October 2004 Government Affairs Update

 

IN THIS ISSUE …

 

1. FEMA and NGS Reps Speak at JGAC Meeting
2. HUD Meeting
3. USGS New Geospatial Office
4. Engineers Joint Documents Committee (EJCDC) Meeting
5. Fundraiser with Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX)­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

 

FEMA and NGS Reps Speak at JGAC Meeting. At the October JGAC meeting, Doug Bellomo from FEMA and Juliana Blackwell from NGS stopped by to speak to ACSM members about the FEMA Multi Hazard Map Modernization program and the NGS Height Modernization program. Both speakers gave informative presentations and were available for questions from ACSM members. We were able to clear up several misconceptions that we had primarily about the Map Modernization program. For example, we were concerned that FEMA would simply digitize existing maps (some of which may be 10 or more years old) and call them “modernized.” Doug Bellomo told us that it is FEMA’s goal to make new maps, not digitize old ones. However, in many cases, communities request that FEMA just digitize the existing maps. We also learned that, where possible, FEMA will use NAVD 88 datum for the new maps.

We asked if FEMA planned to expand the Floodmap Certification Program from North Carolina to other states. Mr. Bellomo told that that FEMA does plan to expand the program. Finally, we asked how the actual surveying for the maps would be done. We were told that FEMA would a Multi-Year Flood Hazard Identification Plan (MHIP) which will lay out the counties to be mapped and the order in which they will be mapped.

Anyone interested in surveying the county or locality should contact the local officials directly as it becomes closer to the time for the localities to be mapped.

 

HUD Meeting. Curt Sumner, John Kohl and Laurence Socci recently met with HUD officials to discuss our proposed language regarding the benefits of getting a survey prior to home purchase closing inserted in the revised RESPA booklet. We were told that they would not be able to put the language into the booklet right away because they are still working on the revision and it may be a year before the booklet is complete. They did agree, however, to allow us to add the language in some form into the FAQ section of the HUD website. We are currently working on incorporating the language into a FAQ format for the website. HUD also agreed to work with us on publishing our stand alone form.

 

USGS New Geospatial Office. Laurence Socci recently attended an information session given by the USGS to discuss their new National Geospatial Programs Office (NGPO). The NGPO will be the new home of the National Map, Geospatial-One-Stop and the Federal Geographic Data Committee. The emphasis of the NGPO will be to engage partners throughout the geospatial community in its planning and in ensuring that its unified portfolio meets the needs of its partners. By December 1, 2004, the NGPO transition team will develop and deliver a plan for moving forward to the USGS Director. The plan will address the specific purpose, mission and strategies for the new office and also NGPO contributions to the NSDI Future Directions Initiative.  

 

Engineers Joint Documents Committee (EJCDC) Meeting. On October 8, Curt Sumner attended a meeting of the Engineers Joint Documents Committee (EJCDC) held in Washington, DC. The Committee is comprised of representatives from Professional Engineers in Private Practice (PEPP) which a practice division of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE); the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC); the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE); and Associated General Contractors of American (AGC). The meeting was very informative for him, and he was given ample opportunity to provide input into the dialog from the perspective of the surveyor.

 

The purpose of the Committee is to develop Standard Form Agreements to be used as guidelines by engineering firms when they contract to provide services to project owners and when they contract for services from architects and other professional consultants.

 

Curt’s goal for attending the meeting was to establish a relationship with the Committee, and to promote the idea that ACSM/NSPS should collaborate with the Committee on issues related to contracting between engineers and surveyors. He was given a copy of the most recent draft of the Standard Form Agreement between Engineer and Consultant for Professional Services (form E-570). The group agreed that ACSM/NSPS would review this document and make comments regarding its applicability for contracts between engineers and surveyors. One approach to this task could be to provide input for a Scope of Services that is specifically targeted to the engineer/surveyor agreement.

 

Another development that occurred during Curt’s visit was that he had an opportunity to talk with Mark McCallum from AGC about a draft of a contractor/surveyor agreement that we had discussed a couple of years ago. Mark informed Curt that AGC has almost completed an initial draft for such a document, and that it will be forwarded to ACSM/NSPS for review and comment.

 

Fundraiser with Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX). Laurence Socci attended a fundraiser recently for Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) held in Washington, DC. Rep. Sessions is in a tough race against Democrat Rep. Martin Frost for a newly created district in Texas. Rep. Sessions has worked with ACSM on a number of important issues including the introduction of a geospatial related bill in the House of Representatives and several fair competition issues. He was very appreciative of our ability and willingness to help him at this late stage of the race when fundraising is so critical. He reaffirmed his willingness to work with ACSM on our issues next year.