StoryMap Guidance and Publication Requirements | US EPA

When can I use a StoryMap? ... StoryMaps are generally appropriate for projects where geographic perspectives are important for explaining a topic for a well- ... Skiptomaincontent Officialwebsitesuse.gov A.govwebsitebelongstoanofficialgovernmentorganizationintheUnitedStates. Secure.govwebsitesuseHTTPS Alock(LockAlockedpadlock)orhttps://meansyou’vesafelyconnectedtothe.govwebsite.Sharesensitiveinformationonlyonofficial,securewebsites. RelatedTopics: WebGuideWebPoliciesandProcedures ContactUs StoryMapGuidanceandPublicationRequirements RelatedResources EPAWebStandard:StoryMaps. DesignforEveryoneStoryMap:LearnbestpracticesinStoryMap accessibilityanddesign. DataVisualizationAccessibilityProcedure RefertoEsri'sFivePrinciplesofEffectiveStorytelling tohelpbrainstormhowtoeffectivelytellyourstory.Esri's10EssentialStepsforStoryMapSuccess mayhelpguideyouasyouconsiderdevelopingaStoryMap. TalkwithaGISleadorGeoPlatformAdministrator.  EPA’sOfficeofMissionSupportTeamfacilitatedhelpsessionsareprovidedeveryThursdayfrom9AMto2PMEasternTimeinMicrosoftTeams. AdditionalStoryMaptutorialsareavailableonEsriAcademy. ArcGISStoryMapsarecloud-based,datapresentationtoolsusedbytheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)tocommunicategeospatialdatainnarrativeformat.Blendingmulti-mediawithmapproducts,thistoolleveragesdesignfeaturesaimedatenhancingtheaccess,understanding,anduseofgeographicinformationbyAgencystakeholders.DeveloperscanuseStoryMapstotellengagingstorieswiththeirdataandtunetheirmessagingforspecificaudiences. StoryMapsaresupportedwithintheEPA’sbrandedArcGISOnlineenvironment,knownastheEPAGeoPlatformOnline(GPO),aswellastheDataManagementandAnalyticsPlatform(DMAP)andregionallysupportedArcGISEnterprisePortals.TheyareprovidedaspartoftheEPA’slicensingagreementwithEsriandfollowthesamesharingprinciplesasotherGPOcontentitems,suchasmapsandwebapplications.Theycanbesharedwithindividualgroups,theAgency,orwiththepublic. ThisguidancespecificallysupportsStoryMapsdesignedforpublicaudiences,detailingkeystepsinboththeirdevelopmentandapproval.Whendesignedforinternalaudiences,StoryMapsdonotrequirethefullreviewoutlinedbelow.WhetherStoryMapsareintendedforaninternalorexternalaudience,developersshouldadhereto bestpracticesandaccessibilityrequirementstotheextentpracticable. ConsultyourGISLeadorRegionalGISCoordinatorformoreinformation,includinghowtomaximizetheaccessibilityofyourStoryMap. Onthispage: WhencanIuseaStoryMap? DesigningaStoryMapforExternalAudiences IdentifyingaStoryMapConcept ConceptReview Structuringa StoryMap FinalApprovalofYourStoryMap ​MaintainingYourStoryMap WhencanIuseaStoryMap? StoryMapsaregenerallyappropriateforprojectswheregeographicperspectivesareimportantforexplainingatopicforawell-definedaudience.Idealusecasesincludecasesstudies,publichealth,andsamplingprojectswherepublicoutreachiscritical. StoryMapsaregenerallyinappropriateforprojectswithoutasignificantgeospatialcomponentandprojectswithotherwiselimitedoriginaldata. DesigningaStoryMapforExternalAudiences LikeallpublicwebcontentatEPA,StoryMapsmustbereviewedandapprovedbeforetheyarepublished.TherearefivestepsintheStoryMappublicationworkflow: Step1:IdentifyingaStoryMapConcept Step2:ConceptReview Step3:StructuringaStoryMap Defineyouraudienceandobjectives. Organizecontentitemsandrelateddata. Draftanengagingnarrative. Createeffectiveandaccessibledisplays. Step4:FinalApprovalofyourStoryMap Step5:MaintainingyourStoryMap IdentifyingAStoryMapConcept Ifyouareinterestedindevelopingapublic-facingStoryMap,firstcontactyourGISLeadorRegionalGISCoordinatortodiscussyourStoryMapconcept.Yourleadorcoordinatorwillevaluateifyourdataaresufficient,robust,and/orappropriatefordisplayinaStoryMap.Theywillalsoprovideyouguidanceonthetimeandeffortitmaytaketoproduceaproductthatmeetsyourdesiredspecifications.PleaserefertotheEPAStoryMapWebStandardforminimumrequirements. ConceptReview Onceyouarereadytoproceed,contactyourWebCouncilMember.YourWebCouncilMemberwillensurethatyourStoryMapconceptalignswiththegoalsofyourRegion,AAship,Office,orLab,andwillauthorizeyoutoproceed.Concurrently,theywillappraiseyourGISLeadorRegionalGISCoordinator,PublicAffairsDirector(s)and/orCommunicationsDirector(s)onyourconcept,whichmaywarrantfurtherreview.PleaseNote:MembersoftheEPA’sOfficeofResearchandDevelopment(ORD)shouldfirstconsulttheirlab’sWebandCommunicationsleadbeforecontactingtheirlab’sWebCouncilMember. AfteryourWebCouncilMemberapprovesyourconcept,youarereadytosubmitanonlineStoryMapApprovalFormtotheOfficeofWebCommunications(OWC).TheStoryMapreviewmayalsoincludetheOfficeofPublicAffairs(OPA)seniormanagement,butthatisatthediscretionoftheprimaryOWCrecipientofyourrequest.OPA/OWCreviewandapprovalarenecessarybeforeproceeding.PleasecontactOWCifnomessageisreceivedwithinaweek.Atthispoint,considercontactingyourGeoPlatformAdministratorsaswellfortechnicalquestions,trainingresources,andcartographicreview. Structuringa StoryMap EPAdeveloperscanaccessablankStoryMaplayoutwithEPAthematicelementsappliedwithintheGeoPlatform.Alternatively,Agencyemployeescanfollowthese instructions toapplytheAgency’sStoryMapthemetotheirStoryMaps.Whenwritingtext,additional considerationsshouldmaderegarding: Section508compliance Web-basedwritingstandardsandguidance EPAWebStandard:StoryMaps  EsriprovidesArcGISStoryMapsupportanddesignideasthroughEsritrainingresources.ExamplesfromfederalagenciesandAgencycollaboratorscanbefoundinEsri’sStoryMapGallery.  ANoteaboutStoryMapLayouts InJuly2019,EsrireleasedanewArcGISStoryMaplayoutthatwillreplacethe“classic”EsriStoryMaplayoutsusedbytheAgencysince2011. ItishighlyrecommendedthatEPAdevelopersadoptthisnewlayoutbecauseofitsincreasedfunctionalityandalignmentwithAgencywebstandards.Moreover,ClassicEsriStoryMapswillonlyreceivecriticalmaintenancesupportthroughJuly2024,butwillremainaccessibleintheGPOthereafter.IfyouuseaclassicEsritemplate,pleasebeawarethatyourStoryMapmaynotmeettheAgency’sminimumaccessibilityrequirements.PleasecontactyourRegionalGISCoordinatororGISLead(search)ortheNationalGeospatialSupportTeamtolearnmore. TobegindesigningyourStoryMap,pleasevisittheEPAGeoPlatformandloginusingyourLANcredentials.StoryMapsareaccessibleviathecartonmenuonthetoprightofthescreen.EPA’sGeoResourcesSharepointsitehasseveralguidesonhowtonavigatethisenvironment,includingresourcesrelatedtowebmapdesign.YourGISLeadorRegionalGISCoordinatorcanhelpyougetstartedandwillfacilitateproductpublication. Note:WhenusingArcGISPythonAPItodesignyourStoryMap,pleaseworkwithOWCtoensurethatyoumeetEPAwebstandardsandotherfederalwebrequirements. DefineyourAudienceandObjectives Theconcept,audience,andscopeoftheoverallStoryMapmustbeclearlydefinedsothatyoucanestablishatimelineandlevelofeffort.Duringconceptreview,yourWebCouncilMembercanworkwithyoutoclarifythestoryyouwanttotell.AlthoughthepracticalprocessofbuildingaStoryMapisrelativelysimple,theothercomponents—dataprocessingandmanagementinparticular—canquicklyballoonifaimsandobjectivesarenotproperlydefinedfromthestart.SignificantattentionshouldalsobepaidtotheoveralllookandfeelofyourStoryMap. Audience Knowingyouraudienceiskey.WhowillgainthemostvaluefromyourStoryMap?Howmuchknowledgecanyoureasonablyassumeyourtargetaudiencehasaboutyourgivensubject?Iftheaudienceisnewtoyourtopic,avoidjargonandkeepthenarrativefocusedatahighlevel.Iftheaudienceismadeupofsubject-matterexperts,trynottoborethembyrestatingbasicprinciples. Audienceisthegeneralpublic(broad) SomeStoryMapswillhavegeneralappealandgarnertheinterestoflargeanddiversepopulations.DuringtheCOVID-19pandemic,forexample,anumberofagenciespublishedStoryMapsthatbundleduprelevantmaps,dashboards,statusupdates,andmediatoconveyessentialpublichealthinformationtothepublic. Audienceisasubsetofthepublic(morespecific) ManyStoryMapswillonlyberelevanttoasmallsubsetofthepublicbutconveycrucialinformationabouttheenvironment.Thenarrativeformatallowsyoutoprovidehistoricalcontextforanissue,relevantactivities,andimportantoutcomestoenhancepublicknowledgeandengagementonthesubject.Forexample,theCarsonRiverMercurySuperfund(CRMS)SiteinNevadahasalongandwell-documentedhistory.Anin-depthpublicStoryMapallowedEPAtoprovidehistoricalcontextalongsideextensivesamplingdatatohelpthepublicunderstandwhenandwhytocontactEPAaboutpotentialcontaminationinthevicinity. OrganizeContentandRelatedData DisplayAccurate,AppropriateandAuthoritativeData YourGISLeadorRegionalCoordinatorwillhelpyoudeterminewhatQualityAssuranceandQualityControl(QA/QC)workneedstogointoyourdatabeforeitcanbeusedinaStoryMap.Thisincludesdetailedmetadataforyourgeospatialproducts.Dependingonwhocollectedorprocessedyourdata,itsmetadatawillmostlikelyvarywidelyincompletenessandquality.YourGISLeadorRegionalCoordinatorwillhelpyoucleanupyourdataandmetadataandensurethatitcomplieswithAgencyguidanceandstandards. Project-specificdata(needsQA/QC) ThistypeofdatarequiresthemosteffortandreviewfromyourGISLeadorRegionalCoordinator,butoftenresultsinarichandusefuldatasetthatcanbeincorporatedintofutureprojectsbeyondthescopeofaStoryMap.YourleadorcoordinatorwillneedtoconductextensiveQA/QConeachdatalayertoensurethattheycomplywithAgencyguidelinesandtopreparethemforpotentialpublicrelease. EPAData EPAmaintainsanextensivecollectionofauthoritativedatalayersthatcanquicklybepulledintoanymapproduct,includingStoryMaps.SharedEnterpriseGeodata&Services,orSEGS,istheAgencycuratedcollectionofgeospatialdatawithnationalextentsornationalrelevance.SincethesedatasetaremanagedbyEPA,theyrequireminimaladditionalefforttoincorporateintoyourmapproducts. ExternalData Usingdatasourceshostedexternally(e.g.,webmapservices)requirestheleastamountofeffortonourpart.TheGISLeadorRegionalGISCoordinatorhasaccesstoanextensivecatalogofdataandcanhelp.youidentifywhatyouneed.Iftherearedataoutthere,yourleadswillfinditforyou. Multimedia TheEPAOfficeofMultimediahostsamediagallerythatcontainsfreeandapprovedcontentforuseinStoryMaps.TouseyourownmediaorcontentprovidedbyEPAaffiliatespleasesubmitthefollowingforms: ContentConsentFormforpeopleappearinginthephotos. ContentLicenseFormforphotosfromathirdpartyforEPAuse,whichmustbesignedbythecopyrightholderoftheimage. CreateItemsandMapswiththeFutureinMind Public-facingStoryMapswilllikelyincludegeographicinformationthatwillneedtobeupdatedandrefreshed.BasedonAgencyexperiences,planningyourdataatthisstagewillsaveyourteamsbothtimeandmoneyinthelongrun.Forexample,considerworkingwiththeNationalGeospatialSupportTeamtofashionhostedfeatureservicesasopposedtocreatingfeaturecollections.Whenindoubt,startbyplanningyourprojectandengagingyouGISLeadorRegionalGISCoordinator. LeverageFoldersin'MyContent'toOrganizeItems Utilizethe'MyContent'folderfunctionalitytostoreproject-specificcontentitems.Considerusingexplicitnamingconventionsforprojectfolders,like'2021-StoryMapInauguration',whichallowsyoutosortbyyear,applicationtime,andtitle.Inourexperience,folkstypicallyputeverythingintheir'rootfolder',mixedinwithseveralotheritems.ThismakesitdifficulttoteaseoutwhichcontentitemsarepartofaspecificStoryMap.Intheend,thefoldershouldonlycontaintheitemsthatareactivepartsoftheStoryMap(i.e.deleteormovealltemporaryorunnecessaryitems). ShareContentItemsinProjectGroupwithUpdateCapabilitiesEnabled IfaStoryMapinvolvesateamofseveraldevelopers,itcanbehelpfultosharethecontentitemsinaprojectgroupwithupdatecapabilityenabled.ThatgroupmustbeownedbyanAdministratorsorsomeonewithanadvancedroleintheGeoPlatform(EPAPowerUser).Onceshared,groupmembersmayalledittheitemssharedtothegroup.Thishelpswhentheownerofanitemisoffwork(onvacation,etc.)andcontentneedstobeupdatedASAP. ShareFinalProductswithAdministrativeAccounts SeveralRegions,Offices,andAAshipshavecreatedgenericaccountsthatownpublic-facingproducts.ThiswaytheStoryMapanditsconstituentitemsaren’townedbyasingleindividual.Thisiscertainlynotmandatory,butitmayhelpsometeams.Organizingdataalsomakesiteasierforadministratorstoreviewyourdataforpublicreleaseandsavestimeandmoneyinthroughtime. DeterminewhereyouwillembedyourStoryMap InordertoensureadherencetofederalwebrequirementsandEPAwebstandards,mostStoryMapsshouldbeembeddedinan iFrameonanEPA.govwebpage,orotherEPAdomainorsub-domain(response.epa.gov,etc.).EmbeddingaStoryMaponanEPAwebpagewillensureaconsistentuserexperience,andEPAvisitorswillexperiencefullStoryMapfunctionalitywithoutnavigatingawayfromEPA.gov.WhenembeddingStoryMapsonEPA.gov,thewidetemplateisoftenpreferredtoallowforfull-screenviewing(thoughyouwilllosetheleftsidenavigationwhenpresent).  DraftanEngagingNarrative Onceyouhaveorganizedyourcontentitems,youshouldworkwithbothyourGISLeadorRegionalCoordinatorandWebCouncilmembertodraftanengagingnarrative.Thinkaboutthemostimportantmessageyou’dliketogetacrossifthereaderonlyrecallsoneortwothingsfromyourstory,thenbestrictaboutkeepingthosefewtakeawaysatthecenterofyourwork,callingbacktotheminthenarrativewheneverpossible. Ifyoursubjectmatterisextensiveandyoudonotthinkyoucanavoidalargeanddetailedstory,considersplittingitupintosmallermanageablesections,organizedbycommonthemes.Forexample,ifyourStoryMapisaboutalargesamplingstudycarriedoutatahistoricalsite,youwillwanttoconsiderseparatesectionsforthebackgroundhistoryandmodernsamplingstrategy.OPAandtheWebCouncilareresponsibleforreviewingtextcontentandmessaging,whichmayrequiremultipleroundsofrefinement. Again,andpertheStoryMapWebStandard,thegeographicinformationandrelatedcontentshouldbefocalpoint(s)ofyourStoryMap.Throughtheproducts,yourviewersmakeconnectionsbetweenthenarrativetextandtherealworld.Ingeneral,alwaysstriveforsimplicityandusecartographicbestpractices.YourGIScoordinatorsandleadsaswellasGPOAdministratorwillhelpyouorganizeandcurateyourcontenttobestcommunicateyourimportantpointstothetargetaudience. CreateEffectiveandAccessibleDisplays Public-facingStoryMapsmustmeetSection508accessibilityrequirementstotheextentpossibleandpracticable,thoughsomeexclusionsmayapply - FollowtheDataVisualizationAccessibilityProcedure.WhileEPAhasgrantedanundueburdenwaiverthatcoversGeoPlatform,AgencydevelopersarestillexpectedtoapplybestpracticesthatmaximizeaccessibilityofGeoPlatformcontentitems,includingStoryMaps.TheAgency’sSection508Procedureoutlinesthesekeyconsiderations. DesignforEveryoneStoryMap:LearnbestpracticesinStoryMap accessibilityanddesign. ConsiderColorandContrast MembersofyourtargetaudiencesmayhavevisualimpairmentsthatmakeitdifficulttodiscerncolorsandtextinyourStoryMapandrelatedcontentitems.Forexample,certaincolorschemescanbeusedtoensurethattextisreadablebyaudiencewithcolorblindnessorothervision-relateddisabilities.Learnmoreaboutcoloruseindatavisualization.Severaltoolscanbeusedtodevelopandtestcolorandcontrast: EPAGlobalColorGuide,theAgency’sstandardcolorpalate. ColorBrewer,anonlinetoolthatallowsyoutotestoutcolorpalettestomaximizedatacommunication. WAVEEvaluationTool,aGoogleChromeextensionthattestsforcolorcontrastandotheraccessibilityrequirements.StoryMapsshouldstrivetomeetthecolorcontrastratioforfederalwebpage,whichis5:1orhigher. ChooseContext-appropriateBasemaps EsriprovidesseveralbasemapswithinArcGISOnlinewhicharefurthersupplementedbyoptionsbothattheEPA-organizationallevelandwithintheEsriLivingAtlas.BasemapsareavailableintheGeoPlatformaswellastheEsriLivingAtlas.WhendisplayinggeographicdatainaStoryMap,developersshouldconsiderbasemapsthatbestcommunicatesdata,considerSection508rules,andadheretotheAgency’scartographicstyleandstandards. Ingeneral,“LightGrayCanvas”and“TerrainwithLabels”arerecommendedforStoryMaps.Thesevectorbasemapsprovidelowcontent,lowsaturationconditionsforvectordata(i.e.,qualitative/quantitativepoints,linesandpolygons)thatarenotmetbyrasterbasemapalternatives.Itisimportanttoconsidersymbologythatmeetscolorcontrastrecommendations.ThoughEarthImageryispopularintheenvironmentalsector,non-imagerybasemapsareoftenpreferredformostdatasets. EnableFlexibleSorting Usemultiplecuesratherthanrelyingoncoloralonetodifferentiatepoint,line,andpolygonfeatureswhenappropriateandpossible(i.e.,flexiblesorting).Ifthelocationsorfacilitiesshownonyourmapfallintodifferentclasses(e.g.,locationsofdifferenttypesoffederalcleanups,differenttypesofmedia),thenthepushpins,flagsorotheridentifyingmarkersshouldnotrelysolelyoncolortotellthedifferencebetweenthetypesofdatapresented.Themarkersshouldalsorelyonshapetodistinguishthedifferentlocations,typesofresults,orfacilities.Alternatively,youcanhavethemrelysolelyoncolorifyoualsoprovideawaytofilterthemapsoonlymarkersofonecoloraredisplayed.SeetheWellClasstabontheAquiferExemptionsmapforanexampleofthisfiltering. EmbedAlternativeText(AltText) AlternativeText(AltText)isusedwithinHTMLcodetodescribetheappearanceandfunctionofawebpageelement.AddingAltTextensuresaccessibilityforfolkswhocannotvisuallyprocesstheelement.AltTextforimagesdoesnotneedtobealiteraldescription,butcaninsteadbeusedtoconveysupplementaltoneormeaningthatsightedusersmightinfernaturally.LearnmorefromEsritutorialsandW3CprogramslikeWritingforWebAccessibilityandImageConcepts. ProvideTextEquivalentofInformation Visitorswhorelyonscreen-readersand/orhavevisualimpairmentsmaynotbeabletodiscerntheinformationthatamaporinteractivefeatureprovidestosightedreaders.Section508requiresthatweprovideequivalentinformationinawaythatisaccessibletoall. Toprovidethisequivalentinformation: Providealinkjustbelowortotheleftorrightofthemapthatgoesdirectlytotheequivalentinformation,i.e.,therawdataunderlyingthelink. ThisinformationshouldbeinanExceltableorotherformatcapableofbeingreadbyascreenreader. IftheinformationislocatedinasourcefileotherthananHTMLfile,indicatethefileextension(PDF,DOC,etc.)afterthelink,following EPAstandards. Logo&WebStyle OnlyproductscomingfromtheEPAAdministrator’sOfficemayusetheSealoftheEPA.Otherproducts,likeHubSites,mustusetheEPALogo.TheEPABlueLogoispreferredforArcGISStoryMaps.DownloadtheEPAlogo. DependingontheStoryMapthemeorpurposes,however,analternatecolormaybeusedpendingreview.AdditionalinformationonwhenthesealorlogoshouldbeusedareavailableUsingtheEPASealandLogo.DevelopersarerecommendedtoleveragegeneraliconsinFontAwesome,becausethisserviceletsyoumodifyiconcolor. IncludeaWebSurvey ThefirststepwhenincludingasurveyistogetanInformationCollectionRequest.Survey123toolscanbeintegratedintoStoryMaps,allowinguserstocollectandanalyzeresponsesfrombothstakeholdersandusercommunities.VerintwebsurveysusethemethodsoftheAmericanCustomerSatisfactionIndex(ACSI),aneconomicindicatorthatmeasuresthesatisfactionofconsumersacrosstheUnitedStates.Manylocal,state,andfederalagenciesuseForeSeeWebsurveys,whichallowthemtobenchmarkthecustomersatisfactionofgovernmentwebsitesinrelativeterms.ThroughForeSee,EPAWebstaffcanaccessavarietyofstandardandcustomreports.Staffcanalsoanalyzetherawdatawithpowerfultoolsavailableintheahref="/web-analytics/introduction-foresee-measuring-customer-satisfaction#Accessing%20the%20Portal">ForeSeeAnalyticPortal.Learnmorehere. TrackAudienceStatistics EPA'sGoogleAnalyticsStandardIDis UA-32633028-1.Inafuture,EPA'theme',wehopetoembedthisIDautomatically.Bydoingthis,developerscansearchforaStoryMap’sIDwithintheEPA'sGoogleAnalyticssubscription.PleasenotetheEPAgetsdatafromanyonethatembedsthatpropertyID(andtheGoogleAnalyticsorGTMcode)ontheirsite.Thereisnowhitelistor"approveddomainlist"inGoogleAnalytics,butfolkscangetaccesstothedatabyfollowingthesedirections.AdditionalGoogleAnalyticsinformationareprovidedontheAgency’sintranet.IfyourStoryMap(orotherGeoPlatformproduct)isnotembeddedinaniFrameonanEPA.govwebpage,youmustfollowthesedirectionstoaccessthedata. ConsiderSocialMedia SocialmediacanbeeasilyintegratedintoStoryMaps.EPAusessocialmediaapplicationsandplatformstoshareofficialinformationwithawideaudienceonweb-basednetworksthatpeopletrust.Socialmediaisaneffectivewayfortheagencytoreachpeopleandfulfillitsmissiontoeducateandinformthepublicaboutprotectinghumanhealthandtheenvironment.Whendisplayingsocialmediasites,itisimportanttoconsidertheEPA’sOfficeofMultimediasocialmediapoliciesandprocedures,andSection508rules.GuidanceforindividualplatformsisprovidedbytheOfficeofWebCommunications. EmbeddingExternalSites Esriprovidestheflexibilitytolinktoandembedotherwebsites,bothinternalandexternaltotheEPA.WhendisplayingembeddedwebsitesinaStoryMap,developersmustconsiderSection508rulesandadheretoagencywebstandardandpolicies.ExternalsitesaredefinedasconnectionstoanywebsitenotunderthecontrolofEPAoranotherfederalgovernmentagency.Whenlinkingtoanexternalwebsite,usersmustfollowwebpolicyand procedure.ThisincludesbutisnotlimitedtotheExitEPAiconandmustsupportEPA’smission.Embeddedfeaturesalsoknownasiframesallowuserstoembedvideos,documents,maps,andmoreinthe.Whenusingiframes,itisimportanttoconsiderlimitingthenumberperwebpage.Havingmorethanonecancompromisetheperformanceofthepagebyslowingtheresponsetime. FinalApprovalofPublicStoryMaps StoryMaps,likeallothernewwebcontent,mustgothroughtheappropriatereviewsbeforetheycanbepublished.UseoftheEPAStoryMapthemeisstronglyencouragedtohelpensurethatrequiredelementsareincludedinyourStoryMap. FinalStoryMapApproval EmergencyResponseStoryMaps StoryMapsdevelopedaspartofanemergencyresponsemayfollowanexpeditedand/orabbreviatedreviewprocess. PleasenotifyOWCwhenERStoryMapsarepublished. OWCandOPAwilltypicallycompleteapost-publicationreviewwithin60daysofpublication.  SubmittheStoryMaplinktoyourWebCouncilmember, PublicAffairsDirectorand/orCommunicationsDirector. IfyouareinanORDlab,contactyourlab'swebandcommunicationsleadbeforeyousubmitthedraftforreview. OnceyourWebCouncilmemberandPublicAffairsDirector/CommunicationsDirector have reviewedandapproved,youshouldnotify OWCviatheStoryMapApprovalformtoseektheirfinalreview. OWCwillreviewyourStoryMapandemailyouwithanycomments, CC:ing yourWebCouncilmemberandatleastoneofyourGeoplatformAdministrators.Youshouldtypicallyreceivethisemailwithinaweek. Please contacttheOfficeofWebCommunication(OWC) ifyoudonotreceiveareplytoyourreviewrequestwithinatendays. OWCwillreviewyourStoryMapforthefollowing: Ensurethatit supportsthegoalsofthecurrentadministration AdherencetotheStoryMaprequirementsonthispage Adherenceto EPAWebStandards Section508compliancerequirementsforStoryMaps OnceOWC'scommentshavebeenincorporated,letOWCknow.  FollowingOWCreview,OPAleadershipwillperformafinalreview.Oncethisiscomplete,youarereadytopublish! PleasecontactoneormoreofyourGeoplatformAdministratorswhowillensurethat allthecomponentsofyourproduct(StoryMap,webmap,featurelayers,etc.)includethestandardmetadatadescribedinthe EPAStyleGuideforDocumentingGeoPlatformOnlineContentItems andtheywillguideyouthroughthemechanicsofmakingitemspublic. MaintainYourStoryMap ThecontentofStoryMapsmustbemaintainedandkeptuptodatejustlikeanyotherEPAwebcontent. StoryMapsaresubjecttoreviewscheduleforpublicEPAwebcontentasoutlinedin EPA'sProcedure:WebContentTypesandReview.  Pleasebesuretomaintainyourmapandwebpagesothatitcontinuestobeusefulandrelevanttoyouraudience. AswithallEPApublicwebcontent,StoryMapsshouldbeunpublishedwhentheycease tobeusefulorrelevant. ThereisnowaytoarchiveStoryMapsatthistime.  ContactUstoaskaquestion,providefeedback,orreportaproblem. LastupdatedonSeptember1,2022