[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 98 (Friday, May 21, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27820-27822]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12845]


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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

[[Page 27821]]

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 
July 6, 1999. 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: Marie Allen, Director, Life Cycle 
Management Division (NWML), 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's 
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 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, National Appeals Division (N1-16-98-
1, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Correspondence, hearing notices, reports, 
authorizations for representation, and other supporting materials 
accumulated in connection with administrative appeal hearings and 
reviews. Actions arise from adverse decisions affecting beneficiaries 
of USDA programs.
    2. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Stabilization and 
Conservation Service (N1-145-98-1, 32 items, 29 temporary items). 
Facilitative records pre-dating 1962 that relate to such matters as 
acreage allotments, commodities' sales, loan rates, subsidies, cost 
surveys, and price supports. Records were accumulated primarily in the 
1950s and 1960s. Procedural issuances and files relating to the 
development of milk industry regulation are proposed for permanent 
retention as are records pertaining to a multi-million dollar claim 
stemming from the spoilage of stored grain.
    3. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau (N1-29-99-4, 2 items, 2 
temporary items). Completed questionnaires in paper and electronic 
format of the Survey of Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business 
Enterprises. The final survey data in electronic form was previously 
approved for permanent retention.
    4. Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General (N1-509-
99-2, 3 items, 3 temporary items). Memoranda of Understanding or 
Agreement Files consisting of agreements with other Defense agencies 
regarding audit procedures and related matters and with non-Defense 
agencies and non-Federal entities regarding training and other 
services. Included are electronic copies of documents created using 
electronic mail, word processing, and other office automation 
applications.
    5. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education (N1-
441-98-1, 5 items, 5 temporary items). Paper and electronic records 
(CD-ROM) relating to the evaluation of applications from governmental 
and non-governmental entities seeking Department of Education 
recognition as accrediting agencies. Included are accreditation case 
files for agencies recommended for approval or disapproval, containing 
applications for accreditation, interim reports, and other 
correspondence, and CD-ROM copies of case files for agencies 
recommended for approval. Also included are working papers, consisting 
of drafts, notes, and other background materials, and electronic copies 
of documents created using electronic mail and word processing.
    6. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of 
Health (N1-443-99-4, 4 items, 4 temporary items). Records relating to 
clinical care including PET (Positron Emission Topography) files, 
records which identify and describe blood products received from other 
collection facilities, laboratory testing records, and records 
associated with patient testing, donor testing, or blood product 
manufacturing, which contain documentation related to validation, 
maintenance and quality assurance of equipment, supplies, reagents and 
processes.
    7. Department of Justice, U.S. Parole Commission (N1-438-98-1, 1 
item, 1 temporary item). District of Columbia Board of Parole Case 
Files which include data on sentence and information concerning the 
prisoner's background and behavior during incarceration and while on 
parole. Also included are parole hearings on individual prisoners.
    8. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
(N1-59-99-19, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Designated Exchange Visitor 
Case Files

[[Page 27822]]

dating from 1950 to 1973 that pertain to applications for the 
establishment, revision, or cancellation of exchange programs. More 
recent records accumulated after the Bureau was transferred to the 
United States Information Agency were previously approved for disposal.
    9. Department of State, Bureau of European Affairs, (N1-59-99-20, 
11 items, 8 temporary items). Administrative files relating to the 
logistics of organizing the 1998 Washington Conference on Holocaust-Era 
Assets. Included are electronic copies of records created using 
electronic mail and word processing. Proposed for permanent retention 
are the record-keeping copies of files relating to the substantive 
issues addressed by the Conference.
    10. Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of the Inspector 
General (N1-266-99-1, 7 items, 5 temporary items). Files relating to 
investigations and audits including correspondence, reports, notes, 
attachments, drafts, and background papers. Also included are 
electronic copies of documents created using electronic mail and word 
processing. Recordkeeping copies of significant investigative files and 
final audit reports are proposed for permanent retention.
    11. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration 
(N1-15-98-3, 4 items, 4 temporary items). Means test verification 
records used to determine individual veterans' fiscal eligibility for 
health care provided by the VA. Included are paper records and records 
on optical disk and other electronic media. Records also include 
computer tapes provided by the Internal Revenue Service and the Social 
Security Administration.
    12. Tennessee Valley Authority, Communications Program (N1-142-99-
4, 2 items, 1 temporary item). Electronic copies of documents created 
using word processing pertaining to Inside TVA, a newspaper for 
employees that has limited external distribution. Recordkeeping copies 
of these files are proposed for permanent retention.

    Dated: May 12, 1999.
Michael J. Kurtz,
Assistant Archivist for Record Services--Washington, DC.
[FR Doc. 99-12845 Filed 5-20-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7515-01-P