All procedures, standards and guidance sorted by category.
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| Accessibility (Section 508) |
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Translating Web Content into Alternate Languages | Translate materials into other languages when appropriate. | Recommended |
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| Area Setup |
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Area Name | Create area names that reflect the topic and scope of materials. | Required | Ensuring Access to EPA Information on EPA Servers | Use EPA servers for EPA content unless you have a waiver. | Required | Protecting Content during Web Site Development | Keep draft content from being seen by the public. | Required | Title Tag | Create unique title tags for each page. | Required |
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| File Formats |
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Graphic Formats | Use only GIF or JPG graphics. | Required | PDF: When to Use And Document Metadata | Do not publish information in PDF unless the document is more than 5 pages long or meets other criteria. Create document title, author, and other metadata. | Required |
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| Graphics and Multimedia |
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Boxes | Use standard formats for boxes. | Required | Charts (pie, bar, line, etc. - not tables) | Create charts that are easy to understand, provide the data source, and comply with section 508. | Required | Graphic File Size | Reduce graphic file sizes as much as possible; total page size, including graphics, shouldn't exceed 50KB. | Required | Graphic Formats | Use only GIF or JPG graphics. | Required | Graphic Logos | The Office of Public Affairs must approve logos before you may use them. | Required | Graphic Selection and Screen Layout | Graphics must be related to the page's content, sized appropriately, and have text wrapping around them. | Required | Maps of the US | Use standard US and regional maps and associated code. | Required | NEW Icon | Use the standard "NEW" icon and javascript code to highlight important new content. | Required | PDF: When to Use And Document Metadata | Do not publish information in PDF unless the document is more than 5 pages long or meets other criteria. Create document title, author, and other metadata. | Required |
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| Links and Navigation |
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File Not Found (404 Error) Page | Create a custom "file not found" error page, also known as a 404 error page. | Required | Breadcrumbs | Create breadcrumbs from "EPA Home" to the current page. | Required | Regional Bridge Page | When a national Web area is created for a topic, each Region must create a Regional bridge page to serve as the Regional home page and link to national information about that topic. | Required | Contact Us Links and Page | Create a Contact Us page that includes a mailing address, a phone number, and an online form for sending questions or comments. | Required | Email Address Links | Link to people's names and provide email addresses as unlinked text in parentheses. | Required | External Site Links | Develop and apply a consistent rationale for linking outside of EPA's Web site. When creating external links, use the standard icon to link to the standard disclaimer. | Required | Footers | If you create an area footer, use it on every page in that area. | Required | Home Page | Put appropriate information on the home page: a brief introduction to the area and links to the most critical information. | Required | Link Text and Printing URLs | Use accurate text that is long enough to convey where a link goes; use the default link color except in special circumstances. | Required | Maps of the US | Use standard US and regional maps and associated code. | Required | National and Regional Organization | Split up national and regional information and use a look and feel appropriate to the scope. | Required | PDF Links (linking to PDF files) | When you link to PDFs, show the page length, file size, document dimensions (if unusual) and provide contact information when necessary. Remember to include a link to EPA's PDF page. | Required | PDF: When to Use And Document Metadata | Do not publish information in PDF unless the document is more than 5 pages long or meets other criteria. Create document title, author, and other metadata. | Required | Pop-ups | Use pop-ups only when necessary and format them appropriately. | Required | Quick Finder | Please refer to the boxes standard for requirements. | Required | Recent Additions | If you create a Recent Additions page, provide a reverse chronological list and include a link on every page in the area; otherwise remove the link. | Required | Sidebar | Use standard link language and do not use graphics, "Contact Us" links or search boxes in the sidebar. | Required | Table of Contents and Links to "Top of Page" | Create a table of contents and "Top of page" links for long pages. | Required | Where You Live Page | Include a "Where You Live" page in every national Web area to provide links to regional information from the required location in the sidebar. | Required |
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| Page Elements |
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Area Name | Create area names that reflect the topic and scope of materials. | Required | Boxes | Use standard formats for boxes. | Required | Breadcrumbs | Create breadcrumbs from "EPA Home" to the current page. | Required | Contact Us Links and Page | Create a Contact Us page that includes a mailing address, a phone number, and an online form for sending questions or comments. | Required | Footers | If you create an area footer, use it on every page in that area. | Required | Lists | Use standard formats for lists. | Required | Complying with epa.gov “Look and Feel” | Use the standard look and feel. | Required | Page Names | Create a page name that clearly indicates the page's topic. | Required | Quick Finder | Please refer to the boxes standard for requirements. | Required | Recent Additions | If you create a Recent Additions page, provide a reverse chronological list and include a link on every page in the area; otherwise remove the link. | Required | Sidebar | Use standard link language and do not use graphics, "Contact Us" links or search boxes in the sidebar. | Required | Text and Heading Styles | Use default colors and styles specified in the master style sheet. | Required | Title Tag | Create unique title tags for each page. | Required | Table of Contents and Links to "Top of Page" | Create a table of contents and "Top of page" links for long pages. | Required |
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| PDF |
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Boxes | Use standard formats for boxes. | Required | PDF Links (linking to PDF files) | When you link to PDFs, show the page length, file size, document dimensions (if unusual) and provide contact information when necessary. Remember to include a link to EPA's PDF page. | Required | PDF: When to Use And Document Metadata | Do not publish information in PDF unless the document is more than 5 pages long or meets other criteria. Create document title, author, and other metadata. | Required |
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| Required Pages |
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File Not Found (404 Error) Page | Create a custom "file not found" error page, also known as a 404 error page. | Required | Basic Information Page | Provide basic information about a Web area's subject on a page called "Basic Information" | Required | Regional Bridge Page | When a national Web area is created for a topic, each Region must create a Regional bridge page to serve as the Regional home page and link to national information about that topic. | Required | Contact Us Links and Page | Create a Contact Us page that includes a mailing address, a phone number, and an online form for sending questions or comments. | Required | Home Page | Put appropriate information on the home page: a brief introduction to the area and links to the most critical information. | Required | Recent Additions | If you create a Recent Additions page, provide a reverse chronological list and include a link on every page in the area; otherwise remove the link. | Required | Thank You Page | Create a "thank you" page for every form. | Required | Where You Live Page | Include a "Where You Live" page in every national Web area to provide links to regional information from the required location in the sidebar. | Required |
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| Scripts and Codes |
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Frames | Do not use frames. | Required | Javascript | Do not rely solely on Javascript for critical functions or to provide crucial information. | Required | NEW Icon | Use the standard "NEW" icon and javascript code to highlight important new content. | Required | New Browser Windows | Avoid opening new browser windows. | Required | Pop-ups | Use pop-ups only when necessary and format them appropriately. | Required |
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| Things to Avoid |
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Frames | Do not use frames. | Required | New Browser Windows | Avoid opening new browser windows. | Required | Pop-ups | Use pop-ups only when necessary and format them appropriately. | Required | Timeless Text | Write timeless text to clarify when actions were taken or documents were posted; avoid words like today, recently, etc. | Required |
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| Writing and Style |
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Home Page | Put appropriate information on the home page: a brief introduction to the area and links to the most critical information. | Required | Link Text and Printing URLs | Use accurate text that is long enough to convey where a link goes; use the default link color except in special circumstances. | Required | Lists | Use standard formats for lists. | Required | National and Regional Organization | Split up national and regional information and use a look and feel appropriate to the scope. | Required | Text and Heading Styles | Use default colors and styles specified in the master style sheet. | Required | Timeless Text | Write timeless text to clarify when actions were taken or documents were posted; avoid words like today, recently, etc. | Required | Writing Style | Follow EPA's writing style standards. If our standards are silent on an issue, follow the Associated Press Stylebook. | Required | Scannable Text | Lay pages out so they are easy to scan. | Recommended | Translating Web Content into Alternate Languages | Translate materials into other languages when appropriate. | Recommended |