Utilities, Public and Otherwise

Utilities, Public and Otherwise

Course Summary:

The word “utility” implies usefulness to the public, but surveyors may find that what is considered a “utility” in one place is not always a utility in another jurisdiction. The distinction between regulated and unregulated utilities defines the legal rights and protections that these utilities may have, or the restrictions that they may be “subject to”. The distinction also affects how surveyors access or interpret information about the location of those utilities. The statutes and case law included in this class are intended to help those who plan or stake out new or relocated utility facilities, or recover existing utility locations in the field.

Learning Objectives

1. What is the difference between a regulated utility and an unregulated utility?
2. What are the rights of regulated and unregulated utilities, particularly regarding the purchase, lease, or condemnation of property? How does this affect record and locational research?
3. Blanket and specific individual easements
4. What are the responsibilities of utilities to the public and to the servient estate?
5. Who “wins” when there is a conflict between utilities?

4 CEUs/PDHs

This program is appropriate for Engineers and Land Surveyors

Instructor: 

Wendy Lathrop, PLS,CFM president and owner of Cadastral Consulting, is licensed as a Professional Land Surveyor in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, and as a Professional Planner in New Jersey. She holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Policy, and has been involved in surveying since 1974 in projects ranging from construction to boundary to environmental land use disputes. Wendy is also a Certified Floodplain Manager through the Association of State Flood Plain Managers (ASFPM).

A former adjunct instructor at Mercer County College in New Jersey, Wendy has also taught as part of the team for the licensing exam review course at Drexel University in Pennsylvania. She has been teaching seminars for surveyors since 1986 and has been writing articles for surveyors since 1983. Wendy is a contributing editor for “The American Surveyor” magazine, and has four articles included in the American Bar Association’s text, Land Surveys: A Guide for Lawyers and Other Professionals. She and Stephen V. Estopinal, PLS, PE recently completed co–authoring a book entitled Professional Surveyors and Real Property Descriptions: Composition, Construction, and Comprehension, published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Wendy represented the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (now the National Society of Professional Surveyors) on the first Technical Mapping Advisory Council to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the five years of that advisory group’s appointment, and presently represents the National Society of Professional Surveyors on the current Technical Mapping Advisory Council. She was a panel member of the National Academy of Public Administration’s study of US Geographic Information resources and of the National Research Council’s study of flood hazard mapping accuracy. Wendy is a past President of the New Jersey Society of Professional Land Surveyors and of the National Society of Professional Surveyors, and has served on the Board of Directors for the American Association for Geodetic Surveying.

Requirements To Attend by Live Webinar:

1. Webinar invitations are emailed to registered students approximately one (1) day prior to the course.
2. Participants  will need a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer to view it. If using a smartphone or tablet, it is best to have the app for the program on your device (i.e. Zoom).
3. To verify your continued attendance during the class, you must have the following:
   1. A working microphone, a webcam, or the ability to type into the program’s live chat.  Please keep your camera on—it is the best way we can confirm your participation.
4. Participants must be able to engage using the following:
   1. Microphone and/or
   2. Live chat feature
   3. Webcam
5. Please accurately identify yourself by using your real, full name.  (Please update your device so that it does not read as “ZOOM user” but rather your name “Jane Doe” or “Jane D.”
6. Instructors or school personnel will take attendance periodically throughout the class.
7. Instructors may call on participants.
8. A code word may be provided during the webinar to verify attendance.
9. Attendance is strictly prohibited while the participant is:
10. • Operating or riding in a moving vehicle
    • Performing any work duties (clinical, administrative, or otherwise)
    • Providing patient care of supervision
    • Participating an any activity that prevents full attention to the course.

1. Participants are required to complete and return an evaluation after the course has ended. The evaluation may ask what code word was given.
2. Certificates of completion will not be issued if attendance cannot be verified.
3. Certificates of Completion are emailed approximately three to five (3 to 5) business days after the course.
4. Participants who do not comply with the Webinar Code of Ethics will be removed from the webinar and not be permitted to re-enter that same day.
   1. Tuition will not be refunded under these circumstances.

This is a LIVE webinar because it is interactive. You will be able to ask questions and communicate in real time with the instructor.