Metadata for Basic Pages

Metadata is required for any page published through Drupal WebCMS. 

Related Information

On this Page: 

Title

Metadata tag: “DC.title”

Title is not a required metadata field when you edit content in Drupal WebCMS.   Drupal WebCMS automatically creates the metadata title from the page title.  The page title is repeated in microsite breadcrumbs, in the HTML title tag (<title>), and in URLs. 

However, it is still important to create good, descriptive titles as they directly influence search results.  Descriptive titles also promote better link text, another important factor in search results.    See: Improving Page Rank in the Google Search Appliance

Do:

  • Include your most important and/or critical search terms in the page title.
  • Make your title understandable without any other context.

Do Not:

  • Do not use acronyms unless you spell it out within the description or keyword fields.

Title Examples:

Title

Why?

Good

Grant Application Forms for Brownfields

Provides context ("for Brownfields") and critical search terms (“grant,” “forms”)

Bad

Grants

No context.

Good

Addressing Asbestos at Superfund Sites

Uses critical search terms (“asbestos”, “superfund”) which also provide context.

Bad

Asbestos Cleanups

Technical language (“cleanups”) may be unfamiliar to audience.

 

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Description

Metadata tag: “DC.description”

Do:

  • Write a short statement, one to two sentences long, describing the content on your page.  Be specific to your page's topic and provide context so that users will select your link from their RSS feeds or search results.  Highlight key concepts or issues.
    • Poor: "This page is..."
    • Better: "Water pollution is..." (because it uses two key search terms)
  • Include important search terms not already in your title.
  • Check your first paragraph - you have probably already written a good description of your content, and can edit it for length and key search terms.

Do Not:

  • Do not exactly copy the title into the description field.
  • Do not use the same description for every page in a web area.

Examples:

Description

Why?

Good

As part of efforts to improve preparedness and the ability to respond to terrorist attacks, EPA has been called upon to play a strategic role in homeland security

Provides context beyond the page title, includes key terms ("preparedness", "terrorist").

Bad

EPA Homeland Security

Repeats page title.

Good

Learn about carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gases, and how human activities add greenhouse gases to our atmosphere

Includes important search terms too long for thetitle field.

Bad

This page is about greenhouse gas emissions.

Provides very little context, and almost no searchable terms. Does not differentiate this page from any other GHG content on www. epa.gov

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Keywords

Metadata tag: “keywords”

Your most critical, important search terms should be in your title and your description.  Keywords are the additional terms that your users may employ to search for this page.   Read more about keywords and search engines..

Do:

  • Pull keywords from the actual text of your content.  Look for terms in your headings, table of contents, anchor links, introductory paragraphs, etc.
  • Remember, your most important terms belong in the title and/or description.
  • Be selective with keywords.   In most cases, ten or less keywords per document are sufficient.
  • Separate keywords with a comma.

Do not:

  • Do not repeat terms from the title or description.
  • Do not create keywords for every possible combination of terms, or for capitalization, plurals, etc.
  • Do not use the same keywords for entire set of pages in a web area or TSSMS.
  • Do not use general terms, such as “EPA” and “environment”.

Examples:

Keywords

Why?

Good

LUST, leaking, gas station

Critical terms from the actual content of the page.

Bad

underground, underground storage, underground storage tanks, Underground Storage Tanks, UST, USTS, usts, gas, gas station, environment, environmental

Redundant to both the title and description, and also to the entire EPA.gov site (“environment”).

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Type

Metadata tag: “DC.type”

Indicates the type of information that your page contains and ties it to EPA’s content review schedule.  Read more about type. 

Do:

  • You can only choose one type for each page.
  • Read the scope notes below to determine the type best describing the majority of content on your page.
    • Landing pages, index pages, and/or home pages are most likely to be “Collections & Lists”.  These pages typically provide very little in-depth content. 
    • If your page is a factsheet that includes some contact information, the type is "Overviews & Factsheets" not "Contact Information".
    • If you have written guidance that includes a short introduction or overview of the issue, your type is “Policies & Guidance” not “Overviews & Factsheets.”

Do Not:

  • Do not apply Overview & Factsheets to every page in a web area.

Types: 

Type

Scope Note

Announcements & Schedules

News, news releases, calendars, comment schedules, meeting agendas, Requests for Proposals, job announcements, etc.

Collections & Lists

Lists of links, bibliographies, recommended resource lists, hubs, etc.

Contact Information

A list of the addresses, phone/FAX numbers, and affiliations of a specific individual, groups of people, companies, organizations, publications, etc. May include additional information such as professional titles or credentials.

Data & Tools

Models, methods, maps, data files, databases, glossaries, software, tutorials, etc.

Overviews & Factsheets

Factsheets, Frequent Questions pages, Basic Information pages, etc.

Policies & Guidance

Internal and external policies, guidance and guidelines related to agency operations and/or regulatory compliance & enforcement. Includes proposed rules, MOUs, Judicial Decisions, International Agreements, etc.

Reports & Assessments

In-depth information, toxicity assessments, budgets, strategic plans, conference proceedings, etc.

Speeches, Testimony & Transcripts

A written record of dictated or recorded speech. Includes correspondence.

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Channel

Metadata tag:“DC.Subject.epachannel”

Channels are content distribution and publication channels for the top level of EPA’s Information Architecture.  Read more about channels or view EPA Channels in the Web Taxonomy.

Do:

  • Read the scope notes below to determine the channel that best fits your content.
  • Select at least one channel for every page. You can select multiple channels.
  • Apply the channel that best describes the majority of your content.
    • If your page has both scientific and regulatory content, apply both channels. If you have educational content, scientific content, and information about the Agency, apply three channels.
    • If all four channels apply, you may want to re-think the content on your page. 

Do Not:

  • Do not apply "Learn the Issues" to every page unless that content is actually appropriate to that channel. Content that is specific to "Laws & Regulations" should not also be tagged "Learn the Issues."

EPA Channels:

Channel Name

Scope Notes

Laws & Regulations

Materials and content related to the legal and regulatory responsibilities and programs of the agency. Including, but not limited to, compliance and enforcement activities, guidance, regulatory development, permitting programs, etc.

Science & Technology

Materials, tools and content and related to the scientific, technical and research activities of the agency. Including, but not limited to, methods, models, research programs and plans, laboratories, software and databases, science products, etc.

Learn the Issues

Educational and consumer information as well as general or basic information related to all topics. Including, but not limited to, health and safety information, environmental emergency information and contacts, household management information (e.g. energy efficiency, recycling and waste reduction, chemical use and storage info, etc.), local information, etc.

About EPA

Information about the agency itself. Including, but not limited to, information about its leadership, its organization, its budget, its strategic plans, etc.

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Taxonomy Topics and Facets

Multiple metadata tags, see table below.

The EPA Web Taxonomy allows audiences easy access to relevant information from EPA programs, by using a common vocabulary to describe EPA web content.   The web taxonomy is organized into multiple facets, arranged hierarchically (see table below).   Read more about the Web Taxonomy.

Do:

  • Lookup terms and descriptions first in the Web Taxonomy or search across all facets and topics in the Web Taxonomy Search
  • Choose terms that are as broad or narrow as the content dictates. 
  • Choose terms that describe a significant portion of the content. 

Do Not:

  • Leave all topics and facets blank.  At least one topic or one facet should apply to the page.
  • Do not choose terms that are only somewhat related to the page content or are about the web area in general.

Taxonomy Topics and Facets

Topic/Facet 

Name and Link

Metadata Tag

Subtopics and facets

Topic

Cooperation and Assistance

DC.Subject.epacat

Advising & consulting, community assistance, environmental justice, financial assistance, international cooperation, partnerships

Topic

Emergencies and Cleanup

DC.Subject.epaect

 Cleanup processes, cleanup sites, accidents, emergency management, natural disasters

Topic

Environmental Media

DC.Subject.epaemt

Air, soils & land, species, water, wastewater, water pollution

Topic

Health

DC.Subject.epahealth

Human health conditions or concerns, food safety, health effects, special populations

Topic

Pollution Prevention

DC.Subject.epappt

Conservation, energy efficiency, fuel economy, pollution prevention, renewable energy, sustainable development, waste reduction

Topic

Regulatory and Industrial

DC.Subject.eparit

Compliance & enforcement, permitting programs, regulated facilities, regulatory development, substances management,

Topic

 Research, Analysis and Technology

DC.Subject.eparat

Environmental technology, research & analysis

Topic

EPA Operations

DC. Subject.epaopt

Budget, facilities management, human resrouces management, information management, legal services, legislative & intergovernmental relations, standards for government conduct, technology management, travel

Facet

Audience

DC.audience

Community organizers & educators, concerned citizens & students, kids, regulated community, research & technology community

Facet

Geographic Locations

 DC.coverage

International regions, United States, Territories, Water Bodies

Facet

Substances

DC.Subject.epasubstance

Chemicals, consumer products, fuels, human health disruptors, munitions, pesticides, pollutants & contaminants, radiation & radioactive substances, wastes

Facet

Environmental Laws, Regulations and Treaties

DC.Subject.eparegulation

Executive orders, judicial decisions, regulations, statutes, treaties & agreements

Facet

Industries

DC.Subject.epaindustrty

Agriculture, banking, construction, manufacturing, mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, real estate, service industries, transportation and warehousing, utilities, waste management & remediation

Facet

Agency Function

DC.subject.epabrm

Management of government resources, mode of delivery, services for citizens, support delivery of services

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