EPA Ecoregions
Metadata also available as
Metadata:
- Identification_Information:
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- Citation:
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- Citation_Information:
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- Originator: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Water/OST
- Publication_Date: 19980801
- Title: EPA Ecoregions
- Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
- Publication_Information:
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- Publication_Place: Washington, D.C.
- Publisher: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Online_Linkage:
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Server=geodata.library.arizona.edu; Service=5151; Database=atlas01; User=EPA; Version=dbo.DEFAULT
- Description:
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- Abstract:
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The ECOREG coverage provides polygon coverage of the Level III
ecoregions for the conterminous United States. The coverage is stored in
the EPA Spatial Data Library System (ESDLS). The ecoregions shown here
have been derived from ecoregions of the conterminous United States and
from refinements of Omernik's framework that have been made for other
projects. These ongoing or recently completed projects, conducted in
collaboration with the U.S. EPA regional offices and with state resource
management agencies, involve refining ecoregions, defining subregions, and
locating sets of reference sites. These are designed to serve as a spatial
framework for environmental resource management.
For distribution with BASINS v.2.0, the data layer was prepared in Arcview
shape file format.
Extracted Arizona with 25 mile buffer surrounding
- Purpose:
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This coverage provides a valuable data layer for BASINS that require
Arcview shape file format in an unprojected form.
Ecoregions denote areas within which ecosystems (the type, quality, and
quantity of environmental resources) are generally similar. The most
immediate needs are to develop regional biological criteria and water
quality standards and to set management goals for nonpoint source
pollution.
- Supplemental_Information:
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Intended_use_of_data:
This data set was prepared to support the U.S. EPA BASINS (Better
Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources) System.
Limitations_of_Data:
None
Procedures:
The approach used to compile these data is based on the premise that
ecological regions can be identified through the analysis of the
patterns and the composition of biotic and abiotic phenomena that affect
or reflect differences in ecosystem quality and integrity (Wiken 1986,
Omernik 1987, 1995). These phenomena include geology, physiography,
vegetation, climate, soils, land use, wildlife, and hydrology. The
relative importance of each characteristic varies from one ecological
region to another regardless of the hierarchical level. Because of
possible confusion with other meanings of terms for different levels of
ecological regions, a Roman numeral classification scheme has been
adopted for this effort. Level I is the most coarse level, dividing
North America into nine ecological regions.
Level II, the continent, is subdivided into 32 classes. Level III
further subdivides the continent into 78 classes. For portions of the
United States, the ecoregions have been further subdivided to Level IV.
The Applications of the ecoregions are explained in Gallant et al.,
(1989) and in reports and publications from state and regional projects.
The National Geographic Information Services (NGIS) Team at
Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Systems Development Center (SDC)
reprojected the coverage to North American Datum 83 (NAD83) and added
the ecoregion names to the data set.
a. All ecoregion and subregion coverages are digitized from the USGS
1:250,000 base maps. Prior to digitizing, each base map must be
initialized to orient the map and relate it in geographic coordinates
to the surface of the earth. When the registration tics are entered at
the start of digitizing, a transformation error of <0.003 must be
achieved in order to ensure a high level of registration accuracy. The
person responsible for digital data entry completes a data sheet
describing coverage name, date of entry, and whether a topology for the
coverage is established.
b. After each 1:250,000 base map has been digitized, a topology for each
coverage is established. This function creates unique identities for
each polygon.
c. Next, each base map is tested for polygon errors through an internal
editing function. Errors are corrected for unlabeled polygons, unclosed
polygons, or polygons with more than one label. Topology is re-
established for each coverage and tested again until no errors are
indicated.
d. The digital coverage is then plotted at the same scale as the
original base map. This coverage is overlaid on a light table with the
original and visually inspected for replication of original lines with
digitized lines. Two individuals independently inspect the coverage for
accuracy.
Reviews_Applied:
SDC Product Assurance (PA) applied these reviews to the data set:
a. Verified coverage existence and spatial extent.
b. Verified the addition of ecoregion names to the data set.
c. Verified spatial index existence and the use of NAD83 projection.
References_Cited:
Gallant, A.L., T.R. Whittier, D.P. Larsen, J.M. Omernik, and
R.M. Hughes. 1989. Regionalization as a Tool for Managing
Environmental Resources. EPA/600/3089/060. U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory, Corvallis,
OR. 152p.
Gallant, A.L., E.F. Binnian, J.M. Omernik, and M.B. Shasby.
(draft map and report). Ecoregions of Alaska Report prepared
jointly by the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, and Colorado State University.
Omernik, J.M., U.S. EPA, NHEERL, 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis,
OR 97333 (phone: 503-754-4458).
Omernik, J.M. 1987 "Ecoregions of the Conterminous United States."
Map (scale 1:7,500,000). Annals of the Association of American
Geographers 77(1):118-125.
Omernik, J.M. 1995. "Ecoregions: A framework for environmental
management." in: Biological Assessment and Criteria: Tools for
Water Resource Planning and Decision Making. W. Davis and T. Simon
(eds.) Lewis Publishers, Chelsea, MI.
Wiken, E. 1986. Terrestrial Ecozones of Canada. Environment Canada.
Ecological Land Classification Series No. 19. Ottawa, Canada.
Notes: Source Data Information
1. Original data were compiled at 1:3, 168,000, 1986.
2. Unknown number of revisions between 1986 and 1994. (Est. 6-8)
3. 2 new ecoregions (77-North Cascades and 78-Klamath Mountains) were
added to reflect changes with the subregion project in Oregon and
Washington. 3/95
4. Revised lines reflecting changes in subregions in Oregon and
Washington. 8/95
5. Revised lines reflecting changes in subregions in Pennsylvania,
the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ridge and Valley, and Central Appalachians
of EPA Region 3. 11/95
6. Revised lines reflecting changes in subregions in North Dakota,
Indiana, and Ohio. Ecoregion 42 (Northwestern Glaciated Plains) was
enlarged to include the area of ecoregion 45 (Northeastern Great
Plains). Ecoregion 45 was deleted. A new ecoregion 45 (Piedmont) was
added in the southeast US. 1/96
- Time_Period_of_Content:
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- Time_Period_Information:
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- Range_of_Dates/Times:
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- Beginning_Date: 1986
- Ending_Date: 1994
- Currentness_Reference: 19960930
- Status:
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- Progress: Complete
- Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed
- Spatial_Domain:
-
- Bounding_Coordinates:
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- West_Bounding_Coordinate: -115.476122
- East_Bounding_Coordinate: -108.466053
- North_Bounding_Coordinate: 37.401960
- South_Bounding_Coordinate: 31.268043
- Keywords:
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- Theme:
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- Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None.
- Theme_Keyword:
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Omernik Ecoregions
Northern Basin and Range
Southern Basin and Range
Colorado Plateaus
Arizona/New Mexico Plateau
Arizona/New Mexico Mountains
Southern Deserts
- Place:
-
- Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: Geographic Names Information System
- Place_Keyword: Arizona AZ
- Access_Constraints: None
- Use_Constraints:
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None. Acknowledgement of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency would be appreciated.
- Point_of_Contact:
-
- Contact_Information:
-
- Contact_Organization_Primary:
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- Contact_Organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Contact_Voice_Telephone: 202-566-0406
- Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Contact basins@epa.gov
- Native_Data_Set_Environment:
-
Microsoft Windows XP Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 3; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.3.0.1770
- Data_Quality_Information:
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- Logical_Consistency_Report: Polygon and chain-node topology present.
- Completeness_Report: See Supplemental_Information
- Lineage:
-
- Process_Step:
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- Process_Description:
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The Arc/Info export file was downloaded from the EPA FTP site
(ftp.epa.gov/pub/spdata/ecoreg.e00.gz) and was converted from Albers
Conic Equal Area projection to geographic decimal degrees projection
using Arc/Info. The coverage was then converted to Arcview shape file
using the Arc/Info ARCSHAPE command.
For distribution with BASINS 2.0, the data layer was divided by EPA
regions (i.e. distribution by CD). Other form of data distribution
(e.g. by cataloging unit) is available through the web
(<http://www.epa.gov/OST/BASINS>).
- Process_Date: 19980218
- Process_Contact:
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- Contact_Information:
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- Contact_Organization_Primary:
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- Contact_Organization: Tetra Tech, Inc.
- Contact_Address:
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- Address_Type: Mailing Address
- Address: 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 340
- City: Fairfax
- State_or_Province: Virginia
- Postal_Code: 22030
- Country: USA
- Contact_Voice_Telephone: 703-385-6000
- Contact_Instructions: See Distributor_Information
- Process_Step:
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- Process_Description: Metadata imported.
- Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: C:\DOCUME~1\dborden\LOCALS~1\Temp\xml3F.tmp
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- Process_Description: Metadata imported.
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- Process_Description: Dataset copied.
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Server=silicon.fsi.farragut.com; Service=esri_sde; User=EPA; Version=SDE.DEFAULT
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- Process_Description: Dataset copied.
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Server=Silicon.fsi.farragut.com; Service=esri_sde; User=epa; Version=SDE.DEFAULT
- Process_Step:
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- Process_Description: Dataset copied.
- Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: Server=Silicon; Service=esri_sde; User=az; Version=SDE.DEFAULT
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- Process_Description: Dataset copied.
- Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation:
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Server=Arizonium; Service=esri_sde; User=az; Version=SDE.DEFAULT
- Process_Step:
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- Process_Description: Dataset copied.
- Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation:
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Server=150.135.45.64; Service=5151; Database=AZ01; User=az; Version=SDE.DEFAULT
- Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
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- Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector
- Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:
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- SDTS_Terms_Description:
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- SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: G-polygon
- Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 0
- Spatial_Reference_Information:
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- Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
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- Planar:
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- Grid_Coordinate_System:
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- Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
- Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
-
- UTM_Zone_Number: 12
- Transverse_Mercator:
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- Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.999600
- Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -111.000000
- Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.000000
- False_Easting: 500000.000000
- False_Northing: 0.000000
- Planar_Coordinate_Information:
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- Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair
- Coordinate_Representation:
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- Abscissa_Resolution: 0.000128
- Ordinate_Resolution: 0.000128
- Planar_Distance_Units: meters
- Geodetic_Model:
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- Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983
- Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80
- Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.000000
- Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222
- Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:
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- Altitude_System_Definition:
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- Altitude_Resolution: 1.000000
- Altitude_Encoding_Method:
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Explicit elevation coordinate included with horizontal coordinates
- Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
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- Detailed_Description:
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- Entity_Type:
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- Entity_Type_Label: atlas01.EPA.EPA_ecoregions
- Entity_Type_Definition: Ecoregion primary attribute table.
- Entity_Type_Definition_Source: USEPA
- Attribute:
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- Attribute_Label: OBJECTID
- Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number.
- Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI
- Attribute_Domain_Values:
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- Enumerated_Domain:
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- Enumerated_Domain_Value: 12
- Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Floating value
- Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Assigned
- Unrepresentable_Domain:
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Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
- Attribute:
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- Attribute_Label: EPA_ecoregions_AREA
- Attribute:
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- Attribute_Label: PERIMETER
- Attribute_Definition: ARC/INFO internal value
- Attribute_Definition_Source: Computed
- Attribute_Domain_Values:
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- Enumerated_Domain:
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- Enumerated_Domain_Value: 4
- Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Integer value
- Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Assigned
- Attribute:
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- Attribute_Label: ECOREG_
- Attribute_Definition: User-assigned feature number.
- Attribute_Definition_Source: User-defined
- Attribute_Domain_Values:
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- Enumerated_Domain:
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- Enumerated_Domain_Value: 4
- Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Integer value
- Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: USEPA
- Attribute:
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- Attribute_Label: ECOREG_ID
- Attribute_Definition: Ecoregion ID
- Attribute_Definition_Source: USEPA
- Attribute_Domain_Values:
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- Enumerated_Domain:
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- Enumerated_Domain_Value: 2
- Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Integer value
- Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: USEPA
- Attribute:
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- Attribute_Label: ECO
- Attribute_Definition: Indicates the name of the ecoregion.
- Attribute_Definition_Source: USEPA
- Attribute_Domain_Values:
-
- Enumerated_Domain:
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- Enumerated_Domain_Value: 40
- Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: character ID value
- Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: USEPA
- Attribute:
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- Attribute_Label: NAME
- Attribute:
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- Attribute_Label: SHAPE
- Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry.
- Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI
- Attribute_Domain_Values:
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- Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining the features.
- Attribute:
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- Attribute_Label: SHAPE.AREA
- Attribute:
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- Attribute_Label: SHAPE.LEN
- Distribution_Information:
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- Distributor:
-
- Contact_Information:
-
- Contact_Organization_Primary:
-
- Contact_Organization: USEPA/Office of Water/OST
- Contact_Address:
-
- Address_Type: Mailing Address
- Address: 401 M Street, SW (4305)
- City: Washington
- State_or_Province: District of Columbia
- Postal_Code: 20460
- Country: USA
- Contact_Voice_Telephone: 202-260-7301
- Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 202-260-9830
- Resource_Description: Downloadable Data
- Distribution_Liability:
-
Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer
system at Tetra Tech, Inc., no warranty expressed or implied is
made regarding the accuracy or utility of the data on any other
system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of
distribution constitute any such warranty. This disclaimer applies
both to individual use of the data and aggregate use with other
data. It is also strongly recommended that careful attention be
paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with these
data. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency nor Tetra Tech,
Inc. shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the
data described and/or contained herein.
- Standard_Order_Process:
-
- Digital_Form:
-
- Digital_Transfer_Information:
-
- Format_Name:
-
Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI)
ArcView Shapefile
- Digital_Transfer_Option:
-
- Online_Option:
-
- Computer_Contact_Information:
-
- Network_Address:
-
- Network_Resource_Name: <http://www.epa.gov/OST/BASINS>
- Offline_Option:
-
- Offline_Media: CD-ROM
- Recording_Format: ISO 9660
- Fees: None
- Ordering_Instructions:
-
When requesting data by phone or mail, please inquire about
spatial data sets that work with Better Assessment Science
Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources (BASINS). The BASINS web
page has instructions for downloading datasets. It also has a
link to The National Center for Environmental Publications and
Information (NCEPI), from which BASINS CD-ROMs may be ordered.
Each CD-ROM contains the BASINS v2.0 Application and this data
set along with others covering the spatial extent of an EPA
Region.
- Metadata_Reference_Information:
-
- Metadata_Date: 20081023
- Metadata_Contact:
-
- Contact_Information:
-
- Contact_Organization_Primary:
-
- Contact_Organization: USEPA/OW/OST
- Contact_Person: REQUIRED: The person responsible for the metadata information.
- Contact_Address:
-
- Address_Type: Mailing Address
- Address: 401 M Street, SW (4305)
- City: Washington
- State_or_Province: District of Columbia
- Postal_Code: 20460
- Country: USA
- Contact_Voice_Telephone: 202 260 7301
- Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
- Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
- Metadata_Time_Convention: local time
- Metadata_Extensions:
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- Profile_Name: ESRI Metadata Profile
- Metadata_Extensions:
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- Online_Linkage: <http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html>
- Profile_Name: ESRI Metadata Profile
Generated by mp version 2.9.6 on Thu Jun 03 12:37:15 2010