This problem seems to be specific to requests to the MassGIS WMS server at:
http://maps.massgis.state.ma.us:8080/mapaccess/main.jsp
Some layers have scale dependent visibility, but if MapServer requests a layer
at a scale at which the layer is not available it returns an error rather than
not returning an image, or returning a blank image. The error message
includes: "Warning: [MapServer Error]: drawEPP(): EPPL7 support is not
available." The complete error message can be seen by running the attached
test script.
Here is the text from the capabilities document that refers to the layer that
is causing the problem:
<Layer queryable="1" opaque="0" noSubsets="0">
<Name>MA Towns Boundaries-towns_poly_axl7</Name>
<Title>MA Towns Boundaries</Title>
<SRS>EPSG:26986</SRS>
<BoundingBox minx="33861.26" miny="777514.31" maxx="330846.09"
maxy="959747.44" srsName="EPSG:26986" />
<ScaleHint min="150000.30000060014" max="" />
</Layer>
The ScaleHint tag gives a clue to why the error occurs, but the nature of the
error message is a mystery to me.
I will attach a mapfile and a script that reproduces the problem. (Thanks to
Paul Spencer for writing the script)