GovOnline: Digitalizing the Process to Comply with Air Quality Regulations

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

Paying accounts, managing health records, applying for jobs, all have something in common: they can be done online. Mecklenburg County Air Quality (MCAQ) identified a gap in their services and an opportunity to digitalize the way required reports and notifications are submitted to comply with air quality regulations. In response, MCAQ created GovOnline, the first federally compliant, online air permitting portal in the Southeast region.MCAQ staff received customer feedback to provide the option of an online air permitting portal and was involved every step of the way in creating GovOnline. Staff researched the federal Cross-Media Electronic Reporting rule and requirements, technology vendors, Mecklenburg County Information Technology requirements, learned XML programming, marketing, and more. The initial rollout was for the asbestos program, which requires a notification to be submitted 10 working-days prior to beginning work. Today, 94% of the asbestos notifications come through GovOnline instead of paper. GovOnline has now expanded to include other reports and has the flexibility to continue to grow.