Approved Survey

The terms "approved survey" and "official survey" are often incorrectly used as being synonymous with "accepted survey". Strictly speaking an "approved survey" is a survey which has the field notes approved and the plat accepted by the BLM official who has been delegated the authority for such action. The proper term is now ACCEPTED SURVEY. (Prior to 1910 the field notes and plats were APPROVED by the Surveyor's General, which action was equivalent to the present acceptance of the plat. After 1910 they were approved by the Surveyor General, or Supervisor of Surveys, and after examination accepted by the Commissioner of the General Land Office.) The field notes and plat become OFFICIAL records of the BLM when filed in the appropriate land office. The field notes and the plats of Mineral Surveys are both APPROVED at the State Office level.