---
kind: "section"
citation: "43 U.S.C. § 42"
title: "43"
title_heading: "Public Lands"
number: "42"
heading: "Distribution of maps and atlases, etc."
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/43/42"
units:
  - "Chapter 2 — United States Geological Survey"
---

# §42. Distribution of maps and atlases, etc.


The [Director](/usc/43/31b.md?p=3) of the United States Geological [Survey](/usc/43/31b.md?p=10) is authorized and directed, on the approval of the [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7) of the Interior, to dispose of the topographic and geologic maps and atlases of the United States, made and published by the United States Geological [Survey](/usc/43/31b.md?p=10), at such prices and under such regulations as may from time to time be fixed by him and approved by the [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7) of the Interior; and a number of copies of each map or atlas, not exceeding five hundred, shall be distributed gratuitously among foreign governments and departments of our own Government to literary and scientific [associations](/usc/43/31b.md?p=2), and to such educational institutions or libraries as may be designated by the [Director](/usc/43/31b.md?p=3) of the [Survey](/usc/43/31b.md?p=10) and approved by the [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7) of the Interior. On and after June 7, 1924, the distribution of geological publications to libraries designated as special depositaries of such publications shall be discontinued.


## Source credit

(Feb. 18, 1897, No. 13, § 1, 29 Stat. 701; June 7, 1924, ch. 303, 43 Stat. 592; Pub. L. 102–154, title I, Nov. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1000.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

The first sentence is from Joint Res. Feb. 18, 1897; the second sentence is from act June 7, 1924.

Joint Res. Feb. 18, 1897 superseded a provision contained in act June 11, 1896, ch. 420, 29 Stat. 436, authorizing the sale of topographical maps with text at cost and ten per centum added.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

“United States Geological Survey” substituted in text for “Geological Survey” pursuant to provision of title I of Pub. L. 102–154, set out as a note under section 31 of this title.

### 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.