Page 17 - NYS_ESS_11-2024

[ short takes ]

PLSS Foundation Unveils New Website
Frederick, Maryland – October 10th, 2024
On the eve of the release of the 2009 Manual of Surveying Instruction
for the Survey of the Public Lands of the United States, the Public
Land Survey System Foundation (PLSSF) was created through a
partnership between the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the
National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS). Then and now,
New Law Updates New York State’s Application the foundation’s guiding purpose was to support the education of
and Renewal Process for Licensees the survey profession in the proper legal procedures associated with

Bill A7716A/S06112-A, sponsored by Assemblywoman Hyndman retracing PLSS surveys and other Federal boundaries.
and Senator Stavisky, was signed into law by Governor Hochul on Additional goals include:
September 27, 2024. This law updates Section 6502 of the • *The creation of a single point of contact for surveyors in
Education Law, which required NYS Education Department’s Office the United States for knowledge and information about
of Professions (OP) to physically mail a paper registration the PLSS;
application at least 4 months prior to a licensee’s registration • *To fund educational opportunities, scholarships, and other
period ending. However, the OP also uses an email address to notify training for the improvement of the survey profession as it
licensees where one has been provided. The email notice contains relates to PLSS issues;
all the same information as the paper application, plus directs the • *To fund projects for research or special efforts related to
licensee to the online registration system. PLSS issues; and

Approximately 95% of licensees across 55 professions currently • *To publish additional BLM materials which are of interest
complete the registration process online and pay by credit card, to the private and public sector surveying community but
rather than sending, a check and paper application. With the for which BLM has no budget to produce.
former paper registration mailing procedures, the State was Via https://plssfoundation.org, the foundation has made available
sending 25,000 to 28,000 mailings to licensees each month or a (for a fee) three initial professional development courses, including
total of 300,000 to 336,000 mailings per year. The annual cost for Accretions, Avulsions and Relictions in the Public Land Survey
printing and postage for such mailing is approximately $250,000 System. The courses, previously available only to Certified Federal
and roughly 24,000 applications are returned for having an Surveyors (CFedS), are now available to anyone that wishes to further
incorrect address which was provided by the applicant. their understanding of water boundaries within the PLSS.
With this new law, an emailed notice will be the default notice Glen Thurow, Certified Federal Surveyor (CFedS) program liaison,
utilized by the State. The notice will be sent 4 months prior to a remarked: “It is my belief that professional land surveyors
licensee’s registration expiration. For any licensee who has not nationwide will find this material interesting. After all, it is an
registered 45 days prior to the end of their registration period, the excellent example of the kind of training CFedS receive and enjoy
on an ongoing basis.”
Department will mail a paper application. Additionally, if a licensee
has not provided an email to OP, a paper application will be mailed; About the PLSS Foundation Panel
paper applications are also available upon request. Made up of nine volunteer surveyors, the PLSSF panel is committed
to preserving the United States’ unique cadastral infrastructure
through the support and study of the PLSS. To contact the panel or
suggest an idea, please visit https://plssfoundation.org/contact/.

EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 60 • NO 6 2024 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 15