these stations after the December 
billing, with the adjustment to appear on the January billing.

DISTRICT-ASSIGNED UNIQUE NUMBERS

Districts may begin to establish their own unique numbers for OFA 
and cooperative stations if they wish by supplying the following 
information to Ruben Gust at the Denver Central Laboratory:

Unique number - use the format XXOYYYYN, XX is the cost center, 
code, O (zero) represents F.Y. 1980, YYYY is any series of numbers 
which the District wishes to use and which has not been assigned, 
and N indicates that this is a unique number. A list of assigned 
unique numbers for each cost center can be retrieved by the JCL in 
attachment A.

Station number - The eight- or fifteen-digit station number which 
has been established in the WATSTORE station header file.

Schedules - The schedules associated with the unique number.

Number of samples - The number of samples to be charged to a 
specified account associated with that unique number.

Account numbers - Up to nineteen account numbers can be specified 
for charging lab costs. Where more than one account number is 
specified for a unique number, the dollar amount per sample to be 
charged to each account should be specified. The combined dollar 
amount for all of the accounts should equal the total charge for 
the sample.

SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE UNIQUE NUMBER SYSTEM.

What happens if more samples are sent in than the amount listed 
with the unique number? Additional samples will be charged against 
the District's default account.

How can I take additional samples at a NASQAN station and charge 
them to another project? If there will be only a limited number of 
extra samples taken, a log-in form should be filled out for each 
in the regular manner with station number, accounting information, 
schedules, etc. If a large number of extra samples will be 
collected, for example with every monthly NASQAN sample, then a 
unique number will be assigned on request which will indicate all 
schedules needed and the correct way to split the charges between 
the NASQAN account and the other project accounts.

Who should I contact if I have questions about the unique numbers? 
For questions or problems with the NASQAN and Benchmark stations 
call John Briggs, FTS 928-6834. For other Federal networks, call 
Ruben Gust, FTS 234-4992. For questions or information about 
establishing District unique numbers, call Ruben Gust, FTS 234-
4992. Complaints should be directed to W. A. Beetem, FTS 928-6834.

What advantages does the unique number system have for me? A 
unique number takes the place of station number, billing 
information, and lab codes and schedules. bottles for a single 
sample which arrive at the laboratory separately because some are 
chilled and some are unchilled can be processed immediately even 
if the log-in form is not with them, provided that the date and 
time are included on the bottle with the unique number. At a later 
date, no log-in forms will be needed if unique numbers are used. 
Charges are billed to the proper account automatically. The unique 
number also permits monitoring of the collection frequency by 
District and by program coordinators, and it projects expected 
workload for the laboratories.

Why weren't the Districts notified earlier of the plans for the 
unique number system so that instructions could have been prepared 
for field offices? The system design and computer programming were 
not finished earlier. A major effort was made to complete and test 
the program so that it could begin at the start of the fiscal 
year. A large amount of extra work by the Central Laboratories 
System will be required because of the late instructions to the 
Districts, but we feel that the benefits derived from establishing 
the unique number system at the beginning of the fiscal year will 
justifying that extra work.



                              R. J. Pickering

Attachments (2)

WRD Distribution: A, B, S, FO, PO


Attachment A: JCL required to retrieve assigned unique numbers.

/*RELAY PUNCH RE2
**** YOUR JOB CARD HERE ****
/*PROCLIB WRD.PROCLIB
// EXEC LABNET
//RET.SYSIN DD *
**** REQUEST CARD(S), SEE FORMAT BELOW ****

/*
//
$$$

Request card(s) can be in one of two formats:

1. By cost center. DIST is punched in columns 1-4, and the cost 
center code is punched in columns 8-9. For example,

DIST 08
1234 89 (column numbers)

would give all unique numbers beginning with cost center code 08. 
Several cost center codes may be retrieved at one time by adding 
additional cards, a separate card for each cost center.

2. All unique numbers may be retrieved by punching ALL in columns 
1-3.

ALL
123 (column numbers)

All assigned unique numbers will be retrieved by this one card.