---
kind: "section"
citation: "43 U.S.C. § 2808"
title: "43"
title_heading: "Public Lands"
number: "2808"
heading: "Covered agency responsibilities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/43/2808"
units:
  - "Chapter 46 — Geospatial Data"
---

# §2808. Covered agency responsibilities

- (a) **In general—** Each [covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3) shall—
  - (1) prepare, maintain, publish, and implement a strategy for advancing geographic information and related [geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5) and activities appropriate to the mission of the [covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3), in support of the strategic plan for the [National Spatial Data Infrastructure](/usc/43/2801.md?p=13) prepared under [section 2804(c) of this title](/usc/43/2804.md?p=c);
  - (2) collect, maintain, disseminate, and preserve [geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5) 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](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5) from all sources;
  - (4) ensure that data information products and other records created in [geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5) 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](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5) collection, production, and stewardship with regard to related activities of the [covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3), and as necessary to support the activities of the [Committee](/usc/43/2801.md?p=2);
  - (6) use the [geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5) standards, including the standards for [metadata for geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=11), and other appropriate standards, including documenting [geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5) with the relevant metadata and making metadata available through the [GeoPlatform](/usc/43/2801.md?p=4);
  - (7) coordinate and work in partnership with other Federal agencies, agencies of [State](/usc/43/31b.md?p=8), tribal, and [local governments](/usc/43/2801.md?p=10), institutions of higher education, and the private sector to efficiently and cost-effectively collect, integrate, maintain, disseminate, and preserve [geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5), building upon existing non-Federal [geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5) 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](/usc/43/2801.md?p=13);
  - (11) search all sources, including the [GeoPlatform](/usc/43/2801.md?p=4), to determine if existing Federal, [State](/usc/43/31b.md?p=8), local, or private [geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5) meets the needs of the [covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3) before expending funds for [geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5) collection;
  - (12) to the maximum extent practicable, ensure that a person receiving Federal funds for [geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5) collection provides high-quality data; and
  - (13) appoint a contact to coordinate with the [lead covered agencies](/usc/43/2801.md?p=9) for collection, acquisition, maintenance, and dissemination of the [National Geospatial Data Asset data themes](/usc/43/2801.md?p=12) used by the [covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3).
- (b) **Reporting—**
  - (1) **In general—** Each [covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3) shall submit to the [Committee](/usc/43/2801.md?p=2) an annual report regarding the achievements of the [covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3) in preparing and implementing the strategy described in [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1) and complying with the other requirements under [subsection (a)](#a).
  - (2) **Budget submission—** Each [covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3) shall—
    - (A) include [geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5) in preparing the budget submission of the [covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3) to the President under sections [1105(a)](/usc/31/1105.md?p=a) and [1108](/usc/31/1108.md) of title 31;
    - (B) maintain an inventory of all [geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5) [assets](/usc/43/505a.md?p=1-A) in accordance with OMB Circular A–130, or any successor thereto; and
    - (C) prepare an annual report to Congress identifying Federal-wide [geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5) [assets](/usc/43/505a.md?p=1-A), 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) **Disclosure—** Each [covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3) shall disclose each contract, cooperative agreement, grant, or other transaction that deals with [geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5), 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) **OMB review—** In reviewing the annual budget justifications submitted by [covered agencies](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3), 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](/usc/43/2802.md?p=c-10), comments, and replies to comments as required under paragraphs (11) and (12) of [section 2802(c) of this title](/usc/43/2802.md?p=c), in its annual evaluation of the budget justification of each [covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3).
  - (5) **Reporting—** 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](/usc/43/2801.md?p=13) in each E-Government status report submitted under [section 3606 of title 44](/usc/44/3606.md).
- (c) **Audits—** Not less than once every 2 years, the inspector general of a [covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3) (or senior ethics official of the [covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3) for a [covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3) without an inspector general) shall submit to Congress an audit of the collection, production, acquisition, maintenance, distribution, use, and preservation of [geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5) by the [covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3), which shall include a review of—
  - (1) the compliance of the [covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3) with the standards for [geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5), including [metadata for geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=11), established under [section 2806 of this title](/usc/43/2806.md);
  - (2) the compliance of the [covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3) with the requirements under [subsection (a)](#a); and
  - (3) the compliance of the [covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3) on the limitation on the use of Federal funds under [section 2809 of this title](/usc/43/2809.md).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title VII, § 759, Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3425.)