[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 38 (Monday, February 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11604-11605]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4564]


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NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION


Records Schedules; Availability and Request for Comments

AGENCY: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

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 
April 12, 2001. 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 them 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 the Army, Agency-wide (N1-AU-00-30, 3 items, 3 
temporary items). Records relating to external exposure of individuals 
to ionizing radiation. Included are dosimeter evaluations, logs and 
readings, automated dosimetry reports, records of dose to an embryo/
fetus, occupational exposure histories, and electronic copies of 
documents created using electronic mail and word processing. This 
schedule also increases the retention period of recordkeeping copies of 
files accumulated in offices other than the Army Ionizing Radiation 
Dosimetry Center and proposes minor changes in the disposition 
instructions for files held by the Center. Files held by the Center 
have a 75 year retention period.
    2. Department of the Army, Agency-wide (N1-AU-00-37, 3 items, 3 
temporary items). Records that are maintained by radiation safety 
officers relating to internal exposure of individuals to radioactive 
materials and to routine radiation safety surveys. Included are 
dosimeter badge controls, biological specimen analyses, reports 
relating to the functioning of facilities and equipment, and electronic 
copies of documents created using electronic mail and word processing. 
A 75 year retention period was previously

[[Page 11605]]

approved for records relating to individual exposures accumulated by 
bioassay labs and by the Army Ionizing Radiation Dosimetry Center.
    3. Department of the Army, Army-wide (N1-AU-01-15, 1 item, 1 
temporary item). Master file of the Housing Operation Management 
System, an electronic information system used to maintain 
accountability of military housing, furnishings, and equipment. The 
system includes dwelling unit records, furnishings and equipment 
inventories, customer applications, eligibility certificates, 
complaints, and investigations.
    4. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (N1-65-
01-02, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Records created at FBI headquarters 
and field offices relating to the advertising and filling of vacant FBI 
support employee (non-agent) positions. Included are such records as 
applications, interview questions, sound recordings of interviews, 
score sheets, and electronic copies of documents created using 
electronic mail and word processing.
    5. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (N1-65-
01-03, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Hard copy rap sheets generated from 
an automated system that are used to identify case files for court-
ordered expungements. An automated identification and rap sheet system 
was previously approved for permanent retention.
    6. Department of the Treasury, Office of Information Technology 
Policy and Strategy (N1-56-01-2, 9 items, 9 temporary items). Records 
that pertain to Year 2000 efforts, including such matters as the 
development of plans and strategies, the review and testing of computer 
systems and applications, and program reviews. Files contain plans, 
copies of contracts, policy letters, correspondence, and electronic 
copies of documents created using word processing and electronic mail.
    7. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General 
(N1-15-99-3, 3 items, 3 temporary items). Audit Case Files and 
Investigative Case Files, which were previously scheduled under General 
Records Schedule 22, items 1B and 2. Included are reports, 
correspondence, supporting work papers, and electronic copies of 
documents created using electronic mail and word processing. Files 
relating to investigations that attract national media or congressional 
attention or result in significant changes in agency policies or 
procedures will be appraised by the National Archives and Records 
Administration on a case-by-case basis.
    8. Federal Reserve System, Board of Governors (N1-82-01-1, 24 
items, 20 temporary items). Records documenting the research activities 
of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, including the 
production of statistics and analytical support for the Board and the 
Federal Open Market Committee. Included are such files as statistical 
releases, input information for electronic systems, and background 
files for speeches, congressional reports, and briefings. Also included 
are electronic copies of documents created using electronic mail and 
word processing applications. This schedule authorizes the agency to 
apply the proposed disposition instructions to records in all media. 
Recordkeeping copies of such files as the Federal Reserve Bulletin, 
staff studies, and master data files and technical documentation from 
research program electronic systems are proposed for permanent 
retention. Permanent databases will be transferred to the National 
Archives in an electronic medium. Other permanent records will be 
transferred to the National Archives in an electronic medium if 
feasible. If transfer in an electronic medium is not feasible, paper or 
microfilm copies will be transferred.
    9. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Office of Investigations (N1-431-
01-1, 3 items, 2 temporary items). Electronic copies of documents 
created using electronic mail and word processing that pertain to 
investigation case files. This schedule also increases the retention 
period of recordkeeping copies of case files that were previously 
approved for disposal and lengthens the amount of time the agency will 
retain selected files that were previously approved for permanent 
retention before transferring them to the National Archives.
    10. Tennessee Valley Authority, River Systems Operations and 
Environment (N1-142-99-14, 5 items, 4 temporary items). Engineering 
laboratory records relating to projects conducted on behalf of agency 
offices and other agencies and institutions. These files include such 
records as raw field data, preliminary reports, model studies, 
reference copies of technical reports, and electronic copies of 
documents created using electronic mail and word processing. This 
schedule increases the retention period for certain of these records, 
which were previously approved for disposal. Unidentified or highly 
technical photographs of routine activities accumulated by the 
engineering laboratory are also proposed for disposal. Significant 
program records relating to river system projects and studies 
undertaken ca. 1935 to 1978 by the Project Planning Branch are proposed 
for permanent retention. However, during archival processing, staff of 
the National Archives and Records Administration will remove and 
destroy non-permanent material, such as duplicate copies and technical 
metadata.
    11. Tennessee Valley Authority, Agency-wide (N1-142-00-6, 3 items, 
3 temporary items). Records relating to the construction, inspection, 
survey, and modification of individual pipelines. Included are such 
records as schedules of activities, position responsibilities, standard 
inspection reports, and electronic copies of documents created using 
electronic mail and word processing.
    12. Tennessee Valley Authority, Agency-wide (N1-142-00-7, 4 items, 
4 temporary items). Temperature charts, pressure charts, and turbine 
supervisory charts relating to electrical generating equipment at power 
plants operated using water power, coal, or oil. Also included are 
electronic copies of documents created using electronic mail and word 
processing.

    Dated: February 14, 2001.
Michael J. Kurtz,
Assistant Archivist for Record Services--Washington, DC.
[FR Doc. 01-4564 Filed 2-23-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7515-01-U