Title 43 — Public LandsRelease 119-73

§2808 Covered agency responsibilities

Title 43 › Chapter CHAPTER 46— - GEOSPATIAL DATA › § 2808

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Each covered agency must make and carry out a plan for using geospatial information that fits with the National Spatial Data Infrastructure plan (see section 2804(c)). Agencies must collect, keep, share, and preserve geospatial data so others can use it. They must use geospatial and metadata standards, put metadata on the GeoPlatform, include geospatial records in NARA-approved record schedules, and set aside money and staff to do these jobs and to support the Committee. Agencies must work with other federal, State, tribal, local, college, and private groups, build on existing non‑Federal data when possible, protect privacy, check whether declassified data can be added, search all sources (including the GeoPlatform) before buying new data, try to make sure funded data is high quality, and name a contact person for coordinating National Geospatial Data Asset themes. They must also use geospatial information to help the public, improve operations, support decision making, and improve reporting. Each agency must send an annual report to the Committee about progress on the plan and the other duties. Agencies must include geospatial items in their budget submission to the President under sections 1105(a) and 1108 of title 31, keep an inventory of geospatial assets under OMB Circular A–130, and prepare an annual report to Congress identifying Federal geospatial assets as defined in OMB Circular A–16 and OMB memo M–11–03 (November 10, 2010). Agencies must disclose contracts, grants, or agreements involving geospatial data (for example on www.USASpending.gov and www.itdashboard.gov). OMB will consider required summaries and comments when reviewing budgets and will report on progress in its E‑Government status report under section 3606 of title 44. At least once every 2 years, the agency inspector general (or the senior ethics official if there is no inspector general) must send Congress an audit of how the agency collects, maintains, shares, and preserves geospatial data. That audit must check compliance with the geospatial standards (including metadata under section 2806), the duties above, and limits on Federal funds under section 2809.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §2808

Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Each covered agency shall—

(1)prepare, maintain, publish, and implement a strategy for advancing geographic information and related geospatial data and activities appropriate to the mission of the covered agency, in support of the strategic plan for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure prepared under section 2804(c) of this title;

(2)collect, maintain, disseminate, and preserve geospatial data such that the resulting data, information, or products can be readily shared with other Federal agencies and non-Federal users;

(3)promote the integration of geospatial data from all sources;

(4)ensure that data information products and other records created in geospatial data and activities are included on agency record schedules that have been approved by the National Archives and Records Administration;

(5)allocate resources to fulfill the responsibilities of effective geospatial data collection, production, and stewardship with regard to related activities of the covered agency, and as necessary to support the activities of the Committee;

(6)use the geospatial data standards, including the standards for metadata for geospatial data, and other appropriate standards, including documenting geospatial data with the relevant metadata and making metadata available through the GeoPlatform;

(7)coordinate and work in partnership with other Federal agencies, agencies of State, tribal, and local governments, institutions of higher education, and the private sector to efficiently and cost-effectively collect, integrate, maintain, disseminate, and preserve geospatial data, building upon existing non-Federal geospatial data to the extent possible;

(8)use geospatial information to—

(A)make Federal geospatial information and services more useful to the public;

(B)enhance operations;

(C)support decision making; and

(D)enhance reporting to the public and to Congress;

(9)protect personal privacy and maintain confidentiality in accordance with Federal policy and law;

(10)participate in determining, when applicable, whether declassified data can contribute to and become a part of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure;

(11)search all sources, including the GeoPlatform, to determine if existing Federal, State, local, or private geospatial data meets the needs of the covered agency before expending funds for geospatial data collection;

(12)to the maximum extent practicable, ensure that a person receiving Federal funds for geospatial data collection provides high-quality data; and

(13)appoint a contact to coordinate with the lead covered agencies for collection, acquisition, maintenance, and dissemination of the National Geospatial Data Asset data themes used by the covered agency.

(b)(1)Each covered agency shall submit to the Committee an annual report regarding the achievements of the covered agency in preparing and implementing the strategy described in subsection (a)(1) and complying with the other requirements under subsection (a).

(2)Each covered agency shall—

(A)include geospatial data in preparing the budget submission of the covered agency to the President under section 1105(a) and 1108 of title 31;

(B)maintain an inventory of all geospatial data assets in accordance with OMB Circular A–130, or any successor thereto; and

(C)prepare an annual report to Congress identifying Federal-wide geospatial data assets, as defined in OMB Circular A–16, as set forth in OMB memo M–11–03, Issuance of OMB Circular A–16 Supplemental Guidance (November 10, 2010), or any successor thereto.

(3)Each covered agency shall disclose each contract, cooperative agreement, grant, or other transaction that deals with geospatial data, which may include posting information relating to the contract, cooperative agreement, grant, or other transaction on www.USAspending.gov and www.itdashboard.gov, or any successors thereto.

(4)In reviewing the annual budget justifications submitted by covered agencies, the Office of Management and Budget shall take into consideration the summary and evaluations required under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 2802(c)(10) of this title, comments, and replies to comments as required under paragraphs (11) and (12) of section 2802(c) of this title, in its annual evaluation of the budget justification of each covered agency.

(5)The Office of Management and Budget shall include a discussion of the summaries and evaluation of the progress in establishing the National Spatial Data Infrastructure in each E-Government status report submitted under section 3606 of title 44.

(c)Not less than once every 2 years, the inspector general of a covered agency (or senior ethics official of the covered agency for a covered agency without an inspector general) shall submit to Congress an audit of the collection, production, acquisition, maintenance, distribution, use, and preservation of geospatial data by the covered agency, which shall include a review of—

(1)the compliance of the covered agency with the standards for geospatial data, including metadata for geospatial data, established under section 2806 of this title;

(2)the compliance of the covered agency with the requirements under subsection (a); and

(3)the compliance of the covered agency on the limitation on the use of Federal funds under section 2809 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 2808

Title 43 — Public Lands

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73