Title 10
United States Code

Sec. 455. Maps, charts, and geodetic data: public availability; exceptions 

     (a) The National Imagery and Mapping Agency shall offer for sale maps and
     charts at scales of 1:500,000 and smaller, except those withheld in
     accordance with subsection (b) or those specifically authorized under criteria
     established by Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national
     defense or foreign policy and in fact properly classified pursuant to such
     Executive order.

     (b)
          (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Defense
          may withhold from public disclosure any geodetic product in the
          possession of, or under the control of, the Department of Defense -
               (A) that was obtained or produced, or that contains information
               that was provided, pursuant to an international agreement that
               restricts disclosure of such product or information to government
               officials of the agreeing parties or that restricts use of such
               product or information to government purposes only;
               (B) that contains information that the Secretary of Defense has
               determined in writing would, if disclosed, reveal sources and
               methods, or capabilities, used to obtain source material for
               production of the geodetic product; or
               (C) that contains information that the Director of the National
               Imagery and Mapping Agency has determined in writing would, if
               disclosed, jeopardize or interfere with ongoing military or
               intelligence operations or reveal military operational or
               contingency plans.
          (2) In this subsection, the term ''geodetic product'' means imagery,
          imagery intelligence, or geospatial information.

     (c)
          (1) Regulations to implement this section (including any amendments to
          such regulations) shall be published in the Federal Register for public
          comment for a period of not less than 30 days before they take effect.
          (2) Regulations under this section shall address the conditions under
          which release of geodetic products authorized under subsection (b) to
          be withheld from public disclosure would be appropriate -
               (A) in the case of allies of the United States; and
               (B) in the case of qualified United States contractors
               (including contractors that are small business concerns) who need
               such products for use in the performance of contracts with the
               United States.