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2002-R417 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Stephanie Balian 6/14/02 |
NOAA News Releases 2002 NOAA Home Page NOAA Public Affairs |
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration dedicated a survey marker today at the headquarters of the United States Power Squadrons in Raleigh, N.C., in a ceremony that recognizes the squadrons' 39 years of volunteer service to update the nation's official nautical charts used by mariners. The U.S. Commerce Department's NOAA is the nation's premiere ocean agency. USPS is the world's largest non-profit boating organization and has 60,000 members. USPS has provided reports to NOAA since 1963 on the condition of nautical charts, geodetic control points and the adequacy of tide and current predictions. Under the "Adopt-a-Chart" program, local Power Squadrons report on discrepancies that affect 125 charts throughout the country. NOAA Office of Coast Survey is responsible for producing and maintaining the suite of 1000 nautical charts that cover the coastal waters of the U.S and its territories. "The U.S. Power Squadrons provide essential navigation information to NOAA each year," said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Tim Keeney, at the Raleigh ceremony. "Thanks to their remarkable efforts, NOAA has been able to consistently provide updated charts and other nautical resources. This strong and effective partnership will continue for years to come." The National Geodetic Survey, which is the NOAA Ocean Service office responsible for managing the geodetic framework for latitude and longitude, created a 10-inch-diameter geodetic survey marker for the ceremony that contains the NOAA, USPS and Cooperative Charting emblems. The marker is located in a monument near USPS headquarter's flagpole. Currently, about 2,500 USPS members throughout the country submit cooperative charting information to NOAA each year. Since 1963, USPS members have submitted hundreds of thousands of reports. NOAA uses this information to update its nautical charts, the U.S. Coast Pilot, and the geodetic database. NOAA's National Ocean Service is dedicated to exploring, understanding, conserving, and restoring the nation's coasts and oceans. NOAA Ocean Service balances environmental protection with economic prosperity in fulfilling its missions to promote safe navigation, support coastal communities, sustain coastal habitats and mitigate coastal hazards. To learn more about NOAA Ocean
Service, please visit http://www.nos.noaa.gov. |