[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 23, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3237-3239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-1606]


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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 
March 11, 2002. 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 nara.gov">records.mgt@nara.gov. 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: nara.gov">records.mgt@nara.gov.

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

[[Page 3238]]

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-02-1, 2 items, 2 
temporary items). Records relating to endangered species and their 
habitats. Included are correspondence, reports, briefings, and graphics 
pertaining to Army compliance with the Endangered Species Act. Also 
included are electronic copies of records created using electronic mail 
and word processing. The schedule also authorizes the agency to apply 
the proposed disposition instructions to any recordkeeping medium.
    2. Department of the Army, Agency-wide (N1-AU-02-4, 2 items, 2 
temporary items). Records relating to public works activities such as 
facilities repair, maintenance, and minor construction projects. 
Included are service orders, work requests, and related documents. Also 
included are electronic copies of documents created using electronic 
mail and word processing. The schedule also authorizes the agency to 
apply the proposed disposition instructions to any recordkeeping 
medium.
    3. Department of the Army, Agency-wide (N1-AU-02-5, 2 items, 2 
temporary items). Correspondence relating to the criteria, standards, 
and practices employed in the maintenance, repair, operation, 
conservation, and improvement of public works at military 
installations. Also included are electronic copies of documents created 
using electronic mail and word processing. This schedule reduces the 
retention period for the recordkeeping copies of these files, which 
were previously approved for disposal, and also authorizes the agency 
to apply the proposed disposition instructions to any recordkeeping 
medium.
    4. Department of the Army, Agency-wide (N1-AU-02-6, 2 items, 2 
temporary items). Records relating to notarial services. Included are 
exceptions to policy, notarial certifications, and memorandums granting 
individuals notarial authority. Also included are electronic copies of 
documents created using electronic mail and word processing. The 
schedule also authorizes the agency to apply the proposed disposition 
instructions to any recordkeeping medium.
    5. Department of the Army, Agency-wide (N1-AU-02-7, 2 items, 2 
temporary items). Records relating to nonappropriated fund employee job 
descriptions. Included are master job descriptions, job standards, and 
similar information used in the analysis, development, and evaluation 
of specific jobs. Also included are electronic copies of documents 
created using electronic mail and word processing. The schedule also 
authorizes the agency to apply the proposed disposition instructions to 
any recordkeeping medium.
    6. Department of Commerce, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (N1-
241-02-1, 3 items, 2 temporary items). Records documenting provisional 
patent applications submitted by inventors to claim an early effective 
filing date for submitted patents that are not referenced in 
applications that are issued as patents. Included are written 
descriptions of the inventions, applicable drawings, related filing 
information from applicants, and reference copies of these records. 
Proposed for permanent retention are recordkeeping copies of 
provisional patent application files referenced in applications that 
are issued as patents.
    7. Department of Commerce, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric 
Administration (N1-370-00-3, 58 items, 46 temporary items). Records 
documenting the planning and production of nautical charts and 
hydrographic surveys that define the navigable waters of the United 
States. Included are field survey data, planning and coordination 
files, production and quality assurance records, and electronic copies 
of records created using electronic mail and word processing. Proposed 
for permanent retention are recordkeeping copies of such final products 
as nautical charts, hydrographic surveys, and supplementary reports as 
well as data concerning wrecks and obstructions.
    8. Department of Defense, Army and Air Force Exchange Service (N1-
334-02-1, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Short term records relating to 
the individual retirement benefits of nonappropriated fund employees. 
Included are such records as annuity payment schedules, individual 
disbursements, and qualified domestic relations orders. Also included 
are electronic copies of documents created using electronic mail and 
word processing. This schedule authorizes the agency to apply the 
proposed disposition instructions to any recordkeeping medium.
    9. Department of Energy, Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy (N1-
434-01-7, 7 items, 4 temporary items). Records of the Naval Petroleum 
and Oil Shale Reserves Program relating to natural gas and crude oil 
contracts and estimated revenue from sales. Included are such records 
as natural gas contract summaries, public relations requests, 
invitations for bids, contract amendments and awards, and related 
correspondence. Also included are electronic copies of documents 
created using electronic mail and word processing. Proposed for 
permanent retention are recordkeeping copies of such records as studies 
concerning marketing and sales strategies, engineering and technical 
studies, state-of-the-art recovery procedures, quality assurance 
requirements, and real estate agreement files.
    10. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare 
and Medicaid Services (N1-440-01-4, 11 items, 11 temporary items). 
Records relating to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Program under 
which labs are tested to ensure that the work they do is accurate and 
reliable. Included are correspondence, approvals, summary reports 
pertaining to annual proficiency testing, records relating to annual 
reviews of laboratory accreditation organizations, and fiscal records 
pertaining to user fees paid by labs taking part in the program. Also 
included are electronic copies of records created using electronic mail 
and word processing.
    11. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Community Planning 
and Development (N1-207-02-2, 4 items, 4 temporary items). Economic 
Development Initiative targeted grant case files, which contain such 
documents as applications, correspondence, progress reports, and budget 
records. Also included are electronic copies of records created using 
electronic mail and word processing.
    12. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Housing and 
Equal

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Opportunity (N1-207-02-3, 4 items, 4 temporary items). Fair Housing 
Initiative Program grant application case files, which consist of such 
records as applications, payment schedules, statements of work, and 
related correspondence. Also included are electronic copies of records 
created using electronic mail and word processing.
    13. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (N1-57-02-1, 
8 items, 8 temporary items). Records relating to agency Y2K activities, 
including the development of policies and plans and their 
implementation and the analysis of specific systems. Also included are 
electronic copies of records created using electronic mail and word 
processing.
    14. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration (N1-
448-01-4, 78 items, 67 temporary items). Records of the Office of 
Management, Administration and Planning relating to such matters as 
management reviews, studies and initiatives, the implementation of 
plain language, continuity of Government, agency assistance to 
colleges, tort litigation reporting, the provision of data to the 
Immigration and Naturalization Service, financial accounting, strategic 
planning, and program evaluation. Also included are electronic copies 
of documents created using electronic mail and word processing. Most of 
the series included in this schedule were previously approved for 
disposal. This schedule shortens the retention periods for several of 
these series, including employee conduct investigations, files relating 
to financial management and chargebacks, and materials prepared in 
response to congressional inquiries. The disposition instructions for 
most of the other previously approved series in the schedule are 
unchanged but are included since the agency wishes all of the Office's 
records to be covered by a single schedule. Proposed for permanent 
retention for the first time are recordkeeping copies of biographical 
data concerning high level employees. Recordkeeping copies of such 
files as organization charts and reorganization studies, mission 
statements, records relating to legislation, briefing books, and press 
releases were previously approved as permanent.
    15. National Credit Union Administration, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer (N1-413-02-2, 57 items, 55 temporary items). 
Electronic systems relating to credit union supervision, examination, 
and insurance activities. Included are inputs, outputs, system data, 
and the related documentation for systems containing information 
concerning such matters as the current status and history of active and 
inactive credit unions, member share and loan transactions, the 
identities of directors and other credit union officials, 
correspondence tracking within the agency's Office of Corporate Credit 
Unions, and insurance related services. Proposed for permanent 
retention are the electronic data and related documentation for one 
system that pertains to the annual examination of credit unions to 
evaluate their soundness.

    Dated: January 9, 2002.
Michael J. Kurtz,
Assistant Archivist for Record Services--Washington, DC.
[FR Doc. 02-1606 Filed 1-22-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7515-01-P