California Surveyors Forums

Section 8772 of the PLS Act indicates that public agency set monuments shall be marked with the name of agency and the political subdivision it serves. Attached are example field book pages in which a public agency set monuments with the certificate number of the surveyor preceded by the letters "P.L.S." Please comment if there is interest in changing the PLS Act to require those with responsible charge at public agencies for setting monuments marked with their certificate number preceded by "L.S." or "R.C.E."

All mine set for right of way are these, shown as such on the RSs.

Warren - It's great hear that you're setting your tags and filing records of survey.

CLSA (or was it ACEC? I think they called themselves CELSOC back then) tried about ten years ago (maybe longer-time flies when you're having fun) to pass such legislation and CEAC opposed it, dooming it to failure. I remember being at the CEAC meeting in Pasadena arguing in favor of it. I've never thought agencies should be exempt from someone taking responsibility and putting their number on monuments like all other LS's are required to do. There may have been some merit to the arguments that larger agencies often have projects with multiple hands involved over multiple years, thus making it hard to identify who's going to step forward to take responsibility. But it still struck me as a weak argument - maybe having such laws in place would create a stronger sense of personal responsibility and a process that demands a name tied to a monument.

Maybe it's time to try it again. A few of the more urban counties ensured failure last time. It would be interesting to see if the culture has changed.

Dave Ryan
Arcata