SEDL / STP / STP1126-EB / STP24184S

Overview of the Use and Formulation of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Standards Within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Hewitt, MJ
GIS program manager, environmental scientist, and environmental scientistpresently water resource control engineer, U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyCalifornia Regional Water Quality Central Board, Los Angeles region, Las VegasMonterey Park, NVCA

Stone, HF
GIS program manager, environmental scientist, and environmental scientistpresently water resource control engineer, U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyCalifornia Regional Water Quality Central Board, Los Angeles region, Las VegasMonterey Park, NVCA

Slonecker, ET
GIS program manager, environmental scientist, and environmental scientistpresently water resource control engineer, U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyCalifornia Regional Water Quality Central Board, Los Angeles region, Las VegasMonterey Park, NVCA

Pages: 8    Published: Jan 1992

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Abstract

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has regulatory authority over the Nation's air, water, hazardous waste, and toxic substance control laws. Over the last two years, the Agency has introduced geographic information systems (GIS) into the decision-making process. As the EPA has employed the technology, questions regarding consistency of use, cost, decision quality, data integration, and data exchange have been asked. Having adopted a structured management approach to implementation, the EPA is in the process of defining standards. Participation in ASTM is seen as a means to a large forum for standards discussion. This paper will describe the GIS standards the EPA is addressing and make recommendations on priorities and implementation methods.