Basic Information

EPA programs often define terms and acronyms differently, or use different terms to mean the same thing. This is no surprise given the various scientific, economic, policy, and legal disciplines brought to bear in protecting the environment.

Understanding the terms we use, their definitions, synonyms, relationships, and other metadata is essential to properly interpret information used in decision making. To be transparent, we need manage terms so that we (EPA and others) know what we mean.

We also need to manage terminology for information access. EPA expends significant resources collecting information. Making that information ‘findable’ requires that it be cataloged and indexed. Terminology Services provides the tools and services needed to develop and maintain relationships between terms used to catalog and index our information assets.

Lastly, we need to manage terminology to position the agency for Web 3.0/semantic web.

Terminology Services are part of the work of the Office of Environmental Information, Office of Information Collection, Information Exchange and Services Division, Data Standards Branch. In addition to support from Branch staff, access to contractor support for terminology development can be arranged.

The Data Standards Branch has purchased an enterprise license for Synaptica KMS, a commercial software package made available from Dow Jones, for its terminology repository. Synaptica KMS can also be used for the creation and management of terminology. After appropriate training, access to this tool is available at no cost to EPA program offices.  Other partners should contact the Data Standards Branch at ETSS_Admin@epamail.epa.gov for further information.

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