43 USC § 42 - Distribution of maps and atlases, etc.

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t43/s42"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "43 USC § 42 - Distribution of maps and atlases, etc."
title_number: 43
title_name: "PUBLIC LANDS"
section_number: "42"
section_name: "Distribution of maps and atlases, etc."
chapter_number: 2
chapter_name: "UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
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.)"
---


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

June 7, 1924

The Director of the United States Geological Survey is authorized and directed, on the approval of the Secretary 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, at such prices and under such regulations as may from time to time be fixed by him and approved by the Secretary 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, and to such educational institutions or libraries as may be designated by the Director of the Survey and approved by the Secretary of the Interior. On and after , 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.)

## Editorial Notes

### Codification

The first sentence is from Joint Res. ; the second sentence is from act .

Joint Res.  superseded a provision contained in , , authorizing the sale of topographical maps with text at cost and ten per centum added.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 , set out as a note under .

## 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. , 15 F.R. 3174, , set out under .