[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 70575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-6026]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Publication of North American Datum of 1983 State Plane 
Coordinates in Feet in Maine

AGENCY: National Geodetic Survey (NGS), National Ocean Service (NOS), 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) will publish North American 
Datum of 1983 (NAD 83) State Plane Coordinate (SPC) grid values in both 
meters and U.S. Survey Feet (1 ft = 1200/3937 m) in Maine, for all well 
defined geodetic survey control monuments maintained by NGS in the 
National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) and computed from various 
geodetic positioning utilities. The adoption of this standard is 
implemented in accordance with NGS policy and a request from the Maine 
Department of Transportation, the Maine Society of Land Surveyors, and 
the Maine GIS Stakeholders.

DATES: Individuals or organizations wishing to submit comments on the 
Publication of North American Datum of 1983 State Plan Coordinates in 
feet in Maine, should do by January 11, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to the attention of David 
Doyle, Chief Geodetic Surveyor, Office of the National Geodetic Survey, 
National Ocean Service (N/NGS2) 1315 East-West Highway, Silvery Spring, 
Maryland, 20910, fax 301-713-4324, or via e-mail [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to David Doyle, Chief Geodetic Surveyor, National 
Geodetic Survey (N/NGS2), 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 
20910; Phone: (301) 713-3178.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Abstract

    IN 1991, NGS adopted a policy that defines the conditions under 
which NAD 83 State Plane Coordinates (SPCs) would be published in feet 
in addition to meters. As outlined in that policy, each state or 
territory must adopt NAD 83 legislation (typically referenced as Codes, 
Laws or Statutes), which specifically defines a conversion to either 
U.S. Survey or International Feet as defined by the U.S. Bureau of 
Standards in Federal Register Notice 59-5442. To date, 48 states have 
adopted the NAD 83 legislation however, for various reasons, only 33 
included a specific definition of the relationship between meters and 
feet. This lack of uniformity has led to confusion and misuse of SPCs 
as provided in various NGS products, services and tools, and created 
errors in mapping, charting and surveying programs in numerous states 
due to inconsistent coordinate conversions.

    Dated: December 3, 2007.
David B. Zilkoski,
Director, Office of National Geodetic Survey, National Ocean Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 07-6026 Filed 12-11-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-JE-M