CH Regulatory Framework & Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, which federal agency has primary authority over navigable waterway obstructions?
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Correct answer)
- NOAA Office of Coast Survey
- U.S. Coast Guard
- Environmental Protection Agency
Correct answer: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
The Rivers and Harbors Act grants the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permitting authority over structures and work in navigable waters.
Question 2: Which IHO publication sets the minimum standards for hydrographic surveys used in nautical charting?
- IHO S-44 (Correct answer)
- IHO S-52
- IHO S-57
- IHO S-100
Correct answer: IHO S-44
IHO S-44 (Standards for Hydrographic Surveys) defines accuracy, coverage, and data quality requirements for surveys supporting nautical charts.
Question 3: A hydrographer discovers a submerged obstruction not shown on current charts during a survey. What is the immediate regulatory obligation?
- Report to NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard via a Notice to Mariners (Correct answer)
- File an internal report only and complete the survey
- Mark it with a temporary buoy and continue the survey
- Contact the Army Corps of Engineers before any other action
Correct answer: Report to NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard via a Notice to Mariners
Hazards to navigation must be promptly reported to NOAA and the Coast Guard so a Notice to Mariners can be issued to alert mariners.
Question 4: The Clean Water Act Section 404 program primarily regulates hydrographic activities related to:
- Discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States (Correct answer)
- Operation of survey vessels in coastal waters
- Publication of nautical charts in US waters
- Installation of tide gauge stations on federal land
Correct answer: Discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States
Section 404 requires permits from the Army Corps of Engineers for discharging dredged or fill material into navigable waters and wetlands.
Question 5: What does 'Special Order' survey accuracy (IHO S-44) specifically require regarding full seafloor coverage?
- 100% bottom coverage is mandatory using multi-beam or side-scan sonar (Correct answer)
- 80% bottom coverage is acceptable with random line spacing
- Single-beam soundings at 5-meter line spacing are sufficient
- Only critical shoal areas require full coverage detection
Correct answer: 100% bottom coverage is mandatory using multi-beam or side-scan sonar
IHO Special Order demands 100% seafloor coverage to detect all features in safety-critical areas such as harbors and channels.
Question 6: Under NOAA's hydrographic survey contract specifications, which document defines quality control gates a contractor must pass before data delivery?
- NOAA Field Procedures Manual (FPM) (Correct answer)
- IHO C-13 Manual on Hydrography
- FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map guidelines
- USGS National Map accuracy standards
Correct answer: NOAA Field Procedures Manual (FPM)
NOAA's Field Procedures Manual provides the specific quality control, processing, and deliverable requirements for contracted hydrographic surveys.
Question 7: Which regulation governs the use of GPS-based positioning on NOAA-contracted survey vessels to ensure traceability to national datums?
- NOAA Technical Report NOS NGS requirements for horizontal control (Correct answer)
- FAA Advisory Circular for aviation GPS
- FCC Part 15 radio frequency regulations
- FHWA highway positioning standards
Correct answer: NOAA Technical Report NOS NGS requirements for horizontal control
NOAA NGS requirements mandate that survey positioning be traceable to the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) for datum consistency.
CH Regulatory Framework & Compliance 2
Under the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, which federal agency has primary authority over navigable waterway obstructions?