[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 23 (Thursday, February 3, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5295-5296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2385]


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NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION

36 CFR Part 1234

RIN 3095-AA94


Elimination of Requirement to Rewind Computer Tapes

AGENCY:  National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

ACTION:  Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY:  NARA proposes to revise its regulations to eliminate the 
requirement that Federal agencies rewind under controlled tension all 
computer tapes containing unscheduled or permanent records every 3\1/2\ 
years. This change would affect Federal agencies that store unscheduled 
or permanent records on computer open-reel tapes or tape cartridges.

DATES:  Comments must be received on or before April 3, 2000.

ADDRESSES:  Send comments to Regulation Comment Desk, NPLN, Room 4100, 
National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, 
College Park, Maryland, 20740-6001. You may also fax comments to (301) 
713-7270.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Nancy Allard or Shawn Morton at (301) 
713-7360.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  This proposed rule eliminates the 
requirement for Federal agencies to rewind under controlled tension all 
tapes containing unscheduled or permanent electronic records every 3\1/
2\ years which is contained in 36 CFR 1234.30(g)(3). This requirement 
was imposed to address the maintenance and storage of open-reel 
computer tapes. After tape cartridges became commonplace, computer 
centers generally did not periodically rewind cartridges. A study 
conducted by NIST in 1991 concluded that periodic retensioning of 
computer tape cartridges is unnecessary. In addition, recent electrical 
engineering studies have questioned whether open-reel tapes should be 
periodically rewound. Another 1991 NIST study found that the process of 
rewinding tapes may actually harm them, and would outweigh the benefits 
associated with storing tapes rewound under controlled tension.
    This proposed rule is not a significant regulatory action for the 
purposes of Executive Order 12866. As required by the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act, it is hereby certified that this proposed rule will 
not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities 
because it applies to Federal agencies.

[[Page 5296]]

List of subjects in 36 CFR Part 1234

    Archives and records, Computer technology.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the National Archives and 
Records Administration proposes to amend 36 CFR Part 1234 to read as 
follows:

PART 1234--ELECTRONIC RECORDS MANAGEMENT

Subpart C--Standards for the Creation, Use, Preservation, and 
Disposition of Electronic Records

    1. The authority citation for part 1234 continues to read as 
follows:


    Authority:  44 USC 2104a; 44 USC 2904c.


Sec. 1234.30  [Amended]

    2. In Sec. 1234.30, remove paragraph (g)(3) and redesignate 
paragraphs (g)(4) through (g)(7) as paragraphs (g)(3) through (g)(6) 
respectively.

    Dated: January 27, 2000.
John W. Carlin,
Archivist of the United States.
[FR Doc. 00-2385 Filed 2-2-00; 8:45 am]
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