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Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73

§455 Maps, charts, and geomatics data: public availability; exceptions

Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle A— - General Military Law › Part PART I— - ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL MILITARY POWERS › Chapter CHAPTER 22— - NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL-INTELLIGENCE AGENCY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - MAPS, CHARTS, AND GEOMATICS PRODUCTS › § 455

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency must sell maps and charts that are at scales of 1:500,000 and smaller, except when they are kept secret. Maps and charts can be withheld if they are properly classified under an Executive order for national defense or foreign policy. Even if other laws say otherwise, the Secretary of Defense can keep from the public any DoD geomatics product that: is covered by an international agreement that limits sharing; a written finding says would reveal sources, methods, or capabilities used to make it; or a written finding by the Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency says releasing it would harm ongoing military or intelligence operations, plans, or capabilities. “Geomatics product” means imagery, imagery intelligence, or geospatial information. Rules to carry out these requirements must be published in the Federal Register for public comment at least 30 days before they take effect and must explain when withheld products may be released to U.S. allies and to qualified U.S. contractors (including small businesses) who need them for government contracts.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §455

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency shall offer for sale maps and charts at scales of 1:500,000 and smaller, except those withheld in accordance with subsection (b) or those specifically authorized under criteria established by Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy and in fact properly classified pursuant to such Executive order.
(b)(1)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Defense may withhold from public disclosure any geomatics product in the possession of, or under the control of, the Department of Defense—
(A)that was obtained or produced, or that contains information that was provided, pursuant to an international agreement that restricts disclosure of such product or information to government officials of the agreeing parties or that restricts use of such product or information to government purposes only;
(B)that contains information that the Secretary of Defense has determined in writing would, if disclosed, reveal sources and methods, or capabilities, used to obtain source material for production of the geomatics product; or
(C)that contains information that the Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency has determined in writing would, if disclosed, jeopardize or interfere with ongoing military or intelligence operations, reveal military operational or contingency plans, or reveal, jeopardize, or compromise military or intelligence capabilities.
(2)In this subsection, the term “geomatics product” means imagery, imagery intelligence, or geospatial information.
(c)(1)Regulations to implement this section (including any amendments to such regulations) shall be published in the Federal Register for public comment for a period of not less than 30 days before they take effect.
(2)Regulations under this section shall address the conditions under which release of geomatics products authorized under subsection (b) to be withheld from public disclosure would be appropriate—
(A)in the case of allies of the United States; and
(B)in the case of qualified United States contractors (including contractors that are small business concerns) who need such products for use in the performance of contracts with the United States.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021—Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “geomatics” for “geodetic” in section catchline and wherever appearing in text. 2003—Subsecs. (a), (b)(1)(C). Pub. L. 108–136 substituted “National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency” for “National Imagery and Mapping Agency”. 2000—Subsec. (b)(1)(C). Pub. L. 106–398 substituted “, reveal military operational or contingency plans, or reveal, jeopardize, or compromise military or intelligence capabilities” for “or reveal military operational or contingency plans”. 1997—Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 105–85, § 933(a), inserted “, or capabilities,” after “methods”. Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 105–85, § 933(b)(1), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “In this subsection, the term ‘geodetic product’ means any map, chart, geodetic data, or related product.” 1996—Pub. L. 104–201 renumbered section 2796 of this title as this section and substituted “National Imagery and Mapping Agency” for “Defense Mapping Agency” in subsecs. (a) and (b)(1)(C). 1994—Subsec. (b)(1)(C). Pub. L. 103–359 inserted “jeopardize or interfere with ongoing military or intelligence operations or” after “disclosed,”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–201 effective Oct. 1, 1996, see section 1124 of Pub. L. 104–201, set out as a note under section 193 of this title.

Regulations

Pub. L. 102–88, title V, § 502(b), Aug. 14, 1991, 105 Stat. 436, directed that

Regulations

to implement section 2796 (now 455) of this title be published in the Federal Register for public comment in accordance with subsec. (c) of that section not later than 90 days after Aug. 14, 1991.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 455

Title 10 — Armed Forces

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73