NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) hosts and provides access to one of the most significant archives on Earth, with comprehensive oceanic, atmospheric, and geophysical data. From the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun and from million-year-old ice core records to near-real-time satellite images, NCEI is the Nation’s leading authority for environmental information. These data are impressively heterogeneous in terms of platforms, instruments, formats, and user communities. As a federal agency, NCEI must follow laws, mandates, guidance, best practices, and national and international standards. This presentation will showcase the policies that support the framework of NCEI’s data preservation and stewardship mission with a look toward current gaps and future needs for data policies.