CFEDS - Certified Federal Surveyor
The CFEDS Program
In August, 2004 a Fiduciary Trust Model (FTM) was established by the Department of the Interior to simplify
the delivery of accurate and reliable fiduciary trust services to eligible American Indians and Alaska Natives. The CFEDS program
was created to expedite delivery of quality land surveys throughout Indian country.
A Certified Federal Surveyor (CFEDS) is authorized
to prepare certain portions of boundary evidence documentation using procedures detailed in Departmental Manual, 303 DM 7, Standards
for Indian Trust Lands Boundary Evidence, as guidance.
This includes the preparation of certain portions of the following boundary evidence documents:
• A Land Description Review Certificate (LDR);
• A Chain of Survey Certificate (COS);
• A Certificate of Inspection and Possession (CIP); and
• A Boundary Assurance Certificate (BAC).
These documents each provide a portion of the total boundary assurance process and are not discretionary. The signature of the appropriate Chief Cadastral Surveyor, on the LDR, COS, CIP and BAC certificates, affirms an opinion and not a record of decision of the United States Government.
When a Federal agency, Tribe, or trust beneficiary requests
a Federal authority survey, they may approach the completion of the survey using one of two methods: 1) They may choose to have BLM
Cadastral Survey conduct the entire process, or 2) enter into an agreement with a CFedS to provide the commercial activities portion
and BLM Cadastral Survey for the remaining portion.
CEFDS Website
The CFEDS website can be found at:
This website
contains a complete roster of land surveyors who have completed the CFEDS program along with suggestions for selecting a Certified
Federal Surveyor.
Please visit the above website or call Delta Land Surveying if you have any questions regarding the CFEDS program.