Geological Survey August 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) is soliciting public comments on the draft strategic plan for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). The draft strategic plan, along with instructions for submitting comments, is posted at: www.fgdc.gov/nsdi- plan. The FGDC is the interagency committee that serves as the lead entity in the executive branch for the development, implementation, and review of policies, practices, and standards relating to geospatial data. The FGDC operates under the authority of the Geospatial Data Act of 2018 (GDA) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-16. One of the FGDC's responsibilities under the GDA is to ``prepare and maintain a strategic plan for the development and implementation of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure in a manner consistent with national security, national defense, and emergency preparedness program policies regarding data accessibility.'' The GDA describes the NSDI as ``the technology, policies, criteria, standards, and employees necessary to promote geospatial data sharing throughout the Federal Government, State, tribal, and local governments, and the private sector (including nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education).''