Problem with step .load where step environment is not set

I have a project that is loading generated steps. The steps are loaded ok, but the step environment is not loaded.

I compared a .export file to the xml for the step to be loaded and the envId string is identical.

Is there any other <step> parameters that are needed to be able to load the an environment on a step?

The buildforge version is 7.1.1.3-0-0063

Is there any way to trace how the xml being loaded is being parsed and how it will be loaded.