UPCOMING EVENTS PSLS Webinar October 7, 2026 from 12-1PM - Coordinate PA Special Fall Virtual Seminar – October 29, 2026 from 12-2PM with Dr. Knud Hermansen on Riparian Boundaries & Water Issues 2027 Surveyors’ Conference in Hershey, PA from January 10-13, 2027!

I am a second-generation Professional Land Surveyor and ASPRS Certified Photogrammetrist with more than 30 years of experience including surveying, mapping, geodetic control, LiDAR-based mapping, remote sensing, and utility designation services. I currently serve as the Deputy Geomatics Service Line Leader at JMT, where I lead survey, mapping, reality capture, and SUE efforts. Surveying has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up around the profession an

I hope you had a wonderful summer. Everywhere I have spoken with fellow surveyors, the message has been the same. It has been an exceptionally busy season across the Commonwealth for our profession. I hope each of you has the opportunity to take some well-deserved time to relax and enjoy the fall season that is now upon us.

This research has been compiled by Michael F. Brinkash, a Professional Land Surveyor for educational purposes and is not intended for legal means or purposes. Any and all legal reference material included herein should be consulted with an attorney should there be a need for such advice.

On September 2, President Trump signed into law H.R. 6500, the “Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027,” which includes a short-term continuing resolution that provides fiscal year 2027 appropriations to Federal agencies through December 11, 2026, and extends authorities for a broad range of programs including FEMA’S National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), surface transportation, and veteran programs. This bill keeps the federal government open through December 1

On July 12th, Governor Shapiro signed the bipartisan 2026-2027 budget of $50.85 billion. This budget will leave Pennsylvania with approximately $8 billion in reserve as of July 1, 2027. It also gave more resources for our schools and students, expanded workforce development initiatives, provided nearly 400 more State Troopers, gave support for start-ups, expanded mental health services and more support for children and families. After the budget was passed, the House and

My wife and I visited northwestern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado this summer. My Eagle Scout daughter spent her summer working at the Philmont Scout Range. My wife was unaware, even after we had an itinerary, that I had some ulterior motives.

Upcoming Events PSLS Webinars July 8, 2026 Preparing for Geospatial Trends in Transportation Digital Delivery Speakers: Allen Melley, Scott McMasters, Kevin Martin, Chris Abbott August 12, 2026 Railroads and Railroad Rights of Way Speaker: Gary Kent, LS View the 2026 webinar schedule Save the date for the 2027 Surveyors’ Conference in Hershey, PA from January 10-13, 2027!

As of April 30, all twelve annual appropriations for Fiscal Year 2026 were signed into law to keep the Federal government open through September 30. The controversial bill funding the Department of Homeland Security, which included FEMA’s flood mapping program, was finally enacted into law and was accompanied by the following report language:

4.1 DEFINITION of a DEED CALL; “to the “Grading” of a Railroad. The “Grading called for in the deed is the “Artificial Monument”. Call made in deed after rails and ties were removed. What remains; the railroad bed or grading.

Tell us a bit about yourself. My name is Viktor Stergarsek. I was born and raised in Zagreb, the capital city of Croatia. I studied on the Zagreb Faculty of Geodesy to get my Bachelors in Geodesy and Geoinformatics. I moved to the United States in late 2016 to marry my long-term long-distance girlfriend (now wife of 9 years) and start my surveying career in the Pittsburgh, PA area. I have been honing my craft and learning more about the wonderful world of surveying every day.

Pennsylvania’s Clean and Green Law (Act 319) was enacted to preserve farmland and forestland by allowing qualifying properties to be taxed based on agricultural or timber use value rather than fair market value. While this preferential tax treatment can create substantial savings for landowners, subdividing enrolled property requires careful planning because mistakes can trigger significant roll-back taxes and penalties.

National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) /Spring 2026 Meeting The annual in-person NSPS Spring 2026 Meeting was held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Washington DC - Crystal City in Arlington, VA on April 13 through April 17, 2026. The annual Day on the Hill was held on April 14, 2026, and I attended congressional meetings with the staff of the following Senators and Congressman to discuss: Geodesy Prioritization in 2026 Highway Bill

As we move toward the summer months, it appears that Pennsylvania surveyors are busier than ever. PSLS committees continue to meet regularly and remain active on many important initiatives. The Education Committee is working diligently on the 2027 Conference and future educational programs. The Bylaws Committee has been providing model bylaws for chapters to adopt if they do not already have them in place. Our Legislative Committee continues to keep us informed on development

Upcoming Events PSLS Webinars April 8 from 12-2PM: General Rules of Construction (Speaker: Knud Hermansen) April 22 from 12-1PM: What’s Changed? Introducing the New 2026 ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey Standards (Speaker: Gary Kent, LS) Save the date for the 2027 Surveyors’ Conference in Hershey, PA from January 10-13!

Tell us a bit about yourself. I am a resident of Bradford County, PA. I have served on the Geospatial Committee and the Bylaws Committee for PSLS. I am a graduate of Penn State Wilkes-Barre with a Bachelor of Science Surveying Engineering degree class of 2021 and a licensed Professional Land Surveyor in Pennsylvania, New York, and Kentucky. Most of the work I have done has been in oil and gas, as well as solar. I am also a proud Eagle Scout.

We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make the 2026 Surveyors’ Conference in Hershey such a standout event! From our dedicated attendees and engaging speakers to our generous sponsors, exhibitors, students, hosts, and guests, it took nearly 600 of you to create an energizing, collaborative experience that truly showcased the strength of our profession.

From frozen ground to the first signs of spring construction, professionals across the Commonwealth continue to define the boundaries of progress. It is an honor to serve as your 2026 President of the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors during such an important time for our profession.

(This is what the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has said) The following case is for educational purposes and not for any other use other than to gain knowledge about those pesky fence questions that land surveyors are often confronted with. This case may shed some knowledge on a portion of those fence disputes that surveyors deal with. The section of this article titled: (Highlights of the Foregoing Case for Surveyor’s) are the sole opinions of Michael F. Brinkash, P.L.S. an

As of February 3, eleven of the twelve annual appropriations for Fiscal Year 2026 were signed into law to help keep the Federal government open through September 30.