eDEP Instructions & Frequently Asked Questions

eDEP is a secure site for submitting environmental permits, transmittals, certifications, and reports electronically to MassDEP. With eDEP, you can fill out your forms online, save your work, return to it later, submit your forms online, submit over-the-counter payments for some forms, "sign" your submittals, and print out receipts of your transactions.

What can I expect from eDEP?

For a short overview of eDEP, how it works and what you'll be able to do, take the eDEP Tour.

What forms can I file in eDEP?

eDEP regularly adds forms. See our list of available eDEP forms.

Who do I contact for assistance with eDEP?

For assistance, please see the eDEP Contacts page.

What are the minimum requirements for using the eDEP online system?

Macintosh

For system requirements and instructions, see eDEP on Mac Instructions

Windows PC

Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, 2000, XP, or Windows 7 (Vista is not supported)
Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 5.0 and higher or Netscape Navigator Version 7.0 and higher

Windows PC users should use the latest version of the FREE Adobe Reader. Many versions of Adobe Reader for the PC (including 5.0.0, 6.0.0, 7.0.0 and 9.3.2.0) are not compatible with the improved eDEP software because of known bugs in Adobe's Reader. Also, Adobe releases newer versions to patch problems in the older software. So we recommend upgrading before you start working on your forms.

IMPORTANT: you must uninstall previous versions of Adobe reader on the PC before you upgrade to the latest version. Adobe versions 5.x and 6.x frequently fail to completely uninstall themselves - you will recognize this by the fact that directories for Acrobat 5 or Acrobat 6 remain in the Adobe subdirectory of your C:\Program Files directory. It may be necessary to manually remove these older directories after deinstalling the old reader through Windows Control Panel. Again, note that you will need to completely deinstall the old reader first before installing the new version to avoid conflicts between the 2 versions. If you are not able to load your forms, it is very likely an Adobe reader conflict problem based on our Help Desk experience.

How do I set up Adobe Reader to open an eDEP online form?

Macintosh

Some Mac users are having trouble with the new Adobe Reader 9.x version. Also, versions of Adobe Reader older than 8.x do NOT work with eDEP. We reccommend Adobe Reader 8.1 - for system requirements and instructions, see eDEP on Mac Instructions

Windows 2000 and XP

1. Open Adobe Reader application
2. From Adobe Reader's Menu bar select "Edit"
3. Select "Preferences"
4. Left hand pane select "Internet",
Check or ensure that the "Display PDF in Browser" checkbox is checked.

For assistance, please see the eDEP Contacts page.

Why does my browser keep freezing up when I try to open a form?

Macintosh

Only Adobe Reader 8.1 works with Safari on the Mac. For details, see eDEP on Mac Instructions

Windows PC

It may be because of the version of Adobe Reader installed on your computer. See question 4 above for eDEP System Requirements.

eDEP will not work with Adobe Reader Versions 5.0.0, 6.0.0, 7.0.0 and 9.3.2.0, because of known bugs in Adobe's software.

If your browser is freezing up, first check to make sure that you do not have Acrobat Reader Version 5.0.0, 6.0.0, 7.0.0 or 9.3.2.0 installed on your Windows PC or Adobe Reader 8.1.x or earlier on your Macintosh. To see what version of Adobe Reader is on your machine, first launch the program, then choose Help from the application menu and select the About Adobe Reader item.

If you find that you do have one of these versions of Adobe Reader installed on your computer, then this is probably the reason that your browser keeps freezing up. If you want to use eDEP for online filing, we recommend:

1. Download and install Adobe Reader X (10.0.1) available at: http://get.adobe.com/reader/?promoid=BUIGO
   Do NOT check the Include in your download checkbox for McAfee Security Scan Plus
   
   
2. Within Adobe Reader X select Edit > Preferences Categories
   
   
3. From the Categories on the left, select Internet
   • Under Browser Web Options:
     • Check "Display PDF in Browser" and "Allow Fast Web View"
   • Under Internet Options
     
     • Select LAN for Connection Speed
   • Select the Internet Settings button
     • Select the Security tab > click on Trusted Sites >click on the Sites button >Add https://edep.dep.mass.gov > Select Close > Select Apply button if it is not grayed out
     • Select the Privacy tab > click on the Sites button > Type http://www.mass.gov in Address of website > Click Always Allow > Click OK > Select Apply button if it is not grayed out
     • Under Pop-up Blocker either:
       • Uncheck the Turn-on Pop-up Blocker box ; OR
       • Select Settings Button > Type "https://edep.dep.mass.gov" in Address of website to allow > Click Add > Click Close Button > Click OK
         
         
4. From the Categories on the left, select JavaScript
   • Check only "Enable Acrobat JavaScript" and "Enable Global Security Policy" > Click OK

For Assistance

Please contact eDEP Help

Why do I get a runtime error on my Windows PC saying:

A Runtime Error has occurred.
Object Expected
Line: <line number>
Do you wish to Debug?

This behavior may occur after you install Office 2003, if the Web Debugging feature was selected for installation. If you select Web Debugging during the Office 2003 installation, the Disable script debugging check box in Internet Explorer is cleared.

To resolve this behavior, you must reconfigure the Internet Explorer script debugging options. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Start Internet Explorer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
3. In the Internet Options dialog box, click Advanced.
4. Click to select the Disable script debugging check box.
5. Click to clear the Display a notification about every script error check box.
6. Click OK.

For more information go to the following Microsoft Support page:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822521/en-us

How do I clear my browser's cache?

Internet Explorer 7

• From the Tools menu, select Internet Options
• Choose the General tab
• Under Browsing history, click Delete
• Next to "Temporary Internet Files", click Delete files
• Click Close
• Click OK to exit.

Internet Explorer 6

• On the Tools menu, click Internet Options to open to the General tab
• In the Temporary Internet Files section, click the Delete Files button to delete all files currently stored in your cache
• Click OK, and then click OK again.

Safari

• From the Safari menu, select Empty Cache
• When prompted, click Empty to confirm that you want to empty the cache.

Firefox 3 for Windows

• From the Tools menu, select Clear Private Data
• Check Cache
• Click Clear Private Data Now

Firefox for Mac OS X (NOTE: Firefox for Mac will not be able to open PDF forms)

• From the Tools menu, select Clear Private Data
• Make sure Cache is checked
• Click Clear Private Data Now