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Office of Water; Notice of Availability and Comment Period for Draft Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Wetland Mapping Standard

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.


[Federal Register: August 7, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 151)]
[Notices]
[Page 44133-44136]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07au07-45]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OW-2007-0697; FRL-8450-2]

Office of Water; Notice of Availability and Comment Period for
Draft Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Wetland Mapping Standard

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of data availability and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: 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

[[Page 44134]]

Data produced prior to its implementation, this standard specifies a
core set of data quality components necessary to add to the National
Wetlands Inventory in a way that is consistent and supports multiple
uses of the data, while meeting the requirements of the National
Spatial Data Infrastructure. This standard is based largely on the
existing draft standard used by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in
support of the NWI. The intent of the standard is to support current
and future digital wetland mapping activities. The standard will
provide specification of minimum data quality components for wetland
mapping activities for inclusion into the NSDI that are funded or
conducted by the Federal government. The National Wetlands Inventory
digital wetland data serve as the foundation for the wetlands data
layer of the NSDI. The standard balances the burden on the end-user
community with the need for consistency and documented quality of
digital mapping products. Additionally, this standard is created to
coordinate wetland mapping with the National Hydrography Dataset, a
national geospatial framework recognized by the Federal Geographic Data
Committee (FGDC). Although this standard is structured to be extensible
over time, the standard is deliberately developed with a forward-
looking perspective to accommodate technology and map scale
enhancements, assure its long-term usability, and minimize the need for
revisions and updates over time.
    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.

DATES: Scientific views, data, and information should be submitted by
November 9, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, data, or views, identified by
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2007-0697, by one of the following methods:
    . http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting information.
    . E-mail: oei-docket@epa.gov.
    . Mail: Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. Please include a total of four copies.
    . Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room
3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. Please include
a total of four copies. Such deliveries are only accepted during the
Docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be
made for deliveries of boxed information.
    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 http://www.regulations.gov,
including any personal information provided, unless it includes
information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or
other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not
submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected
through http://www.regulations.gov or ow-docket@epa.gov. The http://
www.regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous access'' system, which
provide it in the body of your information. If you send an e-mail
directly to EPA without going through http://www.regulations.gov your
e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of
the information that is placed in the public docket and made available
on the Internet. If you submit information electronically, EPA
recommends that you include your name and other contact information in
the body of your information and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If
EPA cannot read your information due to technical difficulties and
cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider
your information. Electronic files should avoid the use of special
characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or
viruses. For additional information about EPA's public docket visit the
EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm   
	Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the
http://www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, e.g., information claimed to be
CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
    Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, will be
publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket
materials are available either electronically in http://
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Water Docket, EPA/DC, EPA
West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The
Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public
Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the Water
Docket is (202) 566-2426.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 Heber.Maragaret@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does This Action Apply to Me?

    Entities potentially interested in today's notice are those that
map wetlands and share that data with others.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Examples of potentially
                 Category                         affected entities
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State/Local/Tribal Government.............  Federal Government, States,
                                             municipalities, tribes.
Industry..................................  Builders, any entity sitting
                                             on a wetland.
Agriculture...............................  Farmers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This table is not intended to be exhaustive. Other types of
entities not listed in the table may also be interested.

B. What Should I Consider as I Prepare my Scientific Information, Data
or Views for EPA?

    1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit CBI information to EPA through
http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. Clearly identify the specific
information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or
CD ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM as
CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD ROM the
specific information that is claimed as CBI). In addition to one
complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as
CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information
claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket.
Information so marked

[[Page 44135]]

will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in
40 CFR part 2.
    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, Federal Register date and page number).
    . 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.

C. How Can I Get Copies of the Draft Document and Related Information?

    On the FGDC Website at: http://www.fws.gov/
nwi/Final%20Draft%20Wetlands%20Mapping%20Standard%2003_26_07.pdf.

II. Today's Notice

A. Why Do We Need To Map Wetlands?

    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.

B. How Was the Draft Standard Developed?

    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.

C. What Is Included in the Draft Standard

1 Introduction
    1.1 Background.
    1.2 Objective.
    1.3 Scope.
    1.4 Applicability.
    1.5 FGDC Standards and Other Related Practices.
    1.6 Standard Development Procedures and Representation.
    1.7 Maintenance Authority.
2 FGDC Requirements and Quality Components
    2.1 Source Imagery.
    2.2 Classification.
    2.3 Accuracy.
    2.3.1 TMU and Producers Accuracy.
    2.3.2 Horizontal Accuracy.
    2.4 Data Verification.
    2.4.1 Logical Consistency.
    2.4.2 Edge Matching.
    2.4.3 Attribute Validity.
    2.5 Datum and Projection.
    2.6 Metadata.
References
Appendix A: Workgroup Recommendations to the FGDC.
Appendix B: Attributes for Wetland Classification.
Appendix C: Implementation Recommendations in Support of Section 2.0.
Appendix D: Known Issues with Existing Wetlands Mapping Data.
Appendix E: Polygon Lineage and Unique Identifiers.
Appendix F: Questions and Answers.
Appendix G: Definitions (Informative).
Appendix H: Workgroup Members, Vetting Participants, and Workgroup.

Activities

Table 1. Spatial Resolution Requirements of Source Imagery.
Table 2. Classification Levels Required Based on Habitat.
Table 3. TMU and Producer Accuracy Requirements.
Table 4. Horizontal Accuracy (RMSE) Requirements.
1 Introduction
    1.1 Background.
    1.2 Objective.
    1.3 Scope.
    1.4 Applicability.
    1.5 FGDC Standards and Other Related Practices.
    1.6 Standard Development Procedures and Representation.
    1.7 Maintenance Authority.
2 FGDC Requirements and Quality Components
    2.1 Source Imagery.
    2.2 Classification.
    2.3 Accuracy.
    2.3.1 TMU and Producers Accuracy.
    2.3.2 Horizontal Accuracy.
    2.4 Data Verification.
    2.4.1 Logical Consistency.
    2.4.2 Edge Matching.
    2.4.3 Attribute Validity.
    2.5 Datum and Projection.
    2.6 Metadata.
References
Appendix A: Workgroup Recommendations to the FGDC.
Appendix B: Attributes for Wetland Classification.
Appendix C: Implementation Recommendations in Support of Section 2.0.
Appendix D: Known Issues with Existing Wetlands Mapping Data.
Appendix E: Polygon Lineage and Unique Identifiers.
Appendix F: Questions and Answers.
Appendix G: Definitions (Informative).
Appendix H: Workgroup Members, Vetting Participants, and Workgroup.
Activities
Table 1. Spatial Resolution Requirements of Source Imagery.
Table 2. Classification Levels Required Based on Habitat Type.
1 Introduction
    1.1 Background.
    1.2 Objective.
    1.3 Scope.
    1.4 Applicability.
    1.5 FGDC Standards and Other Related Practices.
    1.6 Standard Development Procedures and Representation.
    1.7 Maintenance Authority.
2 FGDC Requirements and Quality Components
    2.1 Source Imagery.
    2.2 Classification.
    2.3 Accuracy.
    2.3.1 TMU and Producers Accuracy.
    2.3.2 Horizontal Accuracy.
    2.4 Data Verification.
    2.4.1 Logical Consistency.
    2.4.2 Edge Matching.
    2.4.3 Attribute Validity.
    2.5 Datum and Projection.

[[Page 44136]]

    2.6 Metadata.
References
Appendix A: Workgroup Recommendations to the FGDC.
Appendix B: Attributes for Wetland Classification.
Appendix C: Implementation Recommendations in Support of Section 2.0.
Appendix D: Known Issues with Existing Wetlands Mapping Data.
Appendix E: Polygon Lineage and Unique Identifiers.
Appendix F: Questions and Answers.
Appendix G: Definitions (Informative).
Appendix H: Workgroup Members, Vetting Participants, and Workgroup.
Activities
Table 1. Spatial Resolution Requirements of Source Imagery.
Table 2. Classification Levels Required Based on Habitat Type.
Table 3. TMU and Producer Accuracy Requirements.
Table 4. Horizontal Accuracy (RMSE) Requirements.

    Dated: August 1, 2007.
David Evans,
Director, Wetlands Division.
[FR Doc. E7-15351 Filed 8-6-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

 
 

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