[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 234 (Friday, December 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64396-64397]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31811]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey


Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC); Public Comment on the 
Proposal To Develop the ``FGDC Standard for Geologic Map 
Symbolization'' as a Federal Geographic Data Committee Standard

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FGDC is soliciting public comments on the proposal to 
develop a ``FGDC Standard for Geologic Map Symbolization.'' If the 
proposal is

[[Page 64397]]

approved, the standard will be developed following the FGDC standards 
development and approval process. If the standard is adopted by the 
FGDC, it must be followed by all Federal agencies portraying geologic 
data in map form directly or indirectly (through grants, partnerships, 
or contracts).
    In its assigned Federal leadership in the development of the 
National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), the FGDC recognizes that 
FGDC standards must also meet the needs and recognize the views of 
State and local governments, academia, industry, and the public. The 
purpose of this notice is to solicit such views. The FGDC invites the 
community to review the proposal and comment on the objectives, scope, 
approach, and usability of the proposed standard; identify existing 
related standards; and indicate their interest in participating in the 
development of the standard.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 19, 1997.

CONTACT and ADDRESSES: The complete proposal is included in this 
notice. It is also posted at Internet address: http://www.fgdc.gov/
Standards/Documents/Proposals/geosym.html.
    Comments may be submitted via Internet mail or by submitting an 
electronic copy on diskette. Send comments via Internet to: www.fgdc.gov">gdc-
geosym@www.fgdc.gov. Comments e-mailed as attachments must be in ASCII 
format.
    A soft copy version may be submitted on a 3.5 x 3.5 diskette in 
Word Perfect 5.0 or 6.0/6.1 format, along with one hardcopy version of 
the comments, to the FGDC Secretariat (attn: Jennifer Fox) at U.S. 
Geological Survey, 590 National Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, 
Reston, Virginia, 20192.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Following is the complete proposal for the 
``FGDC Standard for Geologic Map Symbolization.''
    Project Title: FGDC Standard for Geologic Map Symbolization.
    Date of Proposal: April 18, 1997, revised: July 14, 1997.
    Type of Standard Proposed: Data Symbology.
    Submitting Organization: FGDC Geologic Data Subcommittee.
    Point of Contact: David R. Soller, USGS.
    Objectives: The objective is to provide a national standard for 
geologic map symbols, colors, and patterns in order to provide geologic 
map products that have a standard appearance.
    Scope: The scope of this project covers cartographic symbols and 
patterns that are on geologic maps. The scope includes colors that are 
used to convey areas of particular formation, age, or lithology.
    Justification/Benefits: Geologic maps are produced by various State 
and Federal agencies, according to various locally-developed guidelines 
for content and form. National or regional standards for symbolizing 
geologic map elements do not exist. Locally developed standards or 
guidelines used by a geologic mapping agency have not been widely 
adopted. A national standard is needed to provide a standard 
cartographic product to the end-user. Because most new maps are 
produced from digital files, this standard must be robust enough to be 
implemented in digital form on a variety of hardcopy output devices.
    Development Approach: This standard will be based on symbolization 
contained in USGS Open-file Report 95-525 ``(draft) Cartographic and 
digital standard for geologic map information.'' The approach will be 
as follows:
     Conduct a review of USGS OFR95-525 to determine elements 
of the document that should be further developed as a FGDC draft 
standard (this review was released as USGS Open-file Report 96-725 and 
is available on-line at http://ncgmp.usgs.gov/ngmdbproject/standards/
carto/OFR95-525review.html).
     The review concluded that the symbols, colors, and 
patterns in the document should be converted to digital form for 
consideration as a FGDC standard and for general use within the USGS. 
This conversion is underway within the USGS.
     The digital symbols will form the basis of a draft 
standards document to be prepared by the Geologic Data Subcommittee 
late in 1997.
     The document will then be submitted to FGDC for review.
    Related Standards: The proposed standard will be based on 
symbolization contained in USGS Open-file Report 95-525 ``(draft) 
Cartographic and digital standard for geologic map information.'' 
Potential relation to ISO Standard 710, 1974, Parts 1-7 will be 
evaluated.
    Development and Completion Schedule:
     In late summer, 1997, the USGS will finish a first draft 
of the digital symbols to be contained in the standard.
     The Geologic Data Subcommittee will evaluate those 
symbols, and in late 1997, the Geologic Data Subcommittee will begin 
compiling the digital symbols into a draft FGDC standards document.
     In the first quarter of 1998, the document will be 
submitted to FGDC for review.
    Resources Required: The USGS is supporting development of the 
standards document and the implementation.
    Potential Participants: The USGS, the Association of American State 
Geologists, the Geologic Data Subcommittee, professional societies, and 
private companies.
    Other Targeted Authorization Bodies: None.

    Dated: November 25, 1997.
John Fischer,
Acting Chief, National Mapping Division.
[FR Doc. 97-31811 Filed 12-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-31-M