[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 191 (Wednesday, October 2, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61925-61927]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24955]


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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 
November 18, 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-
837-3698 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: Larry Baume, Acting Director, Life 
Cycle Management Division (NWML), National Archives and Records 
Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001. 
Telephone: 301-837-1505. 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

[[Page 61926]]

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, Foreign Agricultural Service (N1-166-
02-2, 4 items, 4 temporary items). Federal Register Docket files. 
Included are copies of documents submitted for publication, background 
materials, public correspondence, and electronic copies of records 
created using electronic mail and word processing.
    2. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration (N1-170-
02-4, 4 items, 2 temporary items). Inputs and outputs for an electronic 
system relating to clandestine laboratory seizures. The electronic data 
is proposed for permanent retention along with the system 
documentation.
    3. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (N1-257-01-1, 8 
items, 5 temporary items). Inputs, extra copies of system outputs, and 
extra copies of documentation for the Occupational Outlook Technical 
Memoranda Record Files electronic system. Also included are electronic 
records created using electronic mail and word processing. Proposed for 
permanent retention are paper records that pre-date the automated 
system, electronic data, and system documentation.
    4. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Public Debt (N1-53-02-12, 
3 items, 3 temporary items). Records pertaining to such matters as 
interest payments on savings bonds, bank error adjustments, and 
miscellaneous accounting work.
    5. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Public Debt (N1-53-02-
7), 10 items, 10 temporary items). Records of the Division of 
Accounting Services relating to financial and securities accounting, 
including transaction reconciliation.
    6. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Public Debt (N1-53-02-11, 
2 items, 2 temporary items). Records transferred from the Federal 
Reserve Bank of Philadelphia relating to the Federal Housing 
Administration Debenture Program. Included are such records as system 
conversion reports, daily work envelopes, paid checks, daily summary 
reports, and address list updates.
    7. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Public Debt (N1-53-02-
15, 5 items, 5 temporary items). Office of Chief Counsel litigation 
case files, weekly reports concerning legal activities, and reports to 
Congress and GAO concerning regulations to be published in the Federal 
Register. Also included are electronic copies of documents created 
using electronic mail and word processing.
    8. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Public Debt (N1-53-02-
16, 6 items, 6 temporary items). Reports used by the Treasury 
Securities Accounting Branch to identify errors and ensure accurate 
reporting of the public debt. Also included are electronic copies of 
documents created using electronic mail and word processing.
    9. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control 
(N1-56-02-4, 64 items, 55 temporary items).
    Records relating to foreign assets control, including such records 
as an electronic tracking system for correspondence, working files, 
briefing papers, guidelines, case files on civil penalties, financial 
management files, enforcement case files, legislative materials, and 
licensing applications. Also included are electronic copies of records 
created using electronic mail and word processing. Proposed for 
permanent retention are such files as recordkeeping copies of blocked 
assets reports and the blocked assets master data file along with the 
related system documentation, case files relating to blocked persons 
and specially designated nationals, and significant subject files.
    10. Department of the Treasury, United States Mint (N1-104-00-1, 27 
items, 21 temporary items). Facilitative records relating to the 
design, production, marketing, and sales of coins, medals, and other 
Mint products, including electronic copies of records created using 
electronic mail and word processing. Proposed for permanent retention 
are recordkeeping copies of mint product case files, numismatic 
advertising and promotional materials, coin and medal designs selected 
for final review, product summary reports, and Congressional inquiries.
    11. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration 
(N1-15-02-4, 12 items, 12 temporary items). Records of the Pathology 
and Laboratory Medicine Service relating to such matters as general 
laboratory quality control, proficiency test surveys, instrument 
maintenance, test procedures, blood bank operations, and the donation 
and receipt of organs for transplantation. Also included are electronic 
copies of records created using electronic mail and word processing 
systems. Reports that relate to individual patient care are filed in 
the patient's medical folder, which was previously approved for 
disposal 75 years after last episode of care.
    12. Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Office of Legislative 
Affairs (N1-116-02-4, 7 items, 5 temporary items). Inputs to and 
outputs of the Judicial Vacancies Listings Database and reports 
summarizing items in the Congressional Record that are relevant to the 
judiciary. Also included are electronic copies of documents created 
using electronic mail and word processing. The master file of the 
Judicial Vacancies Listings Database is proposed for permanent 
retention along with the related system documentation.
    13. Environmental Protection Agency, Agency-wide (N1-412-99-17, 3 
items, 2 temporary items). Records relating to international activities 
and agreements, including bilateral and cooperative research 
agreements, correspondence, and related documentation. Also included 
are electronic copies of documents created using electronic mail and 
word processing. Proposed for permanent retention are recordkeeping 
copies of files relating to those international activities and 
agreements that result in significant changes in agency policies and 
practices or generate great media attention
    14. Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, Office of Benefits 
and Investments (N1-474-02-1, 3 items, 3 temporary items). Paper and 
electronic copies of records relating to loan and withdrawal policies 
and procedures for Federal employees covered under the Thrift Savings 
Plan. Also included are electronic copies of records created using 
electronic mail and word processing.
    15. National Archives and Records Administration, Office of Records 
Services `` Washington, DC (N1-64-02-11, 6 items, 5 temporary items). 
Records relating to the Modern Archives Institute. Included are such 
files as course evaluation forms completed by participants, records 
relating to administrative and logistics matters, background papers 
accumulated by instructors, and electronic copies of records created 
using electronic mail and word processing. Proposed for permanent 
retention are recordkeeping copies of files accumulated by the 
Institute Director, which include such records as curriculum plans, 
lists of class participants, class profiles, aggregated evaluation 
data, and other

[[Page 61927]]

records which document major changes in course content and structure.

    Dated: September 24, 2002.
Michael J. Kurtz,
Assistant Archivist for Record Services, Washington, DC.
[FR Doc. 02-24955 Filed 10-1-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7515-01-P