[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 20 (Thursday, January 30, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4798-4800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-2114]


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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 17, 2003. 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

[[Page 4799]]

[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: Paul M. Wester, Jr., Director, Life 
Cycle Management Division (NWML), National Archives and Records 
Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001. 
Telephone: 301-837-3120. 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-01-20, 7 items, 6 
temporary items). Records relating to the management of models and 
simulations. Included are records documenting standards and 
requirements development, board and working group proceedings, 
improvement proposals, and domain management. Also included are 
electronic copies of documents created using electronic mail and word 
processing. Proposed for permanent retention are recordkeeping copies 
of policy and program management reports, which include such records as 
standards reports, master plans, and acquisition and training 
guidelines. This schedule authorizes the agency to apply the proposed 
disposition instructions to any recordkeeping medium.
    2. Department of the Army, Agency-wide (N1-AU-03-1, 2 items, 2 
temporary items). Electronic master files and outputs/reports relating 
to child and spouse abuse. A copy of the master file becomes part of a 
Department of Defense database that was previously approved for 
permanent retention.
    3. Department of the Army, Agency-wide (N1-AU-03-02, 2 items, 2 
temporary items). Master files and reports associated with the Groups 
Operational Passenger System. Records contain information regarding the 
receipt and processing of group movement requests and associated offers 
of service from the commercial carrier industry. This schedule 
authorizes the agency to apply the proposed disposition instructions to 
any recordkeeping medium.
    4. Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General (N1-509-
03-1, 2 items, 1 temporary item). Criminal investigation case files. 
This schedule modifies slightly the previously approved selection 
criteria for permanent case files and also increases the retention 
period for files that lack historical significance, which were 
previously scheduled for disposal.
    5. Department of Defense, Defense Security Service (N1-446-03-2, 14 
items, 14 temporary items). Records relating to international programs. 
Records relate to such matters as trips, foreign government contacts 
and liaison assignments, transportation plans, security violations, 
secured communications, and security briefings. 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.
    6. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare 
and Medicaid Services (N1-440-00-5, 10 items, 7 temporary items). 
Records of the Office of Actuary relating to national expenditures for 
health-related goods and services, including paper and electronic 
source records and a web version of the annual report. Also included 
are electronic copies of records created using electronic mail and word 
processing. Proposed for permanent retention are electronic data files, 
annual reports, and system documentation.
    7. Department of Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (N1-57-03-1, 46 
items, 27 temporary items). Audiovisual records, geospatial data, 
cartographic records, remote sensing records, architectural drawings, 
engineering records, and publishing records. Included are such 
materials as miscellaneous general interest photographs, duplicate 
video prints, surveillance recordings, pre-mix sound elements and sound 
library recordings, unaltered or minimally altered data layers and non-
significant data layers, contract negotiation drawings, publication 
approval records, copyright files, manuscripts, working papers and 
background materials, publications research records, information 
products management files, unofficial information products, and 
electronic files and artwork used in publishing. Also included are 
electronic copies of records created using electronic mail, 
spreadsheet, and word processing applications. Proposed for permanent 
retention are such records as mission-related photographs, motion 
pictures, stock footage, video recordings, audio recordings, geospatial 
data sets, and remote sensing records.
    8. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division (N1-60-03-3, 5 
items, 2 temporary items). Inputs and outputs of the Case Management 
System, which is used for tracking investigations and cases. Proposed 
for permanent retention are the master files of the database (both the 
public-use and full-text versions) and the associated system 
documentation.
    9. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (N1-65-
03-1, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Work papers relating to financial 
management audits and electronic data processing audits. Also included 
are electronic copies of

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records created using word processing and electronic mail.
    10. Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Office of Internal 
Services (N1-116-03-3, 5 items, 4 temporary items). Briefing book 
background materials and appropriations hearing correspondence files. 
Included are such records as statements, questions prepared by program 
offices, and correspondence with judges and others relating to judicial 
appropriations. Also included are electronic copies of documents 
created using electronic mail and word processing. Recordkeeping copies 
of House and Senate hearings briefing books are proposed for permanent 
retention.
    11. Commission on Affordable Housing and Health Facility Needs for 
Seniors in the 21st Century, Agency-wide (N1-220-03-3, 20 items, 11 
temporary items). Audio cassette copies of meeting minutes and hearings 
used solely for making transcripts, administrative general 
correspondence, staff working papers, copies of contracts, reference 
materials, electronic copies created using electronic mail and word 
processing, and the Commission's web site. Recordkeeping copies of such 
files as meeting minutes, Commissioners' working papers, task force 
records, reports and studies, hearing transcripts, press releases, and 
photographs are proposed for permanent retention.
    12. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pollution, 
Prevention, and Toxics (N1-412-01-11, 3 items, 2 temporary items). 
Paper records relating to regulating chemical or chemical mixtures 
under Section 6 of the Toxic Substances Control Act that have been 
microfilmed. Also included are electronic copies of documents created 
using electronic mail and word processing. Microfilm copies and paper 
records that have not been filmed are proposed for permanent retention.
    13. Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and 
Budget (N1-51-03-2, 8 items, 1 temporary item). Backup tapes of 
electronic mail of the Management Division, the Office of Federal 
Procurement Policy, and the Health and Income Maintenance Division. 
Master files of messages and the related indexes and documentation are 
proposed for permanent retention.
    14. National Bioethics Advisory Commission, Agency-wide (N1-220-01-
6, 13 items, 5 temporary items). Copies of materials used solely for 
answering requests, reference materials, electronic copies created 
using electronic mail and word processing, and the Commission's web 
site. Proposed for permanent retention are recordkeeping copies of such 
files as the Commission's final report, surveys, hearing transcripts, 
correspondence, and meeting minutes.
    15. Tennessee Valley Authority, Fossil Power Group (N1-142-03-2, 15 
items, 15 temporary items). Records documenting the operation and 
maintenance of generators and auxiliary equipment at fossil power 
plants. Records relate to such matters as meter readings, temperature 
and pressure points, electrical power distribution, and inspections. 
Also included are electronic copies of documents created using 
electronic mail and word processing.

    Dated: January 22, 2003.
Michael J. Kurtz,
Assistant Archivist for Record Services,--Washington, DC.
[FR Doc. 03-2114 Filed 1-29-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7515-01-P