HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1570

BYRepresentatives K. Wilson,  Amondson, Butterfield, Spanel and Jacobsen

Establishing a revised coordinate system in Washington for defining points on the earth's surface.

House Committe on Natural Resources

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (18)

      Signed by Representatives Sutherland, Chair; K. Wilson, Vice Chair; Amondson, Basich, Beck, Belcher, Bumgarner, Butterfield, Cole, Dorn, Fuhrman, Hargrove, Haugen, Meyers, Sayan, Schmidt, Spanel and S. Wilson.

House Staff:Pamela Madson (786-7310)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES JANUARY 27, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Natural Resources is required to provide a reference system to identify and preserve survey points.  These survey points are widely used in surveying and map production. This reference system is known as the Washington Coordinate System.

In 1945, Washington adopted, as the Washington Coordinate System, a federal reference system supported and maintained by the National Geodetic Survey.  This system is known as the North American Datum of 1927 (NAD27).

Using NAD27, the Washington Coordinate System provides a common language for identifying location coordinates that are expressed in terms of an "x" value (an east-west direction) and a "y" value (a north-south direction).  The System requires that reference points be expressed in feet.  These values, expressed in feet, can then be entered into a computer data base and can be shared with anyone who chooses to use the coordinate system (the use of the Washington Coordinate System by mappers and surveyors in Washington is not mandatory).

A new reference system, known as NAD83, has been developed to reflect improved technology and accuracy.  The federal government is now using NAD83 and the National Geodetic Survey will continue to support and maintain this system.

As of January, 1987, twenty states have adopted NAD83 with eleven other states preparing legislation for adoption.

SUMMARY:

Until 1990, persons choosing to use the Washington Coordinate System may use either NAD27 or its successor, NAD83.  Thereafter, persons choosing to use the System will be required to use NAD83.

Location coordinates used in the NAD83 system must be expressed in meters.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 19, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Pat McElroy, Department of Natural Resources; Mike Kinemen, Department of Natural Resources; and Les Olsen, Chief Surveyor of Thurston County.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The National Geodetic Survey has readjusted and republished the national surveying and mapping reference system.  The current system, NAD27, is not consistent with new satellite information.  Errors have been found in NAD27.  NAD27 will no longer be supported by federal government agencies and the state agencies do not have the capability to support NAD27.  NAD83 provides a common language and system for sharing information about land and land locations.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.