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.