April 2006 Government Affairs Update

 

IN THIS ISSUE …

Federal Prison Industries Reform Update

Sending A/E Services Offshore

USGS Update

New Legislation affecting the FEMA Map Modernization Project

H. Res. 518 National Surveyor’s Week Resolution --- Final Push

AAR Replies to STB Rulemaking Comments

 

Federal Prison Industries Reform Update.

The Federal Prison Industries Reform legislation, H.R. 2965, is still being considered by the House of Representatives. It was temporarily stalled when an amendment was proposed which would require a two-year study on Federal Prison Industries, including the effect it has on the rehabilitation of prisoners. While the two-year study would be going on, no reform of the way Federal Prison Industries would take place. It now appears that there are enough votes to defeat the amendment, however, the Department of Justice has recently weighed in with concerns about the legislation. The Attorney General submitted 8 modifications to H.R. 2965 he would like to see. The sponsors of H.R. 2965 as well as the members of the Federal Prison Industries Reform Coalition are considering the proposed modifications. ACSM received a copy of the proposed modifications and they will be discussed at the Joint Government Affairs Committee meeting in Orlando. The next possible date for consideration of H.R. 2965 by the House Judiciary Committee is April 29.

 

Sending A/E Services Offshore.

COFPAES staff recently met with Bradley Knox, Chief Counsel for the House Small Business Committee to discuss the issue of sending A/E work offshore. Laurence Socci stated ACSM’s position on the issue as being opposed to offshoring the creation of data or production of work for which professional oversight is required. Additionally, ACSM is opposed to outsourcing sensitive information related to land use and ownership. This is very similar to our involvement in Federal Prison Industries Reform. In the case of FPI reform, we are concerned with federal prisoners having access to sensitive land use data. In the case of sending A/E services offshore, we are concerned with sensitive data falling into the wrong hands and that there would not be professional oversight to the use of the data. Mr. Knox suggested that a request be made to the General Accounting Office to do a study on the issue and report back to Congress. Also, a hearing on the issue is tentatively scheduled for May 17.

 

USGS Update

The USGS Coalition met recently with Acting USGS Associate Director for Geology, Linda Gundersen and USGS Associate Director for Geospatial Information, Karen Siderelis. Siderelis gave a background of the USGS Geospatial Office, which was established in 2000. The responsibility of the GIO includes information technology and security; science information and education; and the National Geospatial Program. The GIO is facing a number of challenges, but one of the important challenges is drawing a line between allowing public access to geospatial data and keeping the data secure from unauthorized usage.

Siderelis also discussed the National Geospatial Program Office. The office will continue to house the National Map, Geospatial One Stop and the Federal Geographic Data Committee and its responsibilities continue to be to provide leadership and guidance to key stakeholders and to implement key components of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure.

The other topic of discussion was the reauthorization of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program. This program, which is in all 50 states, consists of a geologic mapping component, a program that has provided over $60 million to state geologic surveys through a competitive grant process and a training program for the next generation of geologic mappers. More than 600 students at over 130 universities have received funds through this competitive grant program.

 

New Legislation affecting the FEMA Map Modernization Project

Laurence Socci met recently with Ken Kilber and Kris Sarri of Senator Jack Reed’s staff to discuss the Senator’s legislation affecting the FEMA Map Modernization program, S. 2005, the National Flood Mapping Act of 2005. The legislation Congressionally authorizes the Map Modernization project; as it stands now, it is a FEMA controlled project. It requires the Director of FEMA to cooperate with state and local mapping partners in establishing, updating and maintaining flood risk zone data. It requires flood insurance rate maps and other related information to be made available on the FEMA website in a format that is digital and geospatial data-compliant.

The legislation also reauthorizes the Technical Mapping Advisory Council and directs it to make recommendations to the Director of FEMA with respect to (1) performance metrics and milestones to effectively and efficiently map flood risk areas; and (2) procedures for delegating mapping activities to state and local government mapping partners. It requires the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, acting through FEMA, to establish a program for review, updating and maintenance of National Flood Insurance Program rate maps.

Finally, the legislation authorizes $400 million for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2012 for the carrying out of the program. Currently, the program is operating on $200 million per year and is scheduled to end in 2010.

 

H. Res. 518 National Surveyor’s Week Resolution --- Final Push

The House version of the National Surveyor’s Week Resolution, H. Res. 518 is still working its way through the House of Representatives. The Senate passed its version in January. H. Res. 518 recently passed the House Government Affairs Committee by unanimous consent and now waits to be brought up to the full House for consideration. We were recently told by the staff of Representative Adam Putnam (R-FL), who is sponsoring the resolution along with Representative Benny Thompson (D-MS) that they would like to see more co-sponsors on the resolution before it is brought up to the full House. ACSM members can help push the resolution forward by contacting their Congressional Representative and asking him or her to co-sponsor H. Res. 518, the National Surveyor’s Week Resolution and to support it when it comes up for consideration in the House of Representatives.

 

AAR Replies to STB Rulemaking Comments

The Association of American Railroads recently submitted reply comments in connection with the Surface Transportation Board’s “Advance Notice of Rulemaking”. Of particular note, is their comments directed at the submitted comments by ACSM. The AAR comments state: “The American Congress on Surveying and Mapping filed comments making various suggestions concerning the surveying and recording of track locations in abandonment cases. These suggestions closely resemble those proposed by the same organization and rejected by the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) in ICC Ex Parte 511, Petition for Rulemaking, Protection of Surveying Benchmarks in Railroad Abandonments (ICC served June 20, 1995). In that decision, the ICC denied the petition of this group to institute a rulemaking on its proposals. The reasons for not adopting the proposals remain valid today.”

ACSM will review AAR’s full Reply Comments, as well as those of organizations, but we want to know what ACSM members think about this issue. Please send us you comments and thoughts about the monumentation of abandoned railroad tracks. We’ll use those comments as we move forward on this issue.