Geospatial Policies and Standards
These policies and standards allow EPA to more easily share information by making it possible for many different organizations to use the same format and structure for their data and applications. These documents are of interest to the staff of federal, state and local Agencies who create data and applications, or who create the policies that guide the development of data and applications.
EPA Policies:
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- EPA Geospatial Metadata Technical Specification
This document establishes guidelines for publishing geospatial metadata for data sets, applications and services developed by the EPA. (Contact: Ana Greene, Greene.ana@epa.gov) - EPA Guidance for Geospatially Related Quality Assurance Project Plans
This document contains advice and recommendations for developing a QA Project Plan for projects involving geospatial data, including both newly collected data and data acquired from other sources. (Contact: Reggie Cheatham, Cheatham.Reggie@epa.gov) - EPA National Geospatial Data Policy
The National Geospatial Data Policy (NGDP) establishes principles, responsibilities, and requirements for collecting and managing geospatial data used by Federal environmental programs and projects within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (Contact: Harvey Simon, Simon.Harvey@epa.gov) - Global Positioning System Technical Implementation Guidance
This document serves as reference guidance for Agency staff using GPS equipment and for individuals responsible for the maintenance of this equipment. (Contact: George Brilis, Brilis.George@epa.gov) Other products and progress documents are also available from the Geospatial Quality Council site. - Institutional Control Vector Profile Technical Specification
This specification establishes the requirements for documenting geographic lines and boundary coordinates and related method, accuracy, and description data for places of interest to the EPA. (Contact: Larry Zaragoza, Zargoza.Larry@epa.gov) - Latitude/Longitude Data Standard
This data standard establishes the requirements for documenting latitude and longitude coordinates and related method, accuracy, and description data for places of interest to the EPA. (Contact: Kevin Kirby, Kirby.Kevin@epa.gov)
- National Geospatial Data Policy Procedure for Geospatial Metadata Management
The purpose of this document is to establish procedures, requirements and responsibilities for maintaining geospatial metadata used by EPA programs. (Contact: Ana Greene, Greene.ana@Epa.gov).
Other Federal Policies:
Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC):
The FGDC is a 32 member interagency committee composed of representatives from the Executive Office of the President, and Cabinet level and independent Federal agencies.
Office of Management and Budget Circulars
- Circular A-16, Coordination of Geographic Information, and Related Spatial Data Activities
This Circular provides direction for federal agencies that produce, maintain or use spatial data either directly or indirectly in the fulfillment of their mission. This Circular establishes a coordinated approach to electronically develop the National Spatial Data Infrastructure and establishes the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC). - Circular A-130, Management of Federal Information Resources
This Circular establishes policy for the management of Federal information resources. OMB includes procedural and analytic guidelines for implementing specific aspects of these policies as appendices. - Circular A-119, Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities
This Circular directs agencies to use voluntary consensus standards in lieu of government-unique standards except where inconsistent with law or otherwise impractical. It also provides guidance for agencies participating in voluntary consensus standards bodies and describes procedures for satisfying the reporting requirements in the Act.
EPA GIS Technical Guidance
- EPA Region 2 GIS Deliverables Guidance
This document is intended to provide support of all EPA Region 2 GIS related projects. These work products include GIS and imagery files that are created for EPA, including but not limited to products created under grants, interagency agreements and contracts.