[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 4, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 72101-72104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-30766]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION

36 CFR Part 1200

RIN 3095-AB12


Official Seals

AGENCY: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is 
revising its regulations on the NARA official seals. The rule adds our 
criteria for approving and denying requests submitted by the public and 
other Federal agencies to use our official seals. It also requires more 
detailed facts in written requests and includes NARA's conditions for 
use if a request is approved. This part has been rewritten in plain 
language format and applies to the public and other Federal agencies.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 3, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Richardson at telephone number 
301-837-2902 or fax number 301-837-0319.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed rule was published in the July 
17, 2002, Federal Register (67 FR 46945) for a 60-day comment period. 
NARA did not receive any comments.

Information Collection Subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act

    The information collection in Sec.  1200.10, the written request, 
is subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. Under this Act, no persons 
are required to respond to a collection of information unless it 
displays a valid OMB control number. The control number for this 
information collection is 3095-0052.
    This rule is not a significant regulatory action for the purposes 
of Executive Order 12866 and has not been reviewed by the Office of 
Management and Budget. This rule is not a major rule as defined in 5 
U.S.C. Chapter 8, Congressional Review of Agency Rulemaking. As 
required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act, I certify that this rule 
will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. This regulation does not have any federalism implications.

List of Subjects in 36 CFR Part 1200

    Seals and insignia.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, NARA revises part 1200 
of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, to read as follows:

PART 1200--OFFICIAL SEALS

Subpart A--General
Sec.
1200.1 Definitions.
Subpart B--How are NARA's Official Seals Designed and Used?
1200.2 How is each NARA seal designed?
1200.4 How does NARA use its official seals?
1200.6 Who is authorized to apply the official seals on documents or 
other materials?
Subpart C--Procedures for the Public to Request and Use NARA Seals
1200.8 How do I request to use the official seals?
1200.10 What are NARA's criteria for approval?
1200.12 How does NARA notify me of the determination?
1200.14 What are NARA's conditions for the use of the official 
seals?
Subpart D--Penalties for Misuse of NARA Seals
1200.16 Will I be penalized for misusing the official seals?

    Authority: 18 U.S.C. 506 and 1017; 44 U.S.C. 2104(e), 2116(b), 
2302.

Subpart A--General


Sec.  1200.1  Definitions.

    The following definitions apply to this part:
    Embossing seal means a display of the form and content of the 
official seal made on a die so that the seal can be embossed on paper 
or other medium.
    NARA means all organizational units of the National Archives and 
Records Administration.
    Official seal means the original(s) of the seal showing the exact 
form and content.
    Replica or reproduction means a copy of the official seal 
displaying the form and content.

Subpart B--How are NARA's Official Seals Designed and Used?


Sec.  1200.2  How is each NARA seal designed?

    NARA's three official seals are illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 
30.
    A description of each seal is as follows:
    (a) The National Archives and Records Administration seal. The 
design is illustrated below in Figure 1 and described as follows:
    (1) The seal is centered on a disc with a double-line border.
    (2) The words ``NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION'' 
encircle the inside of the seal and the date 1985 is at the bottom 
center.
    (3) A solid line rendition of a heraldic eagle displayed holding in 
its left talon 13 arrows, in its right talon a branch of olive, bearing 
on its breast a representation of the shield of the United States.
    (4) Displayed above the eagle's head is a partially unrolled scroll 
inscribed with the words ``LITTERA SCRIPTA MANET'' one above the other.

[[Page 72102]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR04DE02.051

    (b) National Archives seal. The design is illustrated below and 
described as in paragraph (a) of this section. However, the words ``THE 
NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES'' encircle the inside of the 
seal and the date 1934 is at the bottom center.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR04DE02.052

    (c) National Archives Trust Fund Board seal. The design is 
illustrated below and described as in paragraph (a) of this section. 
However, the words ``NATIONAL ARCHIVES TRUST FUND BOARD'' encircle the 
inside of the seal and the date 1941 is at the bottom center.

[[Page 72103]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR04DE02.053

Figure 3 `` National Archives Trust Fund Board SealSec.  1200.4  How 
does NARA use its official seals?

    NARA uses its three official seals to authenticate various copies 
of documents and for informational purposes as follows:
    (a) The National Archives and Records Administration seal, dated 
1985, is used:
    (1) For official business, e.g., stationery;
    (2) To authenticate copies of Federal records in NARA's temporary 
custody and copies of NARA operational records; and
    (3) For informational purposes with NARA's prior approval (includes 
use by NARA employees, the public, and other Federal agencies).
    (b) The National Archives seal, dated 1934, is used to authenticate 
copies of documents in NARA's permanent legal custody.
    (c) The National Archives Trust Fund Board seal, dated 1941, is 
used for Trust Fund documents and publications.


Sec.  1200.6  Who is authorized to apply the official seals on 
documents or other materials?

    The Archivist of the United States (and the Archivist's designee) 
is the only individual authorized to apply NARA official seals, 
embossing seals, and replicas and reproductions of seals to appropriate 
documents, authentications, and other material. NARA accepts requests 
to use the official seals and approves or denies them based on the 
criteria identified in Sec.  1200.10.

Subpart C--Procedures for the Public To Request and Use NARA Seals


Sec.  1200.8  How do I request to use the official seals?

    You may only use the official seals if NARA approves your written 
request. Follow the procedures in this section to request 
authorization.
    (a) Prepare a written request explaining, in detail:
    (1) The name of the individual/organization requesting use and how 
it is associated with NARA;
    (2) Which of the three official seals you want to use and how or on 
what it is going to be displayed. Provide a sample of the document or 
other material on which the seal is intended to appear. Mark the sample 
in all places where the seal would be displayed;
    (3) How the intended use of the official seal is connected to your 
work with NARA on an event or activity (example: requesting to use the 
official NARA seal on a program brochure, poster, or other publicity 
announcing a co-sponsored symposium or conference.); and
    (4) The dates of the event or activity for which you intend to 
display the seal.
    (b) You must submit the request at least six weeks before you 
intend to use it to the Archivist of the United States (N), 8601 
Adelphi Rd., College Park, MD 20740-6001.
    (c) The OMB control number 3095-0052 has been assigned to the 
information collection contained in this section.


Sec.  1200.10  What are NARA's criteria for approval?

    NARA's criteria for approval are as follows:
    (a) NARA must be participating in the event or activity by 
providing speakers, space, or other similar services (example: NARA co-
sponsoring a symposium or conference).
    (b) The seal is not going to be used on any article or in any 
manner that reflects unfavorably on NARA or endorses, either directly 
or by implication, commercial products or services, or a requestor's 
policies or activities.


Sec.  1200.12  How does NARA notify me of the determination?

    NARA will notify you by mail of the final decision, usually within 
3 weeks from the date we receive your request. If NARA approves your 
request, we will send you a camera-ready copy of the official seal 
along with an approval letter that will:
    (a) Reference back to the submitted request (either through the 
date or another distinguishing characteristic) indicating approval of 
the specific use, as defined in the request; and
    (b) Include NARA's conditions for use, which are identified in 
Sec.  1200.14.


Sec.  1200.14  What are NARA's conditions for the use of the official 
seals?

    If your request is approved, you must follow these conditions:
    (a) Use the official seal only for the specific purpose for which 
approval was granted;
    (b) Submit additional written requests for any uses other than the 
use granted in the approval letter;
    (c) Do not delegate the approval to another individual(s) or 
organization without NARA's prior approval; and
    (d) Do not change the official seals themselves. They must visually 
and

[[Page 72104]]

physically appear as illustrated in Sec.  1200.2, with no alterations.
    (e) Only use the official seal for the time period designated in 
the approval letter (example: for the duration of a conference or 
exhibit).

Subpart D--Penalties for Misuse of NARA Seals


Sec.  1200.16  Will I be penalized for misusing the official seals?

    (a) If you falsely make, forge, counterfeit, mutilate, or alter 
official seals, replicas, reproductions or embossing seals, or 
knowingly use or possess with fraudulent intent any altered seal, you 
are subject to penalties under 18 U.S.C. 506.
    (b) If you use the official seals, replicas, reproductions, or 
embossing seals in a manner inconsistent with the provisions of this 
part, you are subject to penalties under 18 U.S.C. 1017 and to other 
provisions of law as applicable.

    Dated: November 26, 2002.
John W. Carlin,
Archivist of the United States.
[FR Doc. 02-30766 Filed 12-3-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7515-01-P