Environmental Protection Agency August 7, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 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.

This notice announces the availability of EPA's Responsiveness Summary Concerning EPA's October 31, 2006 Public Notice of Final Decisions To Add Waters and Pollutants to Arkansas' 2004 Section 303(d) List. On October 31, 2006, EPA published a notice in the Federal Register at Volume 71, Number 210, pages 63759-63760 providing the public the opportunity to review its final decisions to add waters and pollutants to Arkansas' 2004 Section 303(d) List as required by EPA's Public Participation regulations (40 CFR part 25). Based on the Responsiveness Summary, no further action is warranted regarding EPA's Final Action on Arkansas' 2004 Section 303(d) List.