Tools
Legislative Atlas
Tool Description
In this Web application, users can select an area on a map to visualize the coastal and ocean laws that apply to that area. Organizations interested in regional ocean management and other ocean-related initiatives will appreciate this tool’s quick access to the complex set of laws that govern the nation’s ocean waters.
The atlas supports the work of regional ocean councils, entities recommended by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy to improve and coordinate the management of our coasts and oceans.
Sample Functions
- Searches ocean and coastal laws
The atlas provides access to summaries of state and federal laws. A search can be refined by state, region, management issue, or federal agency of interest. For further information, the legal summaries link directly to the supporting U.S. code or state statutes.
- Displays maps of federal and state laws
With the mapping tool, users can see where laws apply and marine boundaries are located. The tool also displays the regions, districts, and planning areas of federal management agencies. Even people with little or no exposure to geographic information system (GIS) technology will find this tool easy to use.
- Accesses spatial data
The atlas provides the ability to access and download the laws, as spatial data, in Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) Shapefile and Google Earth keyhole markup language (KML) formats. In addition, direct access to the data is provided through ESRI ArcIMS Image Service and open-source Web Feature Service (WFS) formats.
User Requirements
- Internet Browser
