[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 67098]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33651]


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NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION


Electronic Records Work Group; Availability of Materials for 
Review and Comment; Request for Comment

AGENCY: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of materials for public review and 
comment; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: This notice provides information on where the public may 
obtain copies of materials prepared for and by the Electronic Records 
Work Group and summaries of the Work Group meetings. It also describes 
how to provide comments to the Work Group, and solicits comments on 
issues that the Work Group should address. The Electronic Records Work 
Group is charged with identifying workable alternatives to the 
disposition practices currently authorized under NARA's General Records 
Schedule 20 for Electronic Records.
    All materials prepared for the Electronic Records Work Group and 
related information on their activities will be posted on NARA's GRS 20 
Internet Web page at <http://www.nara.gov/records/grs20/>. Individuals 
who do not have Internet access may call the person indicated in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to request paper copies of 
these materials.

DATES: Comments on the preliminary list of issues must be received by 
January 9, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent electronically to the e-mail address 
<[email protected]>. If you do not have access to e-mail, comments 
may be mailed to Electronic Records Work Group (NWR), Room 2100, 8601 
Adelphi Rd., College Park, MD 20740-6001, or faxed to 301-713-6850.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request paper copies of materials 
posted on the GRS 20 Internet Web page, contact Jean Cooke at 301-713-
7110, extension 228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The initial meeting of the Electronic 
Records Work Group was held on December 19, 1997. At that meeting, the 
Work Group received a list of issues to be discussed by the Work Group 
and a list of resources on which the Group should draw in dealing with 
records disposition issues. Members of the Work Group, consultants to 
the project, and interested members of the public are asked to 
recommend additions to, or other changes in the issues to be discussed 
and the list of resources by January 9, 1998. Following is the list of 
issues:

Preliminary List of Issues To Be Addressed by the Electronic Records 
Work Group

    The Electronic Records Work Group is charged with developing a 
practical, implementable approach to replacing the disposition 
authorities currently provided by GRS 20. This issues list is a ``first 
cut'' at identifying those issues which need to be addressed as part of 
the project. The list is meant to stimulate discussion and lead to the 
identification of other issues. Comments on the list and suggestions 
for additions should be sent to the NARA through its web page at 
<www.nara.gov/records/grs20> or by fax to Michael Miller at 301-713-
6850.

Scope of the GRS

    1. The GRS, including GRS-20, should cover only administrative 
records. How should administrative records be defined and how should 
the programmatic records excluded from GRS-20 be scheduled?
    2. How should the GRS fit into the overall spectrum of disposition 
guidance and authorization? What other approaches are there for 
developing disposition authorities for records common to several 
agencies?
    3. Is there a role for a specific GRS covering records used to 
operate and manage central computer facilities and local area networks? 
If so what should that GRS include?
    4. Is there a rationale for not applying the GRS to electronic 
records of some agencies?

Implementation Issues

    5. What implementation options are available to agencies now and 
for the next 5-7 years and into the future?
    6. If records in an application system such as email or word 
processing are not arranged according to the agency filing system, how 
does one go about implementing a disposition schedule?
    7. Is it possible to schedule the disposition of individual records 
(documents) in word processing and e-mail applications? If not, what 
are the alternatives?
    8. What approaches are there for replacing the disposition ``delete 
(or destroy) when no longer needed?''
    9. Do agency staff have a difficult time understanding and applying 
GRS 20? If so, what lessons should be applied to developing the 
replacement?

    Dated: December 19, 1997.
Lewis J. Bellardo,
Deputy Archivist of the United States.
[FR Doc. 97-33651 Filed 12-22-97; 8:45 am]
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