The SMA implementation is comprised of one feature dataset, with several polygon feature classes, rather than a single feature class. SurfaceManagementAgency: The Surface Management Agency (SMA) Geographic Information System (GIS) dataset depicts Federal land for the United States and classifies this land by its active Federal surface managing agency. A Federal SMA agency refers to a Federal agency with administrative jurisdiction over the surface of Federal lands. Jurisdiction over the land is defined when the land is either: Withdrawn by some administrative or legislative action, or Acquired or Exchanged by a Federal Agency. The GIS data contained in this dataset represents the polygon features that show the boundaries for Surface Management Agency and the surface extent of each Federal agencyâs surface administrative jurisdiction. SMA data depicts current withdrawn areas for a particular agency and (when appropriate) includes land that was acquired or exchanged and is located outside of a withdrawal area for that agency. The SMA data do not illustrate land status ownership pattern boundaries or contain land ownership attribute details. This layer is also updated whenever BLM is notified that Lands have been acquired by other Federal Agencies. For addtional information regarding an acquistion search the Bureaus LR2000 system:The LND_SurfaceEstate data is edited and maintained in a single polygon feature class. Whenever possible, BLM lands are constructed from the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), also available to the public (PublicLandSurvey.gdb). Alignment of BLM data with the PLSS is a continual process, as the accuracy and density of PLSS data continues to improve and develop. Issues of misalignment with the PLSS are more common with non-BLM management areas. These discrepancies are being addressed at the BLM California State office based on U.S. Department of Interior priorities throughout the State of California.
