The FGDC Content Standard identifies and describes the fields to be included in the meta data record. It does not, however, provide guidelines for a standard vocabulary to be used when filling out the fields. Standard vocabulary has, however, been identified at the federal level for cadastral data and for the classification of wetlands. The FGDC Steering Committee, on December 17, 1996, formally adopted as FGDC Standards the ‘Cadastral Data Content Standard’ and the ‘Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States.’

The "Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States," sponsored by the Wetlands Subcommittee, is a classification standard that provides specific ecological and hydrological information for the identification, classification, and mapping of wetlands in the United States and its territories. A limited number of written copies are available from the FGDC (see below). Additional copies of the Coward in Classification System (Coward in et al. 1979) are for sale by the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. Payment may be made by check, money order, or deposit account. The publication is available through the Library of Congress (QH76U5a79/31 [QH104] 574.5'0973s [574.5'2632] 79-607795.

The Cadastral Data Content Standard, sponsored by the Subcommittee on Cadastral Data, describes a logical data model containing the attributes or elements that are found in land ownership related documents.

Requests for written copies of the above standards should be sent by mail to: FGDC Secretariat (attn: Jennifer Fox), U.S. Geological Survey, 590 National Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia, 22092; telephone 703-648-5514; fax 703-648-5755; or Internet "gdc@usgs.gov". Information is also available from the FGDC Web site: http://www.fgdc.gov