Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Notice of data availability and request for comment.
Notice of Availability for a 90 Day Review and Comment Period is Hereby Given for the Draft Federal Geographic Data Committee's Wetland Mapping Standard.
This document provides Federal, State, Tribal and local wetland managers and others with information on what data to collect when mapping wetlands that will be uploaded to the National Wetland Inventory (NWI) and incorporated as part of the wetlands layer of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) in the USGS National Map. The intent of this standard is to support a consistent/seamless transition from traditional paper-based map products to technology-based mapping products and serve as the national standard for mapping wetland inventories for building the wetlands layer of the NSDI.
Although, this standard will not change the National Wetlands Inventory
This standard is intended for use by all Federal or federally-funded wetlands mapping projects including those activities conducted by Federal agencies, states, and federally recognized tribal entities, non-governmental organizations, universities, and others. Specifically, if Federal funding is used in support of wetlands inventory mapping activities, then use of this standard is mandatory. The adoption of the standard for all other wetlands inventory mapping efforts (non-federally funded) is strongly encouraged to maintain and expand the wetlands layer of the NSDI.
The FGDC Wetlands Subcommittee is soliciting information, data, and views on issues of science pertaining to the information contained in this draft FGDC data standard.
Scientific views, data, and information should be submitted by November 9, 2007.
You may submit comments, data, or views, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OW–2007–0697, by one of the following methods:
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Instructions: Direct your scientific information, data, or views, to Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OW–2007–0697. EPA's policy is that all information received will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available online at
Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the
Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in
Margarete Ann Heber, Wetland Division, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds, U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; phone (202) 566–1189; fax (202) 566–1349; e-mail
Entities potentially interested in today's notice are those that map wetlands and share that data with others.
This table is not intended to be exhaustive. Other types of entities not listed in the table may also be interested.
1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit CBI information to EPA through
2. Tips for Preparing Your Information, Data, or Views. When submitting scientific information, data or views, please remember to:
• Identify the docket number and other identifying information (subject heading,
• Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and substitute language for your requested changes.
• Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information and/or data that you used.
• If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be reproduced.
• Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and suggest alternatives.
• Explain your views as clearly as possible.
• Make sure to submit your information comments by the deadline identified.
On the FGDC Website at:
Currently, the wetland maps coverage of the United States is not complete. NWI is incomplete for about half the country. A mapping standard will allow any entity mapping wetlands to upload data to NWI using the same format. Wetlands are a critical ecological resource and in order to adequately manage them it is important to know what type of wetlands exist and where they are located. On a ten year cycle, the Fish and Wildlife Service produces reports to Congress on the status and trends of wetlands in the conterminous United States. These reports contain estimates of wetland losses and gains. A complete digital wetlands database will allow accurate calculation of wetland loss and gain to be made for specific areas. These digitial maps are also critical for looking at wetland loss and possible migration of wetlands in global climate change estimations.
The Wetland Subcommittee of the FGDC convened a workgroup to develop this draft standard. Stakeholder representation from the Federal, State, non-profit, and private sectors was included in the development of this standard to ensure that the end-user information requirements are reflected in the final product. Development of the content of this standard began in June 2006 with a 3-day meeting of the workgroup comprised of members representing multiple Federal agencies and stakeholder groups. It was emphasized again that the standard would benefit from a wide vetting process targeting diverse members of the end-user community. Workgroup members and vetting participants, as well as workgroup activities are listed in Appendix H of the draft Standard.