[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 171 (Thursday, September 3, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47044-47045]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23812]


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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 
October 19, 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].
    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,

[[Page 47045]]

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 Justice, United States Marshals Service, Air 
Operations Group (N1-527-98-1, 14 items, 14 temporary items). Records 
relating to the maintenance and operation of USMS-owned aircraft used 
in the transportation of prisoners and deportable aliens, including 
aircraft maintenance instructions, correspondence, and log books.
    2. Department of State (N1-76-98-1, 1 item, 1 temporary item). 
Duplicate copies of records of the Mixed Claims Commission, United 
States and Germany, 1922-1939. Records consist of minutes and awards 
and decisions.
    3. Federal Communications Commission, Mass Media Bureau (N1-173-98-
4), 1 item, 1 temporary item). Reduction in retention period for 
Returned Broadcast Applications, which have previously been approved 
for disposal. Returned Broadcast Applications are applications that 
have been reviewed and not accepted for official FCC filing purposes, 
and are subsequently returned to the sender.
    4. National Imagery and Mapping Agency, Agency-wide (N1-537-98-1, 
25 items, 25 temporary items). Office administrative files consisting 
of calendars and schedules, office inspection and survey files, reading 
files, position descriptions, personnel locators, and classified 
material accountability forms.
    5. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, Office of the 
Executive Secretary (N1-455-98-1, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Audiotape 
recordings (cassettes) of Commission meetings attended by the 
Commissioners and agency legal staff to discuss particular cases. These 
recordings are made pursuant to instructions in the 1977 Sunshine Act, 
5 U.S.C. 552b. Minutes of the Commissioner's meetings were previously 
approved for permanent retention.
    6. Tennessee Valley Authority (N1-142-98-6, 3 items, 1 temporary 
item). Records created in administering four conferences, 1979-1982. 
Transcripts, models, studies, and papers are proposed for permanent 
retention.

    Dated: August 27, 1998.
Michael J. Kurtz,
Assistant Archivist for Record Services--Washington, DC.
[FR Doc. 98-23812 Filed 9-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7515-01-P