Introduction to SBE

Standards for Boundary Evidence (SBE) takes the best aspects of land acquisition practices and applies them to all land and resource related activities in the department.

Land surveyors have a unique set of skills, combining title records, survey records and physical boundary evidence.

By adding land surveyors to the team of field managers, realty and resource specialists, the SBE standards leverage these skills to save the government time and money.

The SBE provides Federal land managers a reliable and understandable assessment of the risks associated with reliance on existing boundary evidence. SBE also provides managers with project-specific guidance to reduce conflicts by identifying whether a land survey is unnecessary, prudent, or required, and actions to take to mitigate problems.

Think of all the different types of activities that take place on Federal interest lands. The majority of them can benefit from the SBE process.

Activities include:

  • Land Acquisitions and exchanges
  • Wildlife Management
  • Oil and gas leasing
  • Irrigation development
  • National Parks and Historic Sites
  • Fencing and fence removal projects
  • Timber sales or thinning projects
  • Wildland fire rehabilitation and vegetation treatment projects
  • Road Construction
  • Road, Power Line and Pipeline Right of Ways
  • Mineral leases
  • Hunting and Fishing