[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 141 (Monday, July 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43063-43064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17600]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Affirmation of Vertical Datum for Surveying and Mapping 
Activities for the Territory of Puerto Rico

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This Notice announces a decision by the Federal Geographic 
Data Committee's Federal Geodetic Control Subcommittee in accordance 
with the Office of Management and Budget, Circular A-16 (http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/a016/a016.html), to affirm the Puerto 
Rico Vertical Datum of 2002 (PRVD02) as the official civilian vertical 
datum for surveying and mapping activities for the islands of Puerto 
Rico, Culebra, Mona and Vieques of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and 
to the extent practicable, legally allowable and feasible, require that 
all Federal agencies, with the exception of those with specific 
military related applications, using or producing vertical height 
information undertake an orderly transition to PRVD02.

DATES: Individuals or organizations wishing to submit comments on the 
adoption of PRVD02 as the official civilian vertical datum for the 
Territory of Puerto Rico, which includes the islands of Puerto Rico, 
Culebra, Vieques, and Mona, should do so by August 22, 2012.

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, 8815, 
Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910, fax 301-713-4324, or via email 
[email protected].

[[Page 43064]]


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, 8815, Silver 
Spring, MD, 20910; Phone: (301) 713-3178.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Ocean Service (NOS), National 
Geodetic Survey (NGS), has completed the definition and implementation 
of PRVD02. PRVD02 supersedes all previously published height systems 
determined by other Federal surveying and mapping agencies on Puerto 
Rico, Culebra, Vieques and Mona, with the exception of those 
specifically related to tidal datums and/or military applications. 
PRVD02 heights are the result of a mathematical least squares general 
adjustment of the vertical control portion of the National Spatial 
Reference System (NSRS) and are derived from approximately 700 km of 
Double-Run, 1st-Oder, Class II geodetic leveling observations (650 km 
on Puerto Rico, 5 km on Culebra and 45 km on Vieques) undertaken 
specifically for this project. The basis for all PRVD02 heights is 
Local Mean Sea Level, for the National Tidal Datum Epoch 1983-2001, as 
determined by the NOS Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and 
Services (CO-OPS), and published as part of the National Water Level 
Observation Network (NWLON) for bench marks designated 975 5371 A TIDAL 
(PID TV1513) (1.334 meters), located at La Puntilla, San Juan Puerto 
Rico, 975 2235 D (PID DN8624) (0.973 meters), located on Culebra 
Island, 975 2695 A (PID DN8535) (1.962 meters), located at Esperanza, 
Vieques Island, and 975 9938 A (1.158 meters) (PID DN8596) on Mona 
Island. No leveling is planned for Mona Island; however this value 
serves as the datum definition for any further geodetic surveying that 
may be conducted there.
    PRVD02 height information for individual geodetic control monuments 
is available in digital form, from the NGS Web site: http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/datasheet.prl.

    Dated: July 10, 2012.
Juliana P. Blackwell,
Director, Office of National Geodetic Survey, National Ocean Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-17600 Filed 7-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-JE-P