Bill Overview
Title: Modernizing Access to Our Public Land Act
Description: This bill directs the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to jointly develop and adopt interagency standards to ensure compatibility and interoperability among federal databases for the collection and dissemination of outdoor recreation data related to federal lands and used to depict locations at which recreation uses are available to the public. Interior, the Forest Service, and the Corps of Engineers must digitize and publish geographic information system data that includes federal interests, including easements and rights-of-way, in private land; status information as to whether roads and trails are open or closed; the dates on which roads and trails are seasonally opened and closed; the types of vehicles and recreational uses that are allowed on each segment of roads and trails; and the boundaries of areas where hunting or recreational shooting is permanently restricted or closed. Interior, the Forest Service, and the Corps of Engineers may work with the U.S. Geological Survey to collect, digitize, standardize, or publish data to meet the requirements of this bill.
Sponsors: Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1]
Target Audience
Population: People who engage in outdoor recreational activities on US public lands
Estimated Size: 144000000
- The bill aims to modernize access to information regarding public lands, focusing on recreational data.
- Public lands are extensively used for outdoor recreational activities, such as hiking, camping, hunting, and fishing.
- According to the Outdoor Industry Association, approximately 144 million Americans participate in outdoor activities each year.
- The bill targets those interested in using public lands for recreation, making data more accessible and understandable, potentially increasing public land visitations.
- While primarily impacting those in the US, there are international visitors who utilize US public lands for recreation, adding a small percentage to the total affected.
- The modernization of data implies benefits mainly to people who use digital tools for planning recreational activities.
Reasoning
- The MAPLand Act targets modernizing access and improving the usability of data related to public lands, focusing predominantly on individuals and groups who partake in outdoor recreational activities.
- The identified population primarily consists of individuals who engage with public lands for activities such as hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting, estimated around 144 million people in the US.
- Given the policy's focus on data digitization and accessibility, individuals who are tech-savvy or who regularly plan outdoor activities using digital resources are likely to experience more immediate and impactful benefits.
- The diversity of the population affected includes different demographics, ranging from young digital natives who actively use technology for trip planning, to older individuals who might not benefit as directly due to less digital engagement.
- The policy budget constraints imply that the extent and speed of data accessibility improvements might be limited in the short term but should progressively improve over the 10-year implementation period.
- While some people might not feel the impact immediately, given the long duration and scope of the policy, awareness, usage, and resultant wellbeing improvements are expected to grow over time.
Simulated Interviews
Software Developer (Denver, Colorado)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I frequently use online maps and apps to plan my hikes, so this act seems like a great initiative.
- Better data availability means I'll spend less time hunting for information about trail conditions and closures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
Rancher (Rural Montana)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I guess it's helpful for those who travel to places they aren't familiar with, but I rely on what I know already.
- I hope it doesn't mean more crowds around my hunting spots.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Elementary School Teacher (Austin, Texas)
Age: 54 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having better access to information on public lands will make planning educational trips easier and safer.
- I'm concerned about the tech aspect since I don't always rely on digital tools.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retired (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's encouraging to see efforts to modernize access to public lands data, though I'm not sure how much it will change my habits.
- I prefer traditional methods but hearing about it could simplify finding places to stay overnight.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Graduate Student (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The digitization effort is thrilling as it could improve research on public land use and environmental impact.
- It's an excellent step towards more transparent and accessible public land management.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
Tech Entrepreneur (San Francisco, California)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could be a game-changer for my business, giving us access to updated data.
- I'm eager to see how it unfolds and what partnerships may emerge from this effort.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 10 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 10 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 10 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 9 |
Retired Librarian (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 68 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I enjoy planned tours so this may not directly affect me, but I support anything that improves public resources.
- I prefer to let others do the planning when it comes to complex trips.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
College Student (Portland, Oregon)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This legislation could definitely aid in better planning for our club activities.
- More readily available data will make it easier to convince new members to participate.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Marketing Specialist (Baltimore, Maryland)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The MAPLand Act should help in finding new, scenic geocache locations more easily.
- Streamlined data can enhance my photography trips by better understanding seasonal access and conditions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Freelance Writer (New York City, New York)
Age: 42 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More comprehensive data means I can write more accurate and informed articles about public land experiences.
- It’s a positive step for both media creators and consumers alike who rely on factual information.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $18000000)
Year 2: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 3: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 5: $8000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $10000000)
Year 10: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 100: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $2500000)
Key Considerations
- Initial funding requirements for setting up technology infrastructure will be substantial.
- Ensuring data security and privacy, especially concerning private land interests, is critical.
- Interfacing with existing systems and achieving interoperability among diverse datasets will require advanced technical expertise.