PS PS Public Land Survey System (PLSS) 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the PLSS, what is the maximum allowable closing error for a standard township exterior as specified by the BLM Manual?
- 1:5,000 of the total perimeter (Correct answer)
- 1:10,000 of the total perimeter
- 1:1,000 of the total perimeter
- 1:2,500 of the total perimeter
Correct answer: 1:5,000 of the total perimeter
The BLM Manual of Surveying Instructions permits a closing error not exceeding 1 part in 5,000 for township exteriors.
Question 2: When retracing a PLSS survey, which original monument takes precedence over all others?
- Original corners established by the government surveyor (Correct answer)
- Recently set witness corners
- Meander corners
- Closing corners
Correct answer: Original corners established by the government surveyor
Under the law of original survey, corners set by the original government surveyor are controlling and take precedence over all other evidence.
Question 3: What is the term for a monument placed on a meander line where it intersects a section line in the PLSS?
- Meander corner (Correct answer)
- Mile corner
- Witness corner
- Closing corner
Correct answer: Meander corner
A meander corner is set at the intersection of a meander line with a township or section line to document the approximate location of a navigable waterway.
Question 4: In the PLSS, what procedure is used to re-establish a lost interior section corner when all four adjacent quarter-section corners are found?
- Double proportionate measurement (Correct answer)
- Single proportionate measurement
- Random traverse
- Intersecting angles
Correct answer: Double proportionate measurement
Double proportionate measurement uses the four adjacent quarter-section corners to re-establish a lost interior section corner by proportioning in both latitude and departure.
Question 5: Which PLSS feature is used to correct for earth curvature and meridian convergence at regular intervals north of the baseline?
- Standard parallels (correction lines) (Correct answer)
- Guide meridians
- Range lines
- Base lines
Correct answer: Standard parallels (correction lines)
Standard parallels (also called correction lines) are established every 24 miles north and south of the baseline to reduce the accumulated error from meridian convergence.
Question 6: What term describes the PLSS legal description 'NE¼ of the SW¼ of Section 14, Township 3 North, Range 5 East'?
- Aliquot part description (Correct answer)
- Metes and bounds description
- Lot and block description
- Monument description
Correct answer: Aliquot part description
A description using quarter-quarter section notation within a numbered section is called an aliquot part description in the PLSS framework.
PS PS Public Land Survey System (PLSS) 2
In the PLSS, what is the maximum allowable closing error for a standard township exterior as specified by the BLM Manual?