U.S. Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) on March 10 sponsored bipartisan, bicameral legislation to digitize and make publicly available geographic information system (GIS) mapping data on public access to federal lands and waters that Americans use for outdoor recreation.
“As an avid hiker and outdoorswoman, I know first-hand the importance of having accurate mapping and access data for public lands,” Sen. McSally said. “My legislation will increase recreational opportunities and allow people to more fully enjoy and appreciate the beauty of our public lands by making it easier to find information for expeditions.”
Sen. McSally introduced S. 3427 with cosponsor U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-ME) to require the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and the U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works to digitize and make the GIS mapping data publicly available, according to the congressional record summary.
U.S. Reps. Russ Fulcher (R-ID) and Derek Kilmer (D-WA) on March 10 also introduced companion legislation, the same-named H.R. 6169, in their chamber.
According to Sen. McSally’s office, the outdoor recreation economy generates 201,000 direct jobs, more than $21 billion in consumer spending, and $1.4 billion in state and local tax revenue in her home state, making improved public land access in Arizona important for both recreational and economic purposes.
If enacted, the bill would ensure that digitized information like access points, easements, roads, and permissible uses would be publicly accessible through GPS and mapping technologies, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. McSally’s office, which noted that while this information is already publicly available, it is often buried in paper files across regional and local offices.
Sen. King added that increased mapping technologies create “new opportunities to modernize safety and access,” particularly if the lands are accurately mapped and the information is easily accessible.
The legislation is endorsed by numerous groups, including the Audubon Society, the Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, the Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation, and The Nature Conservancy, among many others.