On February 23, 2016, the ninth edition of the Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/NSPS Surveys will take effect. Some ask the significance of the February date as the last several versions of these requirements became effective on the same day. The fact is that the date coincides with the celebration of the Roman god Terminus, who per Roman history, protected boundary markers thus making February 23rd a fitting effective date for surveyors.
The new requirements were finalized by ALTA (The American Land Title Association) and NSPS (The National Society of Professional Surveyors) in October of this year. NSPS has merged with the former ACSM (The American Congress on Surveying and Mapping) thus replacing the former ALTA/ACSM acronym. Bock & Clark attended recent seminars on the revisions and has studied the new version thoroughly. Although there are no major changes, there are some modifications that will affect both the surveyor’s responsibilities and the user’s comprehension. These modifications occur not only in the Minimum Standards, but also in the Optional Table A items listing. Regarding Table A, some have moved to the Minimum Standards, some have been removed and some have been redefined. We have linked the new requirements and also a red-line version highlighting these changes. The red-line version has a significant amount of strike-through. Be advised that in many cases, it was easier to rewrite some sentences or paragraphs rather than striking out every other word. Often, the content remains the same.
We are preparing new hard copy materials, including a new Bock & Clark Handbook for ALTA Surveys, and will distribute them as soon as possible. If you would like to learn more, we encourage you to either contact your sales representative or contact Jim Brown, Director of Sales and Marketing at Bock and Clark at 800-787-8397, jbrown@bockandclark.com. We are currently scheduling 1-hour presentations on the topic of the new standards for 2016 which may qualify for CLE credit. Contact us for details.