September
2004 Government Affairs Update
IN THIS ISSUE …
1.
Flood Map Modernization
Update
2.
Meeting with DHS Program
Analysis Team
3.
ACSM/NSPS Mapping Exhibit
4.
USGS Coalition Reception
5.
Federal Agency Speakers at
JGAC October Meeting
Flood Map Modernization Update. There is a new name for
the plan that FEMA has to implement its Map Mod Program. It is now called FEMA’s Multi-Year Flood Hazard Identification Plan (MHIP).
The name of the overall program remains the Multi-Hazard Flood Map
Modernization Program. The MIHP has not yet been released because FEMA is
awaiting approval from Congress. After approval is received, information about
the MHIP will be distributed and will be posted to the Flood Hazard Mapping
website. FEMA’s Flood Hazard Mapping website is located
at: http://hazards.fema.gov.
In
other news, Laurence Socci met recently with the Flood Map Coalition to discuss
concerns about the path that the Multi-Hazard Flood Map Modernization Program
is going. The meeting was called by the Association of State Floodplain Mangers
(ASFPM). Among the concerns brought to the table by ASFPM were that FEMA’s Multi-Year Flood Hazard Identification Plan (MHIP)
is based on a number of factors with population of the community one of the highest
factors. They also feel that FEMA should be looking more closely at topographic
maps and focus on streams in communities.
The coalition also observed that FEMA plans to digitize current maps in
many cases (though not all cases) and simply put a new, current date on the
digitized map.
Meeting with DHS Program
Analysis Team. Laurence
Socci and Curt Sumner, along with representatives of NGS, met recently with
members of the Department of Homeland Security Program Analysis Team to discuss
ACSM’s concerns with FEMA’s
Multi-Hazard Flood Map Modernization Program. The Program Analysis Team
initiated contact with ACSM. Curt gave an excellent background of the program
and ACSM’s involvement in it. He talked about the
reasons why surveyors are interested in the program, the certification program
taking place in North Carolina, the accepted datum and link between the Map Mod
Program and Height Modernization and finally, ACSM’s
concerns with the program. Among the concerns we raised were: (1) the accuracy
of the digitized maps; (2) the fact that most areas of the country will not be
re-mapped, but rather, old maps will be digitized; (3) the continued federal
funding for the project at the current level; (4) that the datum standards for
the digitized maps would not be NAVD 88; and finally (5) a concern about the
speed that the project was moving along.
The
Program Analysis Team asked a number of questions and seemed concerned about
the problems we discussed.
ACSM/NSPS Mapping Exhibit. The ACSM Mapping Exhibit at
the Library of Congress is moving forward. ACSM members and staff are working
closely with the Library of Congress to find maps for the exhibit from ACSM map
competition winners that are archived at the Library. Another part of the
exhibit will be surveys of a tract of land originally surveyed by George
Washington and following it via surveys plats to its present state. We have
ideas for the geodesy, cartography and GIS parts of the exhibit, but
we are still working out the details. We are shooting to have the exhibit open in
late April 2005.
*WE
ARE STILL LOOKING FOR FINANCIAL HELP TO MAKE THIS EXHIBIT A REALITY. WE’VE
RECEIVED A NUMBER OF DONATIONS, BUT WE ARE STILL BEHIND IN OUR GOAL. ANY
DONATION YOU CAN MAKE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.*
USGS Coalition Reception. ACSM recently joined the
USGS Coalition in a reception for Members of Congress and their staff in honor
of the 125th Anniversary of the USGS. All of the disciplines of the
USGS on exhibit and Coalition members were on hand to discuss how the USGS
affects their member organizations. Attendees also learned about a Resolution
being sponsored by Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) which commemorates the USGS on its 125th
Anniversary.
Federal Agency Speakers at
JGAC October Meeting. Speakers from various federal agencies were invited to speak in
the afternoon portion of the JGAC meeting on October 1st. Among the
agencies invited were FEMA, GSA, USGS, DHS, HUD and NGS. Each speaker is
allocated 20-30 minutes with questions from the audience to follow. Those
accepting the invitation were FEMA and NGS whose representatives provided a
joint presentation on Map Modernization and Height Modernization, stressing the
relationship between the two.