--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2001 18:40:01 -0400 (EDT)
From: Karl Longstreth <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [Fwd: Mapping agency blocks access]
Sender: Karl Longstreth <[log in to unmask]>





FYI -- sorry for any duplicate posting.



-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Mapping agency blocks access
Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2001 11:17:24 -0400
From: "Patrice McDermott" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: "Federal information policy listserv" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "Federal information policy listserv" <[log in to unmask]>

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0901/092501p1.htm
September 25, 2001

Mapping agency blocks access, postpones outsourcing pact

      By Jason Peckenpaugh
      [log in to unmask]

The National Imagery and Mapping Agency blocked access to a wide
range of its publicly available maps last week while officials
reviewed the maps to make sure they did not contain information that
could jeopardize national security.

NIMA issued the unprecedented freeze last Wednesday as a security
precaution in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist strikes on the World
Trade Center and the Pentagon, according to NIMA spokeswoman Joan
Mears.

[...]

Last week, NIMA directed the U.S. Geological Survey and the Federal
Aviation Administration to halt sales of all NIMA-made topographic
maps and ordered the Library of Congress and National Archives and
Records Administration to deny public access to such maps, Mears
said. The sales restriction extended to private firms that are
licensed to sell NIMA products. NIMA’s nautical and aeronautical
maps, which are used for ship and air navigation, were not part of
the review and are still available to the public, according to Mears.


The Library of Congress quickly obtained a waiver to the NIMA freeze
so it could continue providing access to topographic maps of Vietnam,
a popular collectors’ item among Vietnam veterans, according to
Library officials and Ken Lee, CEO of Eastview Cartographic, a
private firm that sells some NIMA products.

One intelligence expert questioned the wisdom of the freeze, noting
that since NIMA is not the only source of map information,
restricting access to NIMA maps will not improve security.

[...]


---
Karl Longstreth <[log in to unmask]>
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