[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 139 (Monday, July 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43232-43233]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-18423]


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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 
September 4, 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 [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-03-12, 4 items, 2 
temporary items). Records relating to reporting terrorist threats, 
including reports, report updates, and dissemination data. Also 
included are electronic copies of records created using electronic mail 
and word processing that relate to terrorist threats, terrorist 
attacks, and anti-terrorist activities. This schedule authorizes the 
agency to apply the proposed disposition instructions to records 
regardless of medium. Recordkeeping copies of files relating to anti-
terrorism programs and terrorist incidents and attacks are proposed for 
permanent retention.
    2. Department of Commerce, Office of the Secretary (N1-40-03-2, 22 
items, 18 temporary items). Records of the Office of the General 
Counsel, including attorney's working files, litigation case files, 
Freedom of Information Act files, administrative correspondence, 
contract review case files, legislation case files, and records 
relating to inventions. Also included are electronic versions of files 
proposed for disposal as well as electronic copies of records created 
using electronic mail and word processing. Proposed for permanent 
retention are recordkeeping copies of such files as legal program 
subject correspondence, legislative histories, and confirmation hearing 
records.
    3. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (N1-370-02-4, 10 items, 7 temporary items). Records of 
the Office of Coastal Resource Management, including such files as 
supporting materials associated with coastal zone management program 
documents and coastal non-point pollution control program files, 
records relating to consistency reviews of Federal regulations, and 
program administrative guidance. Also included are electronic copies of 
records created using electronic mail and word processing. Proposed for 
permanent retention are recordkeeping copies of such files as coastal 
zone management program documents, program change files, and coastal 
non-point pollution control program files.
    4. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (N1-370-02-5, 18 items, 14 temporary items). Data, 
documentation, inputs, and outputs associated with the Specimen 
Database and the Program Funding Database, inputs and outputs 
associated with the National Benthic Infaunal Database and the 
Estuarine Living Marine Resource

[[Page 43233]]

Database, grants working files, and electronic copies of records 
created using electronic mail and word processing. Proposed for 
permanent retention are data and system documentation associated with 
the National Benthic Infaunal Database and the Estuarine Living Marine 
Resource Database.
    5. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (N1-370-03-8, 6 items, 5 temporary items). Records of 
the damage assessment and restoration program relating to actions taken 
to support or implement natural resource restoration activities. 
Included are copies of restoration post-settlement records, such as 
grants, contracts, reports, and permit clearances in textual, 
photographic, and microfilm formats. Also included are electronic 
copies of records created using electronic mail and word processing. 
Proposed for permanent retention is the official record set of post-
settlement administrative records, which includes records documenting 
determinations made regarding the planning, implementation, and 
monitoring of individual restoration projects.
    6. Department of Defense, National Imagery and Mapping Agency (N1-
537-03-16, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Records management surveys and 
office file plans. This schedule authorizes the agency to apply the 
proposed disposition instructions to any recordkeeping medium.
    7. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary 
(N1-468-03-1, 12 items, 6 temporary items). Records of the Secretary's 
Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform, including such records as 
notes on logistical planning for meetings and hearings, subcommittee 
background information and routine communications, and files relating 
to the preparation of the committee's final report. Also included are 
electronic copies of records created using electronic mail and word 
processing. Proposed for permanent retention are recordkeeping copies 
of committee organization and formation documents, meeting agendas, 
transcripts, testimony, briefings, recommendations, public comments, 
official publications, notices, and the committee's final report to the 
Secretary.
    8. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Prevention, 
Pesticides, and Toxic Substances (N1-412-01-10, 3 items, 3 temporary 
items). Toxic Substances Control Act tracking and control records 
pertaining to the handling and use of confidential business 
information. Also included are electronic copies of records created 
using electronic mail and word processing.
    9. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Prevention, 
Pesticides, and Toxic Substances (N1-412-03-13, 4 items, 3 temporary 
items). Paper and microfilmed copies (excluding recordkeeping copies) 
of correspondence, documents relating to incidents that have adverse 
effects, and reports of water contamination. Also included are 
electronic copies of documents created using electronic mail and word 
processing. Recordkeeping copies of these files are proposed for 
permanent retention.
    10. General Accounting Office, Office of General Counsel (N1-411-
03-1, 1 temporary item). Documents that identify individuals who have 
supplied sensitive information to the agency and have been given an 
assurance of confidentiality.
    11. National Archives and Records Administration, Office of Records 
Services--Washington, DC (N2-26-03-1, 1 temporary item). Records 
accumulated by the Coast Guard, 1973-1984, consisting of strip charts 
containing data used to ensure the accuracy of the Omega radio 
navigation system. Records were previously accessioned into the 
National Archives but lack historical value.
    12. National Archives and Records Administration, Agency-wide (N1-
64-03-6, 9 items, 9 temporary items). Records relating to Web site 
operations such as security logs, search engine logs, reference 
documentation, and design and testing files. Also included are 
electronic copies of documents created using electronic mail and word 
processing.
    13. Small Business Administration, Office of Capital Access (N1-
309-03-7, 10 items, 10 temporary items). Inputs, outputs, system 
documentation, and master files of the Investment Division 
Participating Securities Database, which contains information 
concerning Small Business Investment Company participating securities. 
Also included are electronic copies of documents created using 
electronic mail and word processing.
    14. Small Business Administration, Office of Hearings and Appeals 
(N1-309-03-8, 6 items, 6 temporary items). Master files, outputs, and 
other records associated with an electronic system used for tracking 
appeals of decisions made by program offices. Also included are 
electronic copies of documents created using electronic mail and word 
processing.
    15. Small Business Administration, Office of Business Development 
(N1-309-03-9, 11 items, 9 temporary items). Records associated with the 
Certification Tracking System, which is used for tracking applications 
by firms seeking certification as a Small Disadvantaged Business. 
Included are inputs, outputs, backups, and electronic copies of 
documents created using electronic mail and word processing. The master 
data file and system documentation are proposed for permanent 
retention.

    Dated: July 14, 2003.
Michael J. Kurtz,
Assistant Archivist for Record Services--Washington, DC.
[FR Doc. 03-18423 Filed 7-18-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7515-01-P