Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110
§18387 Near-earth Object Survey and Policy with Respect to Threats Posed
Title 42 › CHAPTER 159 — SPACE EXPLORATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND SCIENCE › SUBCHAPTER VII — SPACE SCIENCE › § 18387
Summary
Congress restates a prior U.S. policy on surveying near‑Earth asteroids and comets. By September 30, 2012, the OSTP Director must create alert procedures and assign one or more federal agencies to protect the United States and coordinate with other countries.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §18387
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Policy reaffirmation
Congress reaffirms the policy set forth in section 20102(g) of title 51 relating to surveying near-Earth asteroids and comets.
(b)Implementation
The Director of the OSTP shall implement, before September 30, 2012, a policy for notifying Federal agencies and relevant emergency response institutions of an impending near-Earth object threat if near-term public safety is at risk, and assign a Federal agency or agencies to be responsible for protecting the United States and working with the international community on such threats.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification In subsec. (a), “section 20102(g) of title 51” substituted for “section 102(g) of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (42 U.S.C. 2451(g))” on authority of Pub. L. 111–314, § 5(e), Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3443, which Act enacted Title 51, National and Commercial Space Programs.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 18387
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110