43 U.S.C. § 1457

Editorial Notes

Codification

Mar. 3, 1849, ch. 1089 Stat. 395Feb. 5, 1859, ch. 22, § 111 Stat. 379July 20, 1868, ch. 176, § 115 Stat. 92July 8, 1870, ch. 230, § 116 Stat. 198R.S. § 441 derived from acts , §§ 3, 5 to 9, ; , ; , , 106; , .

section 485 of Title 5Pub. L. 89–554, § 1Sept. 6, 196680 Stat. 378Section was formerly classified to prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by , , .

Amendments

Pub. L. 85–561957— substituted “Bounty-lands” for “Pensions and bounty-lands” in par. 3.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

section 10(b) of Pub. L. 102–285section 1 of Title 30“United States Bureau of Mines” substituted for “Bureau of Mines” in par. (5) pursuant to , set out as a note under , Mineral Lands and Mining.

Pub. L. 102–154section 31 of this title“United States Geological Survey” substituted for “Geological Survey” in par. 9 pursuant to provision of title I of , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1957 Amendment

Pub. L. 85–56Jan. 1, 1958section 2301 of Pub. L. 85–56Amendment by effective , see .

Pilot Program

Pub. L. 118–210, title II, § 223(c)Jan. 2, 2025138 Stat. 2781

Appointment of Highly Qualified Individuals To Address Certain Hiring Needs Within Department of the Interior

Pub. L. 118–158, div. B, title VII, § 2701Dec. 21, 2024138 Stat. 1752

Report to Congress on Availability of Federal Programs to Territories of United States; Authorization of Appropriations

Pub. L. 95–134, title IV, § 401Oct. 15, 197791 Stat. 1163Jan. 1, 1978, , , directed the Secretary of the Interior to submit to the Congress no later than , a report on Federal programs available to United States territories and authorized an appropriation of $50,000 for fiscal year 1978.

Study of Health and Safety Conditions in Metal and Nonmetallic Mines

Pub. L. 87–300Sept. 26, 196175 Stat. 649Sept. 26, 1961, , , directed Secretary of the Interior to make a study on health and safety conditions in metal and non­metallic mines, excluding coal and lignite mines, which study was to cover causes of injuries and health hazards, the relative effectiveness of voluntary versus mandatory reporting of accident statistics, the relative contribution to safety of inspection programs embodying right-of-entry and right-of-entry with enforcement authority, the effectiveness of health and safety training programs, the cost of an effective safety program, and the scope and adequacy of State mine safety laws, and to submit his findings, accompanied with recommendations for an effective safety program for metal and nonmetallic mines, excluding coal or lignite mines, to Congress not later then two years after .

Surveys, Investigations and Research; Appropriations

Pub. L. 85–743Aug. 23, 195872 Stat. 837

section 1681 of Title 48[For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note set out preceding , Territories and Insular Possessions.]

Conveyance to Indian Tribes of Federally Owned Buildings, Improvements, or Facilities

Act Aug. 6, 1956, ch. 97970 Stat. 1057

Aug. 6, 1956section 443a of Title 25[Act , set out above, was formerly classified to , Indians, prior to editorial reclassification as this note.]

Indian Goods and Supplies

Act Apr. 30, 1908, ch. 15335 Stat. 73

Apr. 30, 1908section 443b of Title 25[Act , set out above, was formerly classified to , Indians, prior to editorial reclassification as this note.]

Section as Unaffected by Submerged Lands Act

section 1303 of this titleProvisions of this section as not amended, modified, or repealed by Submerged Lands Act, see .

Statutory Notes and Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

May 24, 195064 Stat. 1262section 1451 of this titleFor 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. , 15 F.R. 3174, , set out under .

July 16, 1946section 1 of this titleFunctions of General Land Office and of Grazing Service consolidated into a new agency known as Bureau of Land Management by Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1946, § 403(a), eff. . See note set out under .

The following subjects of which Secretary of the Interior was charged with supervision by R.S. § 441, were transferred in the manner indicated:

act Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, § 432 Stat. 826Census—Transferred to Department of Commerce and Labor by , . (See Title 13, Census.)

July 21, 1930act July 3, 1930, ch. 863, § 146 Stat. 1016Pensions—Transferred to Veterans’ Administration by Ex. Ord. No. 5398 of , pursuant to , . (See Title 38, Veterans’ Benefits.)

Mar. 17, 1925act Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 55232 Stat. 830Patents—Transferred to Department of Commerce by Ex. Ord. No. 4175 of , pursuant to § 12, . (See Title 35, Patents.)

act Jan. 12, 1895, ch. 2328 Stat. 601Publications, custody and distribution—Transferred to Public Printer and superintendent of documents by , . (See Title 44, Public Printing and Documents.)

53 Stat. 1424section 3441 of Title 20Education—Transferred to Federal Security Agency by Reorg. Plan No. I of 1939, § 201, 4 F.R. 2728 , set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Federal Security Agency abolished by section 8 of Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1953, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, and its functions transferred to Department of Health, Education, and Welfare by section 5 of Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1953, set out in the Appendix to Title 5. Functions of Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (relating to education) transferred to Secretary of Education by , Education.

act July 1, 1916, ch. 209, § 139 Stat. 30954 Stat. 1236section 3508(b) of Title 20Government Hospital for the Insane—Designated St. Elizabeths Hospital by , —Transferred to Federal Security Agency by Reorg. Plan No. IV of 1940, § 11, 5 F.R. 2422, , set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Federal Security Agency abolished by section 8 of Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1953, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, and its functions transferred to Department of Health, Education, and Welfare by section 5 of Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1953, set out in the Appendix to Title 5. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare redesignated Department of Health and Human Services by , Education.

act Mar. 4, 1911, ch. 285, § 136 Stat. 1422act June 18, 1954, ch. 324, § 168 Stat. 265Pub. L. 99–371, title I, § 101(a)Aug. 4, 1986100 Stat. 78154 Stat. 1236section 3441 of Title 20Columbia Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb—Designated “Columbia Institution for the Deaf” by , , thereafter “Gallaudet College” by , , and subsequently “Gallaudet University” by , , .—Transferred to Federal Security Agency by Reorg. Plan No. IV of 1940, § 11, 5 F.R. 2422, . Federal Security Agency abolished by section 8 of Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1953, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, and functions transferred to Department of Health, Education, and Welfare by section 5 of Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1953, set out in the Appendix to Title 5. Functions of Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (relating to education) transferred to Secretary of Education by , Education. See, also, section 4301 et seq. of Title 20.

The following subjects and agencies were placed under supervision of Secretary of the Interior by acts and executive orders cited thereto:

June 8, 1923act Mar. 12, 1914, ch. 3738 Stat. 305Apr. 25, 1963Apr. 25, 1963section 6(i) of Pub. L. 89–670Oct. 15, 196680 Stat. 941Pub. L. 97–468, title VI, § 615(a)(4)Jan. 14, 198396 Stat. 2579Jan. 5, 1985section 1203 of Title 45section 615(a) of Pub. L. 97–468Alaska Railroad—Ex. Ord. No. 3861 of , pursuant to , , and Ex. Ord. 11107 of . For transfer to Secretary of Transportation of administration of Alaska Railroad and functions authorized to be carried out by Secretary of the Interior pursuant to Ex. Ord. No. 11107, , 28 F.R. 4225, relative to operation of railroad, see , , , which was classified to section 1655(i) of former Title 49, Transportation, prior to repeal by , , . Alaska Railroad transferred to State of Alaska on , pursuant to , Railroads, see .

Act June 30, 1932, ch. 320, § 147 Stat. 446act June 29, 1956, ch. 462, title I, § 10770 Stat. 377June 25, 1959Pub. L. 86–70, § 21(d)(7)73 Stat. 146Alaska Road Commission—, —Transferred to Department of Commerce by , , and terminated by act , , .

June 4, 1925Feb. 22, 1934Bureau of Mines—Transferred to Department of Commerce by Ex. Ord. No. 4239 of ; retransferred to Department of the Interior by Ex. Ord. No. 6611 of .

section 7152(d) of Title 42section 100 of Pub. L. 97–25796 Stat. 841section 7152 of Title 42Functions of Secretary of the Interior, Department of the Interior, and officers and components of Department of the Interior exercised by Bureau of Mines relating to fuel supply and demand analysis and data gathering, research and development relating to increased efficiency of production technology of solid fuel minerals other than research relating to mine health and safety and research relating to environmental and leasing consequences of solid fuel mining, and coal preparation and analysis transferred to Secretary of Energy by , The Public Health and Welfare. Subsequently, those functions transferred to, and vested in, Secretary of the Interior, by , , set out as a note under .

section 1 of Title 30For provisions relating to closure and transfer of functions of the United States Bureau of Mines, see note set out under , Mineral Lands and Mining.

Act June 17, 1902, ch. 109332 Stat. 388Bureau of Reclamation—, .

Power marketing functions of Bureau of Reclamation, including construction, operation, and maintenance of transmission lines and attendant facilities, transferred to Secretary of Energy by section 7152(a)(1)(D), (3) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and to be exercised by Secretary through a separate Administration within Department of Energy.

May 29, 1934July 28, 1950June 30, 1971July 1, 1971Feb. 6, 1973Feb. 14, 1980May 14, 1980Division of Territories and Island Possessions—Ex. Ord. No. 6726 of . Functions of Division transferred to Office of Territories established , pursuant to Secretarial Order No. 2577. Office of Territories ceased to exist on , and its functions assigned to Deputy Assistant Secretary for Territorial Affairs in Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Land Management by Secretarial Order No. 2942, eff. . Subsequently, functions and responsibilities of Deputy Assistant Secretary were assumed by Office of Territorial Affairs, headed by a Director, established by Secretarial Order No. 2951 of . Functions and responsibilities of Office of Territorial Affairs transferred to Office of Assistant Secretary for Territorial and International Affairs established by Secretarial Order No. 3046 of , as amended .

53 Stat. 143354 Stat. 1232act Aug. 8, 1956, ch. 1036, § 370 Stat. 1119section 742b of Title 16Fish and Wildlife Service—1939 Reorg. Plan No. II, § 4(e), (f), 4 F.R. 2731, ; 1940 Reorg. Plan No. III, § 3, 5 F.R. 2108, , set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Fish and Wildlife Service, created by Reorg. Plan No. III of 1940, was succeeded by United States Fish and Wildlife Service established by , . See , Conservation.

Act Mar. 3, 1879, ch. 18220 Stat. 394Geological Survey—, .

Act June 28, 1934, ch. 86548 Stat. 1269Grazing—, .

Act Aug. 25, 1916, ch. 40839 Stat. 535National Park Service—, .

July 1, 1939Office of Consumers’ Counsel of National Bituminous Coal Commission—Abolished and functions transferred to office of Solicitor of Department of the Interior, by Reorg. Plan No. II of 1939, § 4(c), eff. , set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Its functions, records, property, and personnel were subsequently transferred from Solicitor to Bituminous Coal Consumers’ Counsel.

Feb. 12, 1958Feb. 28, 1935Dec. 1, 1937June 3, 1946Petroleum conservation—Section 3 of Ex. Ord. No. 10752, eff. , 23 F.R. 973, superseded Ex. Ord. No. 6979, eff. , Ex. Ord. No. 7756, eff. , 2 F.R. 2664, and Ex. Ord. No. 9732, eff. , 11 F.R. 5985, formerly classified as notes to this section.

Emergency Preparedness Functions

Nov. 18, 1988section 5195 of Title 42For assignment of certain emergency preparedness functions to Secretary of the Interior, see Parts 1, 2, and 10 of Ex. Ord. No. 12656, , 53 F.R. 47491, set out as a note under , The Public Health and Welfare.

Executive Documents

Executive Order No. 9633

Sept. 28, 1945Jan. 16, 1953Ex. Ord. No. 9633, eff. , 10 F.R. 12305, which reserved and placed certain resources of the Continental Shelf under the control and jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 10426, eff. , 18 F.R. 405.

Ex. Ord. No. 12906. Coordinating Geographic Data Acquisition and Access: The National Spatial Data Infrastructure

Apr. 11, 1994Feb. 28, 2003Ex. Ord. No. 12906, , 59 F.R. 17671, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13286, § 25, , 68 F.R. 10624, provided:

Geographic information is critical to promote economic development, improve our stewardship of natural resources, and protect the environment. Modern technology now permits improved acquisition, distribution, and utilization of geographic (or geospatial) data and mapping. The National Performance Review has recommended that the executive branch develop, in cooperation with State, local, and tribal governments, and the private sector, a coordinated National Spatial Data Infrastructure to support public and private sector applications of geospatial data in such areas as transportation, community development, agriculture, emergency response, environmental management, and information technology.

NOW, THEREFORE, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America; and to implement the recommendations of the National Performance Review; to advance the goals of the National Information Infrastructure; and to avoid wasteful duplication of effort and promote effective and economical management of resources by Federal, State, local, and tribal governments, it is ordered as follows:

Section 1. DEFINITIONS. (a) “National Spatial Data Infrastructure” (“NSDI”) means the technology, policies, standards, and human resources necessary to acquire, process, store, distribute, and improve utilization of geospatial data.

(b) “Geospatial data” means information that identifies the geographic location and characteristics of natural or constructed features and boundaries on the earth. This information may be derived from, among other things, remote sensing, mapping, and surveying technologies. Statistical data may be included in this definition at the discretion of the collecting agency.

(c) The “National Geospatial Data Clearinghouse” means a distributed network of geospatial data producers, managers, and users linked electronically.

Sec. 2. EXECUTIVE BRANCH LEADERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE COORDINATED NATIONAL SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE. (a) The Federal Geographic Data Committee (“FGDC”), established by the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) Circular No. A–16 (“Coordination of Surveying, Mapping, and Related Spatial Data Activities”) and chaired by the Secretary of the Department of the Interior (“Secretary”) or the Secretary’s designee, shall coordinate the Federal Government’s development of the NSDI.

(b) Each member agency shall ensure that its representative on the FGDC holds a policy-level position.

(c) Executive branch departments and agencies (“agencies”) that have an interest in the development of the NSDI are encouraged to join the FGDC.

(d) This Executive order is intended to strengthen and enhance the general policies described in OMB Circular No. A–16. Each agency shall meet its respective responsibilities under OMB Circular No. A–16.

(e) The FGDC shall seek to involve State, local, and tribal governments in the development and implementation of the initiatives contained in this order. The FGDC shall utilize the expertise of academia, the private sector, professional societies, and others as necessary to aid in the development and implementation of the objectives of this order.

SecEstablishing a National Geospatial Data Clearinghouse. 3. DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL DATA CLEARINGHOUSE. (a) . The Secretary, through the FGDC, and in consultation with, as appropriate, State, local, and tribal governments and other affected parties, shall take steps within 6 months of the date of this order, to establish an electronic National Geospatial Data Clearinghouse (“Clearinghouse”) for the NSDI. The Clearinghouse shall be compatible with the National Information Infrastructure to enable integration with that effort.

Standardized Documentation of Data(b) . Beginning 9 months from the date of this order, each agency shall document all new geospatial data it collects or produces, either directly or indirectly, using the standard under development by the FGDC, and make that standardized documentation electronically accessible to the Clearinghouse network. Within 1 year of the date of this order, agencies shall adopt a schedule, developed in consultation with the FGDC, for documenting, to the extent practicable, geospatial data previously collected or produced, either directly or indirectly, and making that data documentation electronically accessible to the Clearinghouse network.

Public Access to Geospatial Data(c) . Within 1 year of the date of this order, each agency shall adopt a plan, in consultation with the FGDC, establishing procedures to make geospatial data available to the public, to the extent permitted by law, current policies, and relevant OMB circulars, including OMB Circular No. A–130 (“Management of Federal Information Resources”) and any implementing bulletins.

Agency Utilization of the Clearinghouse(d) . Within 1 year of the date of this order, each agency shall adopt internal procedures to ensure that the agency accesses the Clearinghouse before it expends Federal funds to collect or produce new geospatial data, to determine whether the information has already been collected by others, or whether cooperative efforts to obtain the data are possible.

Funding(e) . The Department of the Interior shall provide funding for the Clearinghouse to cover the initial prototype testing, standards development, and monitoring of the performance of the Clearinghouse. Agencies shall continue to fund their respective programs that collect and produce geospatial data; such data is then to be made part of the Clearinghouse for wider accessibility.

SecGeneral FGDC Responsibility. 4. DATA STANDARDS ACTIVITIES. (a) . The FGDC shall develop standards for implementing the NSDI, in consultation and cooperation with State, local, and tribal governments, the private and academic sectors, and, to the extent feasible, the international community, consistent with OMB Circular No. A–119 (“Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Standards”), and other applicable law and policies.

Standards for Which Agencies Have Specific Responsibilities(b) . Agencies assigned responsibilities for data categories by OMB Circular No. A–16 shall develop, through the FGDC, standards for those data categories, so as to ensure that the data produced by all agencies are compatible.

Other Standards(c) . The FGDC may from time to time identify and develop, through its member agencies, and to the extent permitted by law, other standards necessary to achieve the objectives of this order. The FGDC will promote the use of such standards and, as appropriate, such standards shall be submitted to the Department of Commerce for consideration as Federal Information Processing Standards. Those standards shall apply to geospatial data as defined in section 1 of this order.

Agency Adherence to Standards(d) . Federal agencies collecting or producing geospatial data, either directly or indirectly (e.g. through grants, partnerships, or contracts with other entities), shall ensure, prior to obligating funds for such activities, that data will be collected in a manner that meets all relevant standards adopted through the FGDC process.

Sec. 5. NATIONAL DIGITAL GEOSPATIAL DATA FRAMEWORK. In consultation with State, local, and tribal governments and within 9 months of the date of this order, the FGDC shall submit a plan and schedule to OMB for completing the initial implementation of a national digital geospatial data framework (“framework”) by January 2000 and for establishing a process of ongoing data maintenance. The framework shall include geospatial data that are significant, in the determination of the FGDC, to a broad variety of users within any geographic area or nationwide. At a minimum, the plan shall address how the initial transportation, hydrology, and boundary elements of the framework might be completed by January 1998 in order to support the decennial census of 2000.

Sec. 6. PARTNERSHIPS FOR DATA ACQUISITION. The Secretary, under the auspices of the FGDC, and within 9 months of the date of this order, shall develop, to the extent permitted by law, strategies for maximizing cooperative participatory efforts with State, local, and tribal governments, the private sector, and other nonfederal organizations to share costs and improve efficiencies of acquiring geospatial data consistent with this order.

Sec5 U.S.C. 105. 7. SCOPE. (a) For the purposes of this order, the term “agency” shall have the same meaning as the term “Executive agency” in , and shall include the military departments and components of the Department of Defense.

(b) The following activities are exempt from compliance with this order:

(i) national security-related activities of the Department of Defense as determined by the Secretary of Defense;

(ii) national defense-related activities of the Department of Energy as determined by the Secretary of Energy;

(iii) intelligence activities as determined by the Director of Central Intelligence; and

(iv) the national security-related activities of the Department of Homeland Security as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

(c) The NSDI may involve the mapping, charting, and geodesy activities of the Department of Defense relating to foreign areas, as determined by the Secretary of Defense.

(d) This order does not impose any requirements on tribal governments.

40 U.S.C. 759(d)Public Law 100–235(e) Nothing in the order shall be construed to contravene the development of Federal Information Processing Standards and Guidelines adopted and promulgated under the provisions of section 111(d) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 [former ], as amended by the Computer Security Act of 1987 (), or any other United States law, regulation, or international agreement.

Sec. 8. JUDICIAL REVIEW. This order is intended only to improve the internal management of the executive branch and is not intended to, and does not, create any right to administrative or judicial review, or any other right or benefit or trust responsibility, substantive or procedural, enforceable by a party against the United States, its agencies or instrumentalities, its officers or employees, or any other person.