Coastal Services Center

Overview

The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Marine Boundary Working Group (MBWG) was formed to address a number of issues pertaining to legal and technical aspects of marine or maritime boundaries. The delimiting of maritime boundaries on most of the World�s charts may be inaccurate or insufficient. In addition, such marine boundaries may be different than those set forth in various laws. In the United States, these discrepancies can affect many ocean related activities, including oil and gas leases, open ocean disposal zones, and the enforcement of fishing and environmental laws.

The newly formed Marine Boundary Working Group includes representatives from the following federal agencies:

• Department of Interior (DOI):
• Minerals Management Service (MMS)
• National Park Service (NPS)
• Fish and Wildlife Service (F&WS)
• Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
• Department of Commerce (DOC):
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• Census Bureau (CEN)
• Department of State (DOS)
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Issues under study by the group include the need to institute standards for the collection, documentation, and use of marine boundaries, and the need to centralize these activities for the federal government.