Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
20120410
Modified (only including the area around Puerto Rico) Maritime Limits and Boundaries of United States of America
3.0
vector digital data
Silver Spring, Maryland
NOAA's Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/csdl/mbound.htm
http://ocs-gis.ncd.noaa.gov/maritime_boundaries/USMaritimeLimitsNBoundariesSHP.zip
http://ocs-gis.ncd.noaa.gov/ArcGIS/rest/services/CMSP/US_Maritime_Limits_Boundaries/MapServer
NOAA is responsible for depicting on its nautical charts the limits of the 12 nautical mile Territorial Sea, 24 nautical mile Contiguous Zone, and 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The outer limit of each of these zones is measured from the U.S. normal baseline, which coincides with the low water line depicted on NOAA charts and includes closing lines across the entrances of legal bays and rivers, consistent with international law. The U.S. baseline and associated maritime limits are reviewed and approved through the interagency U.S. Baseline Committee, which is chaired by the U.S. Department of State. The Committee serves the function of gaining interagency consensus on the proper location of the baseline using the provisions of the 1958 Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, to ensure that the seaward extent of U.S. maritime zones do not exceed the breadth that is permitted by international law. In 2002 and in response to mounting requests for digital maritime zones, NOAA launched a project to re-evaluate the U.S. baseline in partnership with other federal agencies via the U.S. Baseline Committee. The focus of the baseline evaluation was NOAA's largest scale, most recent edition nautical charts as well as supplemental source materials for verification of certain charted features. This dataset is a result of the 2002-present initiative and reflects a multi-year iterative project whereby the baseline and associated maritime limits were re-evaluated on a state or regional basis. In addition to the U.S. maritime limits, the U.S. maritime boundaries with opposite or adjacent countries as well as the US/Canada International Boundary (on land and through the Great Lakes) are also included in this dataset.
The primary purpose of this dataset is to update the official depiction of these maritime zones and maritime boundaries on NOAA's nautical charts. The limits of these zones are subject to modification, as represented on future charts. The limits shown on the most recent chart edition take precedence.
For more detailed information about specific regional limits and boundaries, refer to the supplemental information documents.
20120410
publication date
Continually
-68.481889
-63.888889
21.854251
14.928194
None
GIS
Polyline
Maritime
Boundary
Limit
Law of the Sea
Territorial Sea
Contiguous Zone
Exclusive Economic Zone
Presidential Proclamation No. 5928, December 1988
Presidential Proclamation No. 7219, August 1999
Presidential Proclamation No. 5030, March 1983
US/Russia Maritime Boundary Agreement, 1990
Federal Register, Vol 60, No. 163, August 23, 1995
ICJ Judgment, Gulf of Maine, 1984
International Boundary Commission
US/Cook Islands Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1980
US/Cuba Maritime Boundary Agreement, 1977
US/Japan Exchange of Notes, 1994
US/Mexico Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1970
US/Mexico Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1978
US/New Zealand (Tokelau) Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1980
US/Niue Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1997
US/UK (Anguilla) Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1993
US/UK (British Virgin Islands) Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1993
US/Venezuela Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1978
ISO 19115 Topic Category
boundaries
planningCadastre
NOS Data Explorer Topic Category
Marine Boundaries
Nautical Charting
Geographic Names Information System
Alaska
Hawaii
Puerto Rico
U.S. Virgin Islands
Maine
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
New York
New Jersey
Delaware
Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia
Florida
Alabama
Mississippi
Louisiana
Texas
California
Oregon
Washington
Johnston Atoll
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Guam
Wake Island
American Samoa
Howland Island
Baker Island
Jarvis Island
Kingman Reef
Palmyra Atoll
None
NOT FOR LEGAL USE. These limits and boundaries were created for internal purposes only to update the charted maritime limits and maritime boundaries on NOAA charts. These limits and boundaries do not represent the official depiction. For official depiction, please see NOAA's paper or raster nautical charts.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
Chief Geographer
mailing and physical address
Office of Coast Survey, 1315 East West Highway
Silver Spring
MD
20910
USA
(301)713-2780 x 127
(301)713-4019
meredith.westington@noaa.gov
Monday - Friday, 0900 EST - 1700 EST
CARIS' Law of the Sea: Limits and Boundaries v.4.0 Service Pack 6; Esri ArcGIS Desktop 9.3.1 and 10; Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP3
Due to software and process limitations, this dataset does not contain attributes that speak to the issue of accuracy. The accuracy of this dataset is dependent on the map resolution created in CARIS LOTS, the chart scale used to derive the baseline from which the maritime limits are measured, and coordinate precision of maritime boundary coordinates that are defined in treaties or in the 1995 Federal Register Notice.
The maritime limits reflect the baseline as depicted on relevant largest scale, most recent edition raster nautical charts of the area. They are believed to be logically consistent.
This dataset is complete. Maritime limits are ambulatory; therefore, the limits may be updated at a later date if the charted depictions of the farthest seaward low-water mark changes. In addition, the maritime boundaries portion of this dataset may be updated if a new maritime boundary agreement is established or revised.
No specific test was performed on the dataset. The maritime limits are a reflection of the largest scale raster nautical charts of the area. The number of decimal places used in the output format does not imply an accuracy level higher than the source chart documents.
The maritime limits are projected from salient points along a designated baseline, which is generally referred to as the farthest seaward low-water mark depicted on the largest scale, most recent edition raster nautical charts. When necessary, hydrographic surveys were referenced to ensure the depiction of certain rocks on NOAA's nautical charts dry at mean lower low water. Beyond utilizing the tidally-referenced shoreline depicted on NOAA's nautical charts, no specific test was used to determine the vertical accuracy of the points.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
20110501
Regional Digital Maritime Limits and Maritime Boundaries
Latest edition
vector digital data
Silver Spring, Maryland
NOAA's Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
Vector digital data
2002
2010
publication date
REGION_LIMITS
The limits of the 12 nautical mile Territorial Sea, 24 nautical mile Contiguous Zone, and 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone as well as the maritime boundaries were published in vector digital data format on a state or region basis between 2002 and 2010. These previously published regional data were used as source for this dataset. They were compiled together and further attributed.
International Boundary Commission
Unknown
Geographical Positions along the International Boundary (NAD83)
Latest edition
Text
Washington, D.C.
International Boundary Commission
http://www.internationalboundarycommission.org/products.html
online
1915
1986
publication date
IBC
US/Canada international boundary polyline was constructed using published coordinates from the US/Canada International Boundary Commission. The polyline was used as a source of this dataset. The boundary was merged with OCS' published maritime limits and maritime boundaries and further attributed
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
Unpublished material
Merged Digital Maritime Limits and Maritime Boundaries
1
geodatabase feature class
online
2010
publication date
MERGED
Single dataset in WGS84 of digital state/regional maritime limits, created by merging published Esri Shapefiles from NOAA's Office of Coast Survey website. Dataset was merged with the US/Canada international boundary to create the approved US maritime limits and boundaries dataset.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
Unpublished material
US/Canada international Boundary
vector digital data
online
2010
publication date
USCANADABOUND
Polylines of the US/Canada international boundary contructed from coordinates obtained from the IBC. Polylines combined with maritime limits to created the approved US maritime limits and boundaries dataset.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
20110501
US Baseline Committee Approved Maritime Limits and Boundaries
latest edition
vector digital data
Silver Spring, Maryland
NOAA's Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
vector digital data
2011
Present
publication date
APPRV_LIMITS
Digital US maritime limits, maritime boundaries, and international boundaries were approved by the interagency US Baseline Committee. Dataset is continually revised based on changes to nautical charts or by special request.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
Unknown
Nautical Charts
latest edition
raster digital data
Silver Spring, Maryland
NOAA's Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey (OCS), Marine Chart Division (MCD)
http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/
chart
2011
Present
publication date
NCHART
NOAA's Nautical charts are used to derive the US baseline, which incorporates the charted low-water line and closing lines across entrances to legal bays, rivers, and harbors. The most recent edition, largest scale nautical charts are used as a source of the baseline.
From 2002 to 2010, the interagency U.S. Baseline Committee re-evaluated the U.S. baseline and associated maritime limits as depicted on NOAA charts on a state or regional basis. As a result of this multiple year, iterative project, digital state/regional maritime limits, including the 200nm EEZ, were produced and published in Esri Shapefile format on NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey website. To create a seamless, continuous maritime limits dataset, OCS did the following: 1) transformed the state/regional digital limits, in SHP format, from NAD83 to WGS84; 2) merged the WGS84 SHP files into a single dataset using Esri ArcGIS and imported into a file geodatabase; 3) segmented the merged limits according to chart symbology groupings as well as feature type (e.g. maritime boundary, maritime limit, or land boundary) to more closely match NOAA charts; and 4) re-attributed the dataset
REGION_LIMITS
201103
MERGED
The coordinates of US/Canada international boundary were obtained from International Boundary Commission in NAD83 and saved into a text file. A point shapefile was created based on the text file in NAD83 and then transformed to WGS84. Polylines were constructed using the point shapefile. All polylines were constructed as rhumb lines, except the following three portions: 1) line segment from 43.631127N, 76.796687W to 43.631127N, 78.690388W; 2) line segment from 41.676561N, 82.397473W to 41.676561N, 82.679716W; 3) line segment in Gulf of Maine ruled by ICJ. These three portions were constructed as geodesic lines. The polylines were segmented according to the grouping of published coordinates on IBC website. New attributes were created and the polyline was attributed.
IBC
201103
USCANADABOUND
US/Canada international boundaries generated in the second process step were imported into file geodatabase and merged with maritime limits generated in the first process step. Topology rules were established in the file geodatabase to detect overlapping, self-intersecting, and dangling polyline features. Any topological errors flagged by topology check were investigated and corrected when necessary. When a polyline feature spans across -/+180 longitude, Esri clips the feature at the longitude, resulting in dangling polyline. Topology errors as a result of clipping at 180 longitude were marked as exception. Other topology errors were corrected. The dataset was exported as a shapefile.
MERGED
USCANADABOUND
201103
APPRV_LIMITS
Maritime limits and boundaries are updated using the most recent edition, largest scale nautical charts. Updates are triggered by a new chart edition, or by a formal request to re-evaluate the baseline. Charts are used as a backdrop in the Esri ArcMap environment to create vector shorelines and lines closing the entrances to legal bays, rivers, and harbors. These lines are imported to the Caris LOTS environment. The "Enevelope of Arcs from normal baselines" tool is applied to vector shorelines, and the "Envelope of Arcs from straight baselines" tool is applied to closing lines. As input to the tools, OCS selects the limit distance in nautical miles and designates minimum attributes for the baseline points. The tool generates the contributing baseline points and the boundary limit using a wagon-wheel filtering process of rolling a circle with a diameter specified by the limit distance and choosing the seaward-most points along the low water line. Previously approved limits are manually intersected and replaced with the revised limits to create seamless, revised limit lines. Caris generated EOA control lines, which display how baseline points contribute to particular arc segments of the limit line, are used to inform the manual intersect and replace function. The final dataset is exported from Caris to a shapefile in WGS84, and attributed in the Esri ArcMap environment.
APPRV_LIMITS
NCHART
20120410
Maritime boundaries for the perimeter of the Puerto Rico EEZ were selected and exported as a shapefile using Esri ArcMap 9.3 tools
USMaritimeLimitsNBoundaries
20120524
pr_eez_region
Chris Polloni
U.S. Geological Survey
Information Specialist
mailing and physical address
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole
MA
02543-1589
USA
(508) 548-8700 x2280
(508) 457-2310
cpolloni@usgs.gov
9AM to 5PM; M- F
Vector
String
367
0.000000001
0.000000001
Decimal degrees
WGS84
WGS84
6378137.000000000000000000
298.257224
Maritime Limits and Boundaries
Shapefile Attribute Table
Office of Coast Survey
FID
Internal feature number
Esri
Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated
Shape
Feature geometry
Esri
Coordinates defining the features
OBJECTID
BOUND_ID
Boundary ID
Office of Coast Survey
Unique ID of this feature
REGION
Identifier of the general area, state(s), or territory from which the limit is drawn
Office of Coast Survey
Contains free text of the general area, state(s), or territory name
FEAT_TYPE
Type of Feature
Office of Coast Survey
Maritime Limit
Limit of the U.S. maritime zone
Office of Coast Survey
Maritime Boundary
International maritime boundary between the U.S. and a neighboring country
Office of Coast Survey
Land Boundary
International land boundary between the U.S. and a neighboring country
Office of Coast Survey
TS
Territorial Sea
Office of Coast Survey
0
The feature is not the 12nm territorial sea limit or a segment of territorial sea from 0 to 12nm
Office of Coast Survey
1
The feature is the 12nm territorial sea limit or a segment of territorial sea from 0 to 12nm
Office of Coast Survey
CZ
Contiguous Zone
Office of Coast Survey
0
The feature is not the 24nm contiguous zone limit or a segment of contiguous zone from 12nm to 24nm
Office of Coast Survey
1
The feature is the 24nm contiguous zone limit or a segment of contiguous zone from 12nm to 24nm
Office of Coast Survey
EEZ
Exclusive Economic Zone
Office of Coast Survey
0
The feature is not the 200nm EEZ or a segment of the EEZ per customary international law from 12nm to 200nm
Office of Coast Survey
1
The feature is the 200nm EEZ or a segment of the EEZ per customary international law from 12nm to 200nm
Office of Coast Survey
F_EEZ
U.S. Fishery EEZ
Office of Coast Survey
0
The feature is not the 200nm EEZ or a segment of U.S. fishery EEZ from the limit of the states’ jurisdiction to 200nm
Office of Coast Survey
1
The feature is the 200nm EEZ or a segment of U.S. fishery EEZ from the limit of the states’ jurisdiction to 200nm
Office of Coast Survey
PUB_DATE
Publication Date
Office of Coast Survey
Publication date of the limit/boundary line in MM/DD/YYYY format
APPRV_DATE
Approval date of baseline points by the ad hoc Committee on the U.S. Baseline
Office of Coast Survey
Date Field formatted as MM/DD/YYYY for the date on which the limits were approved by the U.S. Baseline Committee, chaired by the Department of State
LEGAL_AUTH
Legal Authority
Office of Coast Survey
Free text referencing the legal source of the limit/boundary
AOR
Agency of Responsibility
Office of Coast Survey
The government agency that is responsible for publishing and managing the limit/boundary on NOAA charts
NOTE
Note
Office of Coast Survey
Free text containing special notes about the limit/boundary
UNILATERAL
Unilateral
Office of Coast Survey
0
The feature is not a segment of a U.S. unilateral maritime boundary claim
Office of Coast Survey
1
The feature is a segment of a U.S. unilateral maritime boundary claim
Office of Coast Survey
SYMBOL
Symbology
Office of Coast Survey
1
A black line of alternating crosses, generally conveying a land boundary per Chart No.1 symbol N40
Office of Coast Survey
2
A solid grey line interspersed with fish symbols at regular intervals, generally conveying the U.S. Fishery EEZ limit, per a combination of Chart No.1 symbols N42 and N45
Office of Coast Survey
3
A solid grey line, generally conveying U.S. maritime limits and U.S. unilateral maritime boundaries, per Chart No.1 symbol N42
Office of Coast Survey
4
A magenta line of alternating crosses and dashes with interspersed fish symbols at regular intervals, generally conveying a maritime boundary alongside the U.S. Fishery EEZ, per a combination of Chart No.1 symbols N41 and N45
Office of Coast Survey
5
A magenta line of alternating crosses and dashes, generally conveying a maritime boundary outside the U.S. Fishery EEZ, per Chart No.1 symbol N41
Office of Coast Survey
SUPP_INFO
Supplemental Information
Office of Coast Survey
Link to supplemental information in text format about this feature
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
Chief Geographer
mailing and physical address
Office of Coast Survey, 1315 East West Highway
Silver Spring
Maryland
20910
USA
(301)713-2780 x 127
(301)713-4019
meredith.westington@noaa.gov
Monday - Friday, 0900 EST - 1700 EST
Downloadable Data
Users must assume responsibility to determine the appropriate use of this data set. The digital maritime limits are not to be used for a legal definition. The legal definition still remains the depiction on NOAA's nautical charts.
Esri ArcGIS Map Service, WMS, KML, SHP (Esri Shapefile)
0.020
http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/csdl/mbound.htm
http://ocs-gis.ncd.noaa.gov/ArcGIS/rest/services/CMSP/US_Maritime_Limits_Boundaries/MapServer
None
20120508
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
Chief Geographer
mailing and physical address
Office of Coast Survey, 1315 East West Highway
Silver Spring
Maryland
20910
USA
(301)713-2780 x 127
(301)713-4019
meredith.westington@noaa.gov
Monday - Friday, 0900 EST - 1700 EST
FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
FGDC-STD-001-1998
local time