[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 155 (Wednesday, August 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43196-43197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21592]


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NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION


Records Schedules; Availability and Request for Comments

AGENCY: National Archives and Records Administration, Office of Records 
Services--Washington, DC.

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). Once 
approved by NARA, records schedules provide mandatory instructions on 
what happens to records when no longer needed for current Government 
business. They authorize the preservation of records of continuing 
value in the National Archives of the United States and the 
destruction, after a specified period, of records lacking 
administrative, legal, research, or other value. Notice is published 
for records schedules in which agencies propose to destroy records not 
previously authorized for disposal or reduce the retention period of 
records already authorized for disposal. NARA invites public comments 
on such records schedules, as required by 44 U.S.C. 3303a(a).

DATES: Requests for copies must be received in writing on or before 
September 28, 1998. Once the appraisal of the records is completed, 
NARA will send a copy of the schedule. NARA staff usually prepare 
appraisal memorandums that contain additional information concerning 
the records covered by a proposed schedule. These, too, may be 
requested and will be provided once the appraisal is completed. 
Requesters will be given 30 days to submit comments.

ADDRESSES: To request a copy of any records schedule identified in this 
notice, write to the Life Cycle Management Division (NWML), National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 8601 Adelphi Road, College 
Park, MD 20740-6001. Requests also may be transmitted by FAX to 301-
713-6852 or by e-mail to [email protected].

[[Page 43197]]

    Requesters must cite the control number, which appears in 
parentheses after the name of the agency which submitted the schedule, 
and must provide a mailing address. Those who desire appraisal reports 
should so indicate in their request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael L. Miller, Director, Modern 
Records Programs (NWM), National Archives and Records Administration, 
8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001. Telephone: (301)713-
7110. E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Each year Federal agencies create billions 
of records on paper, film, magnetic tape, and other media. To control 
this accumulation, agency records managers prepare schedules proposing 
retention periods for records and submit these schedules for NARA 
approval, using the Standard Form (SF) 115, Request for Records 
Disposition Authority. These schedules provide for the timely transfer 
into the National Archives of historically valuable records and 
authorize the disposal of all other records after the agency no longer 
needs the records to conduct its business. Some schedules are 
comprehensive and cover all the records of an agency or one of its 
major subdivisions. Most schedules, however, cover records of only one 
office or program or a few series of records. Many of these update 
previously approved schedules, and some include records proposed as 
permanent.
    No Federal records are authorized for destruction without the 
approval of the Archivist of the United States. This approval is 
granted only after a thorough consideration of 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 whether 
or not they have historical or other value.
    Besides identifying the Federal agencies and any subdivisions 
requesting disposition authority, this public notice lists the 
organizational unit(s) accumulating the records or indicates agency-
wide applicability in the case of schedules that cover records that may 
be accumulated throughout an agency. This notice provides the control 
number assigned to each schedule, the total number of schedule items, 
and the number of temporary items (the records proposed for 
destruction). It also includes a brief description of the temporary 
records. The records schedule itself contains a full description of the 
records at the file unit level as well as their disposition. If NARA 
staff has prepared an appraisal memorandum for the schedule, it too 
includes information about the records. Further information about the 
disposition process is available on request.

Schedules Pending

    1. Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection 
Service, Scientific Services Division (N1-463-96-1, 38 items, 34 
temporary items). Records relating to the regulation of the 
environmental release, import, field testing, and inter-state movement 
of genetically-engineered crops and organisms. Administrative records, 
permit files, and files relating to petitions to deregulate currently 
regulated crops or organisms are proposed for disposal. Special studies 
and records covering policy and guidelines are proposed for permanent 
retention.
    2. Department of Commerce, Patent and Trademark Office (N1-241-98-
2, 5 items, 5 temporary items). Network and systems operations and 
maintenance records from the Office of the Chief Information Officer 
and textual and electronic records for four electronic systems which 
perform day-to-day administrative functions: Job Application Rating 
System, Patent Search Room Badge System, Enterprise Call Center System, 
and the Revenue Accounting and Management System.
    3. Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense (N1-
330-98-3, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Reduction in the retention 
period for health research protocols and grants, which were previously 
approved for disposal. Electronic versions of these records created by 
electronic mail and word processing applications are also proposed for 
disposal.
    4. Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense (N1-
330-98-2, 4 items, 4 temporary items). Reduction in the retention 
period for records relating to continuing nursing and medical education 
programs, which were previously approved for disposal. Electronic 
versions of these records created by electronic mail and word 
processing applications are also proposed for disposal.
    5. Department of Housing and Urban Development (N1-207-98-4, 6 
items, 6 temporary items). Budget Office subject files primarily 
dealing with the Administrative Operations Fund. Records date from the 
period 1958 to 1972. Also included are Federal Housing Administration 
computer printouts relating to insurance reserves and mortgage and 
major home improvement loan insurance.
    6. Congressional Commission on Servicemembers and Veterans 
Transition Assistance (N1-220-98-9, 5 items, 2 temporary items). Panel 
files and electronic mail and word processing records. Files proposed 
for permanent retention include subject files, reports and other 
publications and the files of the executive director and the executive 
administrative director.
    7. Social Security Administration, Division of Representative 
Payment and Evaluation (N1-47-98-1, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Form 
SSA-6233-BK ``Representative Payee Report of Benefits and Dedicated 
Account'', which is a statement of monthly benefits and funds in a 
dedicated account involving Title XVI or concurrent claims.
    8. Tennessee Valley Authority, Procurement Division (N1-142-98-15, 
2 items, 2 temporary items). Electronic data interchange trading 
agreements including related electronic mail and word processing 
records. These administrative records allow the agency to transmit 
common business documents electronically to agency vendors.
    9. Tennessee Valley Authority, Resource Group (N1-142-98-12, 1 
item, 1 temporary item). Computer printouts from a defunct agency 
program containing data concerning land use, facilities, crops, 
livestock and fertilizer use. A sample of these records was previously 
approved for permanent retention.
    10. Tennessee Valley Authority, Human Resources Division (N1-142-
97-27, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Files of a defunct agency study group 
tasked with studying options for health care and other employee benefit 
programs.

    Dated: July 31, 1998.
Geraldine N. Phillips,
Acting Assistant Archivist for Record Services--Washington, DC.
[FR Doc. 98-21592 Filed 8-11-98; 8:45 am]
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