43 U.S.C. § 41 — Publications and reports; preparation and sale

This section governs publications by the United States Geological Survey. Except as section 1318 of title 44 provides otherwise, the Survey's publications must be geological and economic maps that show the resources and classification of the land, plus reports on general and economic geology and paleontology. Special memoirs and reports come out in a uniform quarto (larger) format if the director decides that's necessary; otherwise they use the ordinary, smaller octavo format. The Survey publishes 3,000 copies of each publication. These are used for scientific exchanges with other institutions and for sale at the price it cost to publish them. Any literary or map materials the Survey receives in exchange become U.S. property and become part of the organization's library. Money from selling these publications goes into the U.S. Treasury, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior.