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Railroad Abandonments |
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BACKGROUND: The National Geodetic Survey (NGS)
maintains the spatial reference system for the United States, comprised of many
thousands of carefully monumented and accurately surveyed control marks. These marks
preserve the location of fiducial coordinates for mapmaking, engineering projects, and
land use activities. In the early 20th century the nation's railways provided
convenient corridors for extending this system nationwide. Additionally, rails and
right-of-way marks often serve as important land boundary witnesses. As rails are abandoned, NGS
and its partners are afforded (via
49 CFR 1105.7) an opportunity to preserve these survey assets.
CONTROL MARKS are usually brass tablets embedded in concrete foundations or existing solid structures. Deep-driven rods or rivets are also commonly used. Details, including approximate positions and to-reach descriptions, are available from NGS datasheets (see below).
| These marks should be left undisturbed whenever practicable. Any activity which could threaten the stability or position of a mark should be avoided or reported to NGS. |
| SAFETY NOTE: Rail areas can be dangerous! Municipalities often restrict access. Follow local rules when visiting. |
| Railroad Point-of-Contact | |
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REPORT ABANDONMENT: |
Please use
e-mail to NGS.InfoCenter to submit your abandonment notice. [alternate contact] |
| NGS REPLY: |
NGS will acknowledge receipt of your notice
[see templates] as resources permit. Concerned surveyors should file additional comments with the Surface Transportation Board. |
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If marks will be disturbed by the abandonment, |
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| Tools to protect survey assets: | |
| LOCAL HELP: | Consult your local geodetic advisor or state surveyor. |
| MARK LOCATOR: | Our DATASHEETS can help you find control marks in your area. |
| REVISE DATASHEETS: | Our Mark Recovery Form allows you to modify the DATASHEET condition and description. |
| RESET A MARK: | Our Bench Mark Reset Procedures allows you to preserve elevation data for a soon-to-be disturbed or soon-to-be destroyed bench mark. |
| Last updated by Joe.Evjen on August 1, 2019 |
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Web site owner: National Geodetic Survey (NGS), National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) |
RR NOTICE TO NGS should identify the STB docket # and abandonment location (to facilitate our GIS geodatabase search.)
| e.g., |
To: Ref: |
NGS.InfoCenter |
NGS REPLY TO RR should identify any NGS marks in the area and should be forwarded to other survey concerns.
| e.g., |
To: cc: Ref: |
Railway contact |
| Last updated by Joe.Evjen on August 1, 2019 |
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