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Coal Fields of the Conterminous United States: National Coal Resource Assessment Updated Version

Frequently anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How should this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
• How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
  1. How well have the observations been checked?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
• Who wrote the metadata?

What does this data set describe?

1. How should this data set be cited?

   East, Joseph A., 2013, Coal Fields of the Conterminous United States: National Coal Resource Assessment Updated Version: Open File Report 2012/1205, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

   Online Links:

   • <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1205>

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -124.733174

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -66.949831

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 49.384359

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 24.544089

3. What does it look like?

4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

   Calendar_Date: 2013

   Currentness_Reference: publication date

5. What is the general form of this data set?

   Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
   1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):

      • G-polygon

   2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.000278. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.000278. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees.

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.0.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222.
      

7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   EIA_Coal_Production_dd

   State Shape outlines containing coal production information. (Source: this report)

   FID

   Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)

   Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

   Shape

   Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)

   Coordinates defining the features.

   STATE_NAME

   State for which other attributes apply (Source: FIPS 6-4)

   Unabbreviated state names

   2009

   Coal production for year 2009 (Source: United States Energy Information Administration (2010))

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	431107
   Units:	short tons

   2008

   Coal production for year 2008 (Source: United States Energy Information Administration (2010))

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	467644
   Units:	short tons

   2007

   Coal production for year 2007 (Source: United States Energy Information Administration (2010))

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	453568
   Units:	short tons

   2006

   Coal production for year 2006 (Source: United States Energy Information Administration (2010))

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	446742
   Units:	short tons

   2005

   Coal production for year 2005 (Source: United States Energy Information Administration (2010))

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	404319
   Units:	short tons

   2004

   Coal production for year 2004 (Source: United States Energy Information Administration (2010))

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	396493
   Units:	short tons

   2003

   Coal production for year 2003 (Source: United States Energy Information Administration (2010))

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	376270
   Units:	short tons

   2002

   Coal production for year 2002 (Source: United States Energy Information Administration (2010))

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	373161
   Units:	short tons

   2001

   Coal production for year 2001 (Source: United States Energy Information Administration (2010))

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	368749
   Units:	short tons

   2000

   Coal production for year 2000 (Source: United States Energy Information Administration (2010))

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	338900
   Units:	short tons

   1999

   Coal production for year 1999 (Source: United States Energy Information Administration (2010))

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	337119
   Units:	short tons

   1998

   Coal production for year 1998 (Source: United States Energy Information Administration (2010))

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	314409
   Units:	short tons

   1997

   Coal production for year 1997 (Source: United States Energy Information Administration (2010))

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	281881
   Units:	short tons

   1996

   Coal production for year 1996 (Source: United States Energy Information Administration (2010))

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	278440
   Units:	short tons

   1995

   Coal production for year 1995 (Source: United States Energy Information Administration (2010))

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	263822
   Units:	short tons

   1994

   Coal production for year 1994 (Source: United States Energy Information Administration (2010))

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	237092
   Units:	short tons

   1993

   Coal production for year 1993 (Source: United States Energy Information Administration (2010))

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	210129
   Units:	short tons

   1992

   Coal production for year 1992 (Source: United States Energy Information Administration (2010))

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	190172
   Units:	short tons

   1991

   Coal production for year 1991 (Source: United States Energy Information Administration (2010))

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	193854
   Units:	short tons

   1990

   Coal production for year 1990 (Source: United States Energy Information Administration (2010))

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	184249
   Units:	short tons

   1986

   Coal production for year 1986 (Source: nited States Energy Information Administration (2010))

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	153933
   Units:	short tons

   1985

   Coal production for year 1985 (Source: nited States Energy Information Administration (2010))

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	149929
   Units:	short tons

Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • Joseph A. East

2. Who also contributed to the data set?

   Technical reviews for this publication were provided by Leslie Ruppert, Christopher Garrity, Susan Tewalt, Lee Osmonson, James Luppens and James Coleman.

3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   Joseph A. East
   U.S. Geological Survey
   Geologist
   MS 956 National Center
   Reston, VA 20192
   U.S.A
   

   703-648-6450 (voice)
   703-648-6419 (FAX)
   jeast@usgs.gov
   

   Hours_of_Service: 7:00AM - 3:30PM

   Contact_Instructions: Preferred contact method is electronic mail.

Why was the data set created?

This dataset was compiled to show the current amount of coal being produced by each state in the update of the Coal Fields of the Conterminous United States, OFR 96-092 (Tully, 1996).

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

   National Atlas (2005) (source 1 of 2)

   National Atlas of the United States, 2005, State Boundaries of the United States: National Atlas of the United States.

   Online Links:

   • <http://nationalatlas.gov/atlasftp.html?openChapters=chpbound#chpbound>

   Type_of_Source_Media: ESRI Shapefile

   Source_Scale_Denominator: 2000000

   Source_Contribution: Offical United States outlines

   Department of Energy (2010) (source 2 of 2)

   United States Energy Information Administration, 2010, Annual Coal Report 2009: Annual Coal Report DOE/EIA-0584(2009).

   Type_of_Source_Media: table

   Source_Contribution: Coal production information by year

2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

   Date: 22-Apr-2010 (process 1 of 1)

   The coal_production shapefile was created by merging tabular data with the National Atlas outline of the States. The shapefile for the states was downloaded from the National Atlas website, and decompressed. Attributes that were not necessary for this shapefile were deleted. Attribute columns for the years 2009-1990 were created, along with individual numbers for 1986 and 1985. The values for state production were then entered into the proper columns based on state and year of production.

   Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Joseph A. East
   U.S. Geological Survey
   Geologist
   MS 956 National Center
   Reston, VA 20192
   U.S.A
   

   703-648-6450 (voice)
   703-648-6419 (FAX)
   jeast@usgs.gov
   

3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

1. How well have the observations been checked?

   Attribute accuracy was tested by manual comparison of the source with the attribute tables of the states.

2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

   The shapefile is based on the outline of the states produced by the National Atlas (2005) The metadata for the shapefile does not include Horizontal Positional Accuracy information, but it is assumed that it is within standards of the FGDC.

3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

   Data set complete. No data were intentionally omitted from the hard copy and digital source maps.

5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

   Map was compiled by adding attributes to existing National Atlas State Boundaries of the United States shapefile.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None

Use_Constraints:

This digital publication was prepared by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed in this report, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference therein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. Any views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Although all data published in this Open-File Report have been used by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to the accuracy of the data and related materials and/or the functioning of the software. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in the use of these data, software, or related materials. Graphical map depictions are intended to be used within the map scale limits applicable to the source data. Although software enables the user to view data at various scales, the user is cautioned to refer to the source documentation for the appropriate map scale limitations.

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
   USGS Information Services
   Box 25286
   Denver, CO 80225
   U.S.A.
   

   1-888-ASK-USGS (voice)
   303-202-4693 (FAX)
   <http://store.usgs.gov/>
   

2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

   USGS OFR 2012-1205

3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   This digital publication was prepared by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed in this report, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference therein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. Any views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Although all data published in this Open-File Report have been used by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to the accuracy of the data and related materials and/or the functioning of the software. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in the use of these data, software, or related materials. Graphical map depictions are intended to be used within the map scale limits applicable to the source data. Although software enables the user to view data at various scales, the user is cautioned to refer to the source documentation for the appropriate map scale limitations.

4. How can I download or order the data?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	Coal field polygons with associated characteristics in format shapefile (version 1.0) Size: 220 megabytes
     Network links:	<http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1205/Downloads/GIS.zip>

   • Cost to order the data: None

5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?

   ArcGIS Desktop 9.X is required to open the map document

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 10-Jul-2013

Metadata author:

Joseph A. East
U.S. Geological Survey
Geologist
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA 20192
U.S.A

703-648-6450 (voice)
703-648-6419 (FAX)
jeast@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:

Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)