43 U.S.C. § 2806 — Geospatial data standards

Page 655 TITLE 43—PUBLIC LANDS § 2806 ered agencies for the National Geospatial Data Asset data theme. (2) General responsibility The lead covered agencies for a National Geospatial Data Asset data theme shall be re- sponsible for ensuring the coordinated man- agement of the data, supporting resources (in- cluding technology and personnel), and related services and products of the National Geospatial Data Asset data theme. (3) Specific responsibilities To assist in fulfilling the responsibilities under paragraph (2) with respect to a National Geospatial Data Asset data theme, the lead covered agencies shall— (A) provide leadership and facilitate the development and implementation of geospatial data standards for the National Geospatial Data Asset data theme, with a particular emphasis on a data content stand- ard for the National Geospatial Data Asset data theme, including by— (i) assessing existing standards; (ii) identifying anticipated or needed data standards; and (iii) developing a plan to originate and implement needed standards with relevant community and international practices— (I) in accordance with Office of Man- agement and Budget Circular A–119, or any successor thereto; and (II) consistent with or as a part of the plan described in subparagraph (B); (B) provide leadership and facilitate the development and implementation of a plan for nationwide population of the National Geospatial Data Asset data theme, which shall— (i) include developing partnership pro- grams with States, Indian tribes, institu- tions of higher education, private sector entities, other Federal agencies, and local governments; (ii) meet the needs of users of geospatial data; (iii) address human and financial re- source needs; (iv) identify needs relating to standards, metadata for geospatial data within the National Geospatial Data Asset data theme, and the GeoPlatform; and (v) expedite the development of nec- essary National Geospatial Data Asset data themes; (C) establish goals that support the stra- tegic plan for the National Spatial Data In- frastructure prepared under section 2804(c) of this title; (D) as necessary, collect and analyze infor- mation from users of geospatial data within the National Geospatial Data Asset data theme regarding the needs of the users for geospatial data and incorporate the needs of users in strategies relating to the National Geospatial Data Asset data theme; and (E) as part of administering the National Geospatial Data Asset data theme— (i) designate a point of contact within the lead covered agency who shall be re- sponsible for developing, maintaining, co- ordination relating to, and disseminating data using the GeoPlatform; (ii) submit to the Committee— (I) a performance report, at least annu- ally, that documents the activities relat- ing to and implementation of the Na- tional Geospatial Data Asset data theme, including progress in achieving the requirements under subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D); and (II) comments, as appropriate, regard- ing the summary and evaluation of the performance report provided by the Com- mittee under section 2802(c)(12) of this title; (iii) publish maps or comparable graph- ics online (in accordance with the mapping conventions specified by the Committee) showing the extent and status of the Na- tional Geospatial Data Asset data themes for which the covered agency is a lead cov- ered agency; (iv) encourage individuals and entities that are a source of geospatial data or metadata for geospatial data for the Na- tional Geospatial Data Asset data theme to provide access to such data through the GeoPlatform; (v) coordinate with the GeoPlatform; and (vi) identify and publish proven practices for the use and application of geospatial data of the lead covered agency. (Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title VII, § 756, Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3421.) § 2806. Geospatial data standards (a) In general In accordance with section 216 of the E-Gov- ernment Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3501 note), the Committee shall establish standards for each National Geospatial Data Asset data theme, which— (1) shall include— (A) rules, conditions, guidelines, and char- acteristics for the geospatial data within the National Geospatial Data Asset data theme and related processes, technology, and orga- nization; and (B) content standards for metadata for geospatial data within the National Geospatial Data Asset data theme; (2) to the maximum extent practicable, shall be consistent with international standards and protocols; (3) shall include universal data standards that shall be acceptable for the purposes of de- classified intelligence community data; and (4) the Committee shall periodically review and update as necessary for the standards to remain current, relevant, and effective. (b) Development of standards The Committee shall— (1) develop and promulgate standards under this section— (A) in accordance with Office of Manage- ment and Budget Circular A–119, or any suc- cessor thereto; and Page 656 TITLE 43—PUBLIC LANDS § 2807 (B) after consultation with a broad range of data users and providers; (2) to the maximum extent possible, use na- tional and international standards adopted by voluntary standards consensus bodies; and (3) establish new standards only to the ex- tent standards described in paragraph (2) do not exist. (c) Exclusion The Secretary of the Interior shall withhold from public disclosure any information the dis- closure of which reasonably could be expected to cause damage to the national interest, security, or defense of the United States, including infor- mation relating to geospatial intelligence data activities, as determined in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence. (Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title VII, § 757, Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3423.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT Section 216 of the E-Government Act of 2002, referred to in subsec. (a), is section 216 of Pub. L. 107–347, which is set out in a note under section 3501 of Title 44, Public Printing and Documents. § 2807. Geoplatform (a) In general The Committee shall operate an electronic service that provides access to geospatial data and metadata for geospatial data to the general public, to be known as the GeoPlatform. (b) Implementation (1) In general The GeoPlatform— (A) shall— (i) be available through the internet and other communications means; (ii) be accessible through a common interface; (iii) include metadata for all geospatial data collected by covered agencies, di- rectly or indirectly; (iv) include download access to all open geospatial data directly or indirectly col- lected by covered agencies; and (v) include a set of programming instruc- tions and standards providing an auto- mated means of accessing available geospatial data, which— (I) harmonize sources and data stand- ards associated with geospatial data, in- cluding metadata; and (II) to the maximum extent prac- ticable, as determined by the Chair- person of the Committee, shall be made publicly available; (B) may include geospatial data from a source other than a covered agency, if deter- mined appropriate by the Committee; and (C) shall not store or serve proprietary in- formation or data acquired under a license by the Federal Government, unless author- ized by the data provider. (2) Managing partner The Chairperson of the Committee shall des- ignate an agency to serve as the managing partner for developing and operating the GeoPlatform, taking direction from the Com- mittee on the scope, functionality, and per- formance of the GeoPlatform. (c) Clarification Although the GeoPlatform is intended to in- clude all National Geospatial Data Asset and other Federal datasets, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent a covered agency from also presenting, providing, or dissemi- nating data that is— (1) specific to the functions of the covered agency; or (2) targeted to information consumers that directly interface with the services, portals, or other mechanisms of the covered agency. (Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title VII, § 758, Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3424.) § 2808. Covered agency responsibilities (a) In general Each covered agency shall— (1) prepare, maintain, publish, and imple- ment a strategy for advancing geographic in- formation and related geospatial data and ac- tivities appropriate to the mission of the cov- ered agency, in support of the strategic plan for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure prepared under section 2804(c) of this title; (2) collect, maintain, disseminate, and pre- serve geospatial data 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 from all sources; (4) ensure that data information products and other records created in geospatial data and activities are included on agency record schedules that have been approved by the Na- tional Archives and Records Administration; (5) allocate resources to fulfill the respon- sibilities of effective geospatial data collec- tion, production, and stewardship with regard to related activities of the covered agency, and as necessary to support the activities of the Committee; (6) use the geospatial data standards, includ- ing the standards for metadata for geospatial data, and other appropriate standards, includ- ing documenting geospatial data with the rel- evant metadata and making metadata avail- able through the GeoPlatform; (7) coordinate and work in partnership with other Federal agencies, agencies of State, trib- al, and local governments, institutions of higher education, and the private sector to ef- ficiently and cost-effectively collect, inte- grate, maintain, disseminate, and preserve geospatial data, building upon existing non- Federal geospatial data 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;