Ryan Malloy d8d160efdc Prep for PyPI release: error handling, better docs, MIT license

- Add BLMAPIError exception with user-friendly error messages
- Rename is_public to allows_public_access with correct logic
  (BIA/DOD are federal but restricted, not public access)
- Add MIT license
- Expand pyproject.toml with URLs, keywords, classifiers
- Rewrite README with badges, use cases, coverage map, examples

2026-01-25 12:12:56 -07:00

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mcblmplss

MCP server for querying U.S. public land data by coordinates.

Drop a pin anywhere in the western U.S. and instantly get:

PLSS location — Section 12, Township 4N, Range 6E
Land manager — BLM, Forest Service, National Park, Private, etc.
Mining claims — Active lode/placer claims with serial numbers

When would I use this?

Use Case	What you get
Dispersed camping	Check if land is BLM/Forest Service before setting up camp
Land research	Get legal descriptions for title searches or due diligence
Prospecting	Find existing mining claims before staking your own
Navigation	Convert GPS coordinates to the township/range system used on paper maps
GIS workflows	Programmatic access to BLM cadastral data

Installation

pip install mcblmplss

Or run directly without installing:

uvx mcblmplss

Add to Claude Code

claude mcp add blm "uvx mcblmplss"

Tools

`get_plss_location`

Convert coordinates to Section/Township/Range.

> get_plss_location(latitude=40.0, longitude=-105.0)

Section 9, Township 1N, Range 68W, 6th Meridian
State: CO
PLSS ID: CO060010S0680W0SN090

`get_land_manager`

Find out who manages the land (and whether you can access it).

> get_land_manager(latitude=38.5, longitude=-110.5)

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - Department of the Interior
Unit: Bureau of Land Management
State: UT
Status: Federal, Public access

> get_land_manager(latitude=40.0, longitude=-105.0)

Private (PVT)
State: CO

`get_mining_claims`

Find active mining claims at a location.

> get_mining_claims(latitude=39.5, longitude=-117.0)

Found 42 mining claim(s):

MAGA #6
  Serial: NV105221817
  Type: Lode Claim
  Status: Active
  Acres: 20.66

MS 2
  Serial: NV105223666
  Type: Lode Claim
  Status: Active
  Acres: 20.66
...

Coverage

Data is available for 30 states where the Public Land Survey System was used:

Not covered: Eastern seaboard states (use metes-and-bounds), Texas (independent surveys), Hawaii.

Error Handling

The server returns clear error messages when:

Outside PLSS coverage: "No PLSS data found. Location may be outside surveyed areas."
API timeout: "BLM API request timed out. The service may be slow or unavailable."
No mining claims: "No mining claims found at this location."

Data Sources

All data comes from official BLM ArcGIS REST services:

Data	Source	Update Frequency
PLSS	BLM National PLSS CadNSDI	Quarterly
Surface Management	BLM SMA	Annual
Mining Claims	BLM MLRS	Weekly

Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only. For legal land descriptions, consult official BLM records or a licensed surveyor.

Development

git clone https://git.supported.systems/MCP/mcblmplss.git
cd mcblmplss
uv sync
uv run mcblmplss

License

MIT

3.6 KiB Raw Blame History