AI-assisted research summary: This chapter adopts the Alaska Coordinate System and sets rules for how its coordinates, zones, and names are used in land descriptions and records.
Chapter 20. The Alaska Coordinate System. Sec. 38.20.010. Adoption. The systems of rectangular plane coordinates established by the National Geodetic Survey, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for defining and stating the positions or locations of points on the surface of the earth in this state are adopted. The systems are to be known as the Alaska Coordinate System of 1927, the Alaska Coordinate System of 1983, and the Alaska Coordinate System of 2022. Sec. 38.20.020. Zones. The zone parameters of the Alaska Coordinate Systems are the zone parameters defined by the National Geodetic Survey maintained by the National Ocean Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as the National Geodetic Survey reads on November 7, 2022. Sec. 38.20.030. Designation of zones. In any land description in which a coordinate system is used a zone of the coordinate system is designated the Alaska Coordinate System of 1927, Zone ...................., the Alaska Coordinate System of 1983, Zone ...................., or the Alaska Coordinate System of 2022, Zone .................... Sec. 38.20.040. Use of coordinate system. The plane coordinates of a point on the earth's surface, to be used in expressing the position or location of the point in the appropriate zone of this system, consist of two distances, expressed in U.S. survey feet and decimals of a U.S. survey foot when using the Alaska Coordinate System of 1927, expressed in meters and decimals of a meter when using the Alaska Coordinate System of 1983, and expressed in meters and decimals of a meter or international feet and decimals of an international foot when using the Alaska Coordinate System of 2022. One of these distances, known as the x-coordinate, gives the position in an east-and-west direction; the other, known as the y-coordinate, gives the position in a north-and-south direction. These coordinates shall be made to depend on and conform to the coordinates of the National Spatial Reference System as determined by the National Geodetic Survey, National Ocean Service. Sec. 38.20.050. Land lying in two zones. When a tract of land to be defined by a single description extends from one coordinate zone into another, the positions of all points on its boundaries may be referred to either of the two zones, the zone which is used being specifically named in the description. Sec. 38.20.060. Characteristics of zones. The characteristics of the zones of the Alaska Coordinate Systems are the characteristics defined by the National Geodetic Survey maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as the National Geodetic Survey reads on November 7, 2022. Sec. 38.20.070. Position of system. (a) The position of the Alaska Coordinate System of 1927 shall be as marked on the ground by triangulation or traverse stations established in conformity with the standards adopted by the National Geodetic Survey, National Ocean Service whose geodetic positions have been rigidly adjusted on the North American datum of 1927 and whose coordinates have been computed on the system defined in this chapter. (b) The position of the Alaska Coordinate System of 1983 shall be as marked on the ground by triangulation or traverse stations established in conformity with the standards adopted by the National Geodetic Survey, National Ocean Service whose geodetic positions have been rigidly adjusted on the North American datum of 1983 and whose plane coordinates have been computed on the system defined in this chapter. Sec. 38.20.080. Limitation. Coordinates based on the Alaska Coordinate System, purporting to define the position of a point on a land boundary, may not be presented to be recorded in any public land records or deed records unless the point is within two miles of a horizontal control station established in conformity with National Geodetic Survey, National Ocean Service standards and specifications for first-order, second-order, or third-order work. The two-mile limitation may be modified by a state agency to meet local conditions. Sec. 38.20.090. Use of system name. (a) The use of the term Alaska Coordinate System of 1927 on a map, report of survey, or other document is limited to coordinates based on the Alaska Coordinate System of 1927 as defined in this chapter. (b) The use of the term Alaska Coordinate System of 1983 on a map, report of survey, or other document is limited to coordinates based on the Alaska Coordinate System of 1983 as defined in this chapter. (c) The use of the term Alaska Coordinate System of 2022 on a map, report of survey, or other document is limited to coordinates based on the Alaska Coordinate System of 2022 as defined in this chapter. Sec. 38.20.100. Use of public land survey descriptions. When coordinates based on the Alaska Coordinate System of 1927, the Alaska Coordinate System of 1983, or the Alaska Coordinate System of 2022 are used to describe a tract of land, which in the same document is also described by reference to a subdivision, line, or corner of the United States public land surveys, the description by coordinates shall be construed as supplemental to the basic description of the subdivision, line, or corner contained in the official plats and field notes recorded, and, in the event of a conflict, the description by reference to the subdivision, line, or corner of the United States public land surveys prevails over the description by coordinates. Sec. 38.20.110. Use of system not required. Nothing in this chapter requires a purchaser or mortgagee to rely on a description, any part of which depends exclusively on the Alaska Coordinate System of 1927, the Alaska Coordinate System of 1983, or the Alaska Coordinate System of 2022.