[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 252 (Tuesday, December 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69114-69115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-33109]


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NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION

Office of Records Administration; Records Schedules; Availability 
and Request for Comments

AGENCY: National Archives and Records Administration, Office of Records 
Administration.

ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed records schedules; request 
for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) 
publishes notice at least once monthly of certain Federal agency 
requests for records disposition authority (records schedules). Records 
schedules identify records of sufficient value to warrant preservation 
in the National Archives of the United States. Schedules also authorize 
agencies after a specified period to dispose of records lacking 
administrative, legal, research, or other value. Notice is published 
for records schedules that (1) Propose the destruction of records not 
previously authorized for disposal, or (2) reduce the retention period 
for records already authorized for disposal. NARA invites public 
comments on such schedules, as required by 44 U.S.C. 3303a(a).

DATES: Requests for copies must be received in writing on or before 
February 14, 1997. Once the appraisal of the records is completed, NARA 
will send a copy of the schedule. The requester will be given 30 days 
to submit comments.

ADDRESSES: Address requests for single copies of schedules identified 
in this notice to the Records Appraisal and Disposition Division (NIR), 
National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, MD 20740. 
Requesters must cite the control number assigned to each schedule when 
requesting a copy. The control number appears in the parentheses 
immediately after the name of the requesting agency.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Each year U.S. Government agencies create 
billions of records on paper, film, magnetic tape, and other media. In 
order to control this accumulation, agency records managers prepare 
records schedules specifying when the agency no longer needs the 
records and what happens to the records after this period. Some 
schedules are comprehensive and cover all the records of an agency or 
one of its major subdivisions. These comprehensive schedules provide 
for the eventual transfer to the National Archives of historically 
valuable records and authorize the disposal of all other records. Most 
schedules, however, cover records of only one office or program or a 
few series of records, and many are updates of previously approved 
schedules. Such schedules also may include records that are designated 
for permanent retention.
    Destruction of records requires the approval of the Archivist of 
the United States. This approval is granted after a thorough study of 
the records that takes into account their administrative use by the 
agency of origin, the rights of the Government and of private persons 
directly affected by the Government's activities, and historical or 
other value.
    This public notice identifies the Federal agencies and their 
subdivisions requesting disposition authority,

[[Page 69115]]

includes the control number assigned to each schedule, and briefly 
describes the records proposed for disposal. The records schedule 
contains additional information about the records and their 
disposition. Further information about the disposition process will be 
furnished to each requester.

Schedules Pending

    1. Department of the Air Force (N1-AFU-96-7). Medical waste 
management records at medical treatment facilities and base civil 
engineer offices.
    2. Department of the Air Force (N1-AFU-97-4). Implant device and/or 
medical equipment log/database proposed for long-term retention.
    3. Department of Commerce, Patent and Trademark Office (N1-241-96-
5). Updated Chapter of a comprehensive schedule, covering records of 
the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board, the Board of Patent Appeals and 
Interferences, the Office of the Chief Information Officer, and related 
program offices.
    4. Department of Health and Human Services (N1-468-97-1). Pre-grant 
clearance files of the Office for Civil Rights.
    5. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs (N1-59-97-10). 
Immigrant Control and Reporting System (ICARS) maintained by Visa 
Services.
    6. Department of State, All Foreign Service Posts (N1-84-97-4). 
Diversity Visa Applicant System (DVACS).
    7. U.S. Agency for International Development, Europe and New 
Independent States (N1-286-96-3). Routine, facilitative, and 
duplicative records.
    8. Bonneville Power Administration (N1-305-96-2). Records covering 
billing source data.
    9. General Services Administration, Federal Supply Service (N1-137-
97-1 through 6). Electronic records relating to sales, transportation, 
and supplies.
    10. Panama Canal Commission (N1-185-96-2). Marine Traffic Control 
and Ship Data Bank electronic systems.
    11. Panama Canal Commission (N1-185-97-1). Communications and mail 
management records.
    12. Susquehanna River Basin Commission (N1-220-96-11). Budget 
justifications, working papers to reports and comprehensive plans, and 
subject and intergovernmental affairs files.
    13. United States Information Agency, Office of Research N1-306-96-
3). Routine, facilitative, and duplicative records of the Office of 
Research and predecessor units. Policy records scheduled as permanent.

    Dated: December 30, 1996.
James W. Moore,
Assistant Archivist for Records Administration.
[FR Doc. 96-33109 Filed 12-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7515-01-M