On October 6, 2000, the President signed an amendment to the May 1994 Presidential Decision Directive (PDD) NSTC-3, Landsat Remote Sensing Strategy, transferring responsibility for operation of Landsat-7 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in the Department of Interior.

Section IV of PDD/NSTC-3 was replaced with the following Implementing Guidelines.  All other paragraphs of the original May 1994 PDD/NSTC-3 remain unchanged and in full force.

IV. Implementing Guidelines

Affected agencies will identify and seek funds necessary to implement the National Strategy for Landsat Remote Sensing within the overall resource and policy guidance provided by the President.  In order to effectuate the strategy enumerated herein, the Secretary of the Interior and the Administrator of NASA are hereby designated as members of Landsat Program Management in accordance with section 101(b) of the Landsat Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992, 15 U.S.C. 5602(6) and 5611(b).  Specific agency responsibilities are provided below.

a.  The Department of the Interior/USGS will:

1. Assume responsibility for management and operations of the Landsat 7 ground system elements at the USGS Earth Resources Observation Systems (EROS) Data Center and the Landsat 7 Program Management Office and its oversight functions.

2. Assume responsibility, beginning in FY2001, for the Landsat 7 Flight Operations Center.  In coordination with DOC and NASA, revise the original Management Plan for the Landsat Program to reflect the changes implemented through this directive, including programmatic, technical, schedule, and budget information.

3. In participation with other appropriate government agencies, arrange for the continued operation of Landsats 4 and 5.

4. Continue to maintain a national archive of existing and future Landsat-type remote sensing data within the United States and make such data available to the U.S. Government and other users.

5. In consultation with the Department of State, establish cooperative data-sharing and data-access arrangements with foreign ground receiving stations for U.S. Government and private sector users of Landsat data collected at foreign ground stations, and consult with the Department of State on all other matters related to international obligations and policies affecting the Landsat program.

6. Seek to offset U.S. ground-system operations costs through use of cooperative arrangements with foreign ground stations and/or reimbursements for fulfilling user requests.

7. Solicit and coordinate future Federal-agency requirements for civil operational land remote sensing data.

8. Work with NASA and other relevant agencies to develop a strategy for maintaining continuity of Landsat-type data beyond Landsat 7 that is consistent with each agency’s expertise and mission.

b.  The National Aeronautics and Space Administration will:

1. Transition the Landsat 7 ground system to DOI/USGS in accordance with the signed agreement between NASA, DOC, and DOI.

2. Transition Flight Operations Center responsibilities to the USGS by FY2001. In coordination with DOC and DOI, revise the original Management Plan for the Landsat Program to reflect the changes implemented through this directive, including programmatic, technical, schedule, and budget information.

3. Work with the USGS and other relevant agencies to develop a strategy for maintaining data continuity of Landsat-type data beyond Landsat 7 that is consistent with each agency’s expertise and mission.

c.   The Department of Commerce/NOAA will:

In coordination with DOI/USGS, implement the joint transition plan to transfer responsibilities to the USGS.