[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 75 (Friday, April 18, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 19126-19127] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-10007] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Geological Survey Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC); Public Review of Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata ACTION: Notice; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) is sponsoring a public review to review the Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata, known as the FGDC Metadata Standard. After this public review, the revised Standard will be considered for adoption as a revised FGDC standard. The Standard must be followed by all Federal agencies to document all geospatial data collected directly or indirectly, through grants, partnerships, or contracts. In its assigned leadership role for developing the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), the FGDC also intends that the Metadata Standard meet the needs and recognize the view of State and local governments, academia, industry, and the public. The purpose of this notice is to solicit the views of these groups. This review is limited to three areas: (1) Formalizing a method of creating ``user-defined'' metadata elements; elements outside the present Standard, but needed by the data producer; (2) establishing the methodology for creating a customized metadata profile, such as those for cultural and demographic data sets; and (3) refining the Standard's production rules for implementation. A second public review, to be announced later this summer, will address additional user concerns and the relationship between the FGDC Metadata Standard and the International Standards Organization (ISO) Metadata Standard. The comments received at that time will contribute to the United States' position on the ISO standard. For the current review, the proposed modifications will make the FGDC Metadata Standard easier to use while keeping it compatible with the emerging ISO Standard. It is desirable that the modifications resulting from the review do not adversely affect present compliant metadata implementations. The highest priority is compatibility with metadata collected under the current FGDC Metadata Standard. Since the FGDC Metada Standard was approved in 1994, it has been implemented by numerous Federal, state, and local agencies, companies, and groups. It has also been used by other nations as they develop their own national metadata standards. Changes to the FGDC Metadata Standard have been suggested during the time since it was issued. In 1995 an implementor's workshop was held specifically to discuss strengths, weaknesses, and proposed improvements. Drawing on this body of knowledge, the FGDC proposes to modify the current Metadata Standard in the three areas described above. The public review is open to all interested parties, and all are encouraged to participate. Participants in the public review are encouraged to limit their comments to the specific modifications in the proposed revision. All participants who make comments during the public review period will receive an acknowledgment of their comment. After comments have been considered, participants will receive notification of how their comments were addressed. After the formal adoption of the revised Standard by the FGDC, the revised Standard, and a summary analysis of the changes, will be made available at the FGDC World Wide Web (WWW) site. The primary review activity will be conducted on the Internet, using Web sites, electronic mail and an online HyperNews threaded discussion list. However, Internet access is not required, and participants wishing to use other means should contact the FGDC. Currently available documents include a description of the public review process and scope of the Standard revision activity, the current FGDC Metadata Standard, the Draft Revised Standard, and an explanation of the modifications to the current Standard. DATES: The public review will be open, and comments will be accepted until July 9, 1997. CONTACT AND ADDRESSES: Requests for written copies of the ``Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata'' should be addressed to: FGDC Secretariat (Attention: Jennifer Fox), U.S. Geological Survey, 590 National Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia, 20192; telephone 703.648.5514; facsimile 703.648.5755; or Internet www.fgdc.gov">``metadata@www.fgdc.gov''. For answers to metadata related questions, please call Richard Pearsall 703.648.4532 or Ruth Hildenberger 703.648.6084. There are three ways to participate in the public review: 1. The FGDC Web site link to the Metadata Standard public review site at http://www.fgdc.gov. The Metadata Standard public review Web site is the focal point of information distribution during the public review period. News, announcements, documents, and the entrance to the HyperNews on-line threaded discussion list can be found here. In addition, this page links to the other methods of participation in the public review. Using an Internet browser, participants can make a suggestion, comment on another's suggestion, or propose a new idea. The discussion is presented as a set of topics with comments, similar to news groups in Usenet. Users can log on to read, respond, and propose new topics for discussion. All topics and comments in this forum are available to everyone. This particular HyperNews site contains topics relevant to this limited scope revision. 2. Metadata-related electronic mail to www.fgdc.gov">metadata@www.fgdc.gov An electronic mail account has been established to receive correspondence relating to the Standard and the public review. This electronic address may be used to send comments directly to the FGDC. Also, if a participant wants to comment in the HyperNews discussion and remain anonymous, they may send their comment and request to this address. The comment will be placed into HyperNews without the author's name. Participants who would like to make a comment directly to the FGDC or would like to remain anonymous in the HyperNews discussion should send electronic mail to this address. 3. Participation without Internet access or without computer access. Participants may contact the FGDC at the address given above for paper copies of the revision documents or copies of the HyperNews on- line threaded discussion list. Participants without computer access interested in having their comments [[Page 19127]] included in the HyperNews on-line discussion may send comments typed or printed (no handwritten notes, please); one comment per page on white unlined paper; use Times Roman or Times New Roman font; use font size of 14 point or larger. These comments will be scanned using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software and a digital copy will be loaded into the HyperNews on-line threaded discussion list. In addition, participants may send one hardcopy version of their comments and one softcopy version, preferably on 3.5'' diskette in WordPerfect 5.0 or 6.0/6.1 format. Dated: April 9, 1997. Wendy Budd, Associate Chief, National Mapping Division, U.S. Geological Survey. [FR Doc. 97-10007 Filed 4-17-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-31-M