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Title 43, Public LandsRelease 119-102

§1460 Copies of Records, Documents, Etc.; Charges; Disposition of Receipts

Title 43 › CHAPTER 31 — DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR › § 1460

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Allows the Secretary of the Interior or department officers to give certified or uncertified copies of official books, records, maps, and similar papers when doing so won’t hurt the government. They can charge what it costs to make the copy plus handling fees set by the Secretary or staff, and they must add $0.25 for each certification and seal on certified copies. No fee for copies made or certified for official use by any government officer. For government-printed rules, regulations, or instructions that are distributed free, only $0.25 is charged for an authenticated copy. All money collected must be paid into the Treasury and credited to the current appropriation that covers the copying costs.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §1460

Public Lands, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary of the Interior, or any of the officers of that Department may, when not prejudicial to the interests of the Government, furnish authenticated or unauthenticated copies of any official books, records, papers, documents, maps, plats, or diagrams within his custody and may charge therefore a sum equal to the cost of production thereof, plus the cost of administrative services involved in handling the records for such purpose, as these costs may be determined by the Secretary of the Interior or such subordinate officials or employees as he may designate, and in addition the sum of 25 cents for each certificate of verification and the seal attached to authenticated copies. There shall be no charge for the making or verification of copies required for official use by the officers of any branch of the Government. Only a charge of 25 cents shall be made for furnishing authenticated copies of any rules, regulations, or instructions printed by the government for gratuitous distribution. The money received for copies under this section shall be deposited in the Treasury to the credit of the appropriations then current and chargeable for the cost of furnishing copies as herein authorized.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 488 of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, § 1, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

Amendments

1950—Act Aug. 3, 1950, included within the price of copies of records furnished by the Department the cost of the administrative expenses involved as well as the cost of production. 1947—Act July 30, 1947, omitted specific charges for copies of books, records, etc., inserted provision that charge for copies would amount to cost of production as determined by the Secretary of the Interior or his designee, and inserted provision relating to deposit of receipts.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

For

Transfer of Functions

of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of the Interior, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Interior, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1262, set out under section 1451 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 1460

Title 43, Public Lands

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102