[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 66 (Thursday, April 4, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14971-14972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-8214]



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NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION

36 CFR Part 1253

RIN 3095-AA64


Suitland Research Room Closure

AGENCY: National Archives and Records Administration.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: Effective May 6, 1996, the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA) will close the Suitland Research Room at the 
Washington National Records Center and establish an appointment system 
for using archival records remaining in the Washington National Records 
Center. NARA will also establish new public use hours for records 
center holdings at the Washington National Records Center. Use of the 
research room has been declining as the archival records are moved from 
the Washington National Records Center to archival facilities in 
Washington, DC, and College Park, MD. After May 1, researcher use of 
the remaining archival records is expected to be no more than three 
visits per week.

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 6, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Fawcett, Director, User 
Services Division, at (301) 713-6770.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Beginning May 6, 1996, researchers will be

[[Page 14972]]
required to make advance arrangements for the use of any archival 
Federal records remaining in the Washington National Records Center. 
The last archival records to be transferred from Suitland will close 
for their move on August 30, 1996. Information on the availability of 
archival records or advance arrangements to use archival records which 
have not yet been closed for move preparation may be made by calling 
the Suitland Reference Branch at (301) 457-7190, Monday through Friday, 
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Normally one day notice will be required. When 
feasible same day arrangements may be made. Agencies or researchers 
needing access to agency records stored at the Washington National 
Records Center should continue to call (301) 457-7010 or (301) 457-7061 
for appointments.
    Shuttle service for researchers from the National Archives Building 
in Washington, DC to the Washington National Records Center will be 
discontinued after May 3, 1996.
    NARA finds that it has good cause under the Administrative 
Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) to issue this regulation as a final rule 
without prior notice and comment. It will not be cost-effective to 
operate the research room on its current schedule, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m., Monday through Friday, for the expected use of the room. There 
will be little or no impact on the public because archival records will 
continue to be made available to researchers. In addition, NARA 
considers this rule to be akin to a procedural rule which is exempt 
from notice-and-comment under 5 U.S.C. 553b(3)(A).
    This rule is not a significant rule for purposes of Executive Order 
12866 and has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget. 
As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act, it is hereby certified 
that these regulatory amendments will not have a significant impact on 
small business entities.

List of Subjects in 36 CFR Part 1253

    Archives and records.
    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, part 1253 of title 36 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:

PART 1253--LOCATION OF RECORDS AND HOURS OF USE

    1. The authority citation for Part 1253 continues to read:

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 2104(a).

    2. Section 1253.4 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 1253.4  Washington National Records Center.

    Washington National Records Center, 4205 Suitland Road, Suitland, 
MD. Mailing address: Washington National Records Center, 4205 Suitland 
Road, Washington, DC 20409-0002. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday 
through Friday. From May 6, 1996, through August 30, 1996, appointments 
may be made to use archival records at the Center by calling the 
Suitland Reference Branch at (301) 457-7190.

    Dated: March 27, 1996.
John W. Carlin,
Archivist of the United States.
[FR Doc. 96-8214 Filed 4-3-96; 8:45 am]
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