[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 149 (Monday, August 4, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45857-45859]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19652]


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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 18, 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,

[[Page 45858]]

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 Air Force, Agency-wide (N1-AFU-03-13, 5 items, 
5 temporary items). Records relating to identifying and assisting 
family members of Air Force personnel who are in need of medical and/or 
early intervention services, including electronic copies of records 
created using electronic mail and word processing.
    2. Department of the Army, Agency-wide (N1-AU-03-15, 3 items, 3 
temporary items). Continuity of operations program records accumulated 
by offices other than the office with Army-wide responsibility. 
Included are plans, instructions, coordinating actions, initial and 
interim reports, and final emergency operations reports. 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.
    3. Department of the Army, Agency-wide (N1-AU-03-16, 3 items, 3 
temporary items). Background materials used to prepare studies relating 
to unconventional warfare and psychological operations, including 
electronic copies of documents created using electronic mail and word 
processing. This schedule also authorizes the agency to apply the 
proposed disposition instructions to any recordkeeping medium. 
Recordkeeping copies of the studies to which these files relate were 
previously approved for permanent retention.
    4. Department of the Army, Agency-wide (N1-AU-03-20, 2 items, 2 
temporary items). Records relating to Army National Guard and Army 
Reserve incentive programs involving such benefits as enlistment 
bonuses, educational assistance, and repayment of student loans. 
Records include determinations, legal opinions, statistics, and 
reports. 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.
    5. Department of the Army, Agency-wide (N1-AU-03-21, 3 items, 3 
temporary items). Records relating to Army educational incentives and 
entitlements. Records include documentation on eligible participants 
and information related to inquiries and corrective actions to aid 
soldiers and veterans in obtaining educational benefits. 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 Energy, Bonneville Power Administration (N1-305-
03-3, 6 items, 6 temporary items). Records relating to procurement, 
materials management, and quality assurance, including such matters as 
the disposal of excess material and equipment, the agency's quality 
assurance program, and material specifications. Also included are 
electronic copies of records created using electronic mail and word 
processing. This schedule revises retention periods for these items, 
which were previously approved for disposal.
    7. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary 
(N1-468-03-2, 3 items, 3 temporary items). Records relating to weekly 
conference calls between headquarters and regional offices of the 
Office of General Counsel. Included are sound recordings, 
transcriptions, written summaries, and finding aids. Also included are 
electronic copies of records created using electronic mail and word 
processing.
    8. Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security 
Administration (N1-560-03-1, 20 items, 16 temporary items). Records of 
the Office of Chief Counsel, including such records as general legal 
files, personnel-related legal assistance files, protests to the 
Comptroller General, legal subject files, claim files, civil and 
criminal enforcement files, and international law files. Also proposed 
for disposal are electronic copies of documents created using word 
processing and electronic mail. Records proposed for permanent 
retention include recordkeeping copies of significant litigation files, 
enacted legislation files, significant regulation and rulemaking files, 
and formal legal opinion case files.
    9. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration (N1-170-
03-07, 6 items, 6 temporary items). Inputs, electronic data, outputs, 
and documentation associated with the Diversion Validation Tracking and 
Electronic Filing System, which tracks funding allocated to support the 
agency's diversion program. Also included are electronic copies of 
documents created using electronic mail and word processing.
    10. Department of State, Office of War Crimes Issues (N1-59-02-2, 2 
items, 1 temporary item). Electronic copies of records created using 
electronic mail and word processing associated with the office's 
program files. Recordkeeping copies of these records are proposed for 
permanent retention.
    11. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Public Debt (N1-53-
03-10, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Surveillance tapes of exterior 
building areas and interior entrance areas. This schedule authorizes 
the agency to destroy these records after a retention period that is 
shorter than the retention period included in General Records Schedule 
21, Item 18.

[[Page 45859]]

    12. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Public Debt (N1-53-
03-11, 5 items, 5 temporary items). Forms, correspondence, and reports 
needed to process securities transactions and letters and reports 
relating to attempts to contact owners of unredeemed securities or 
owners with undeliverable securities or payments. Also included are 
electronic copies of documents created using electronic mail and word 
processing.
    13. Department of the Treasury, U.S. Mint (N1-104-03-2, 2 items, 1 
temporary item). Electronic copies of records created using electronic 
mail and word processing that are associated with financial operations 
reports. Recordkeeping copies of these files are proposed for permanent 
retention.
    14. Department of the Treasury, U.S. Mint (N1-104-03-4), 2 items, 2 
temporary items). Economic Crimes Unit investigative records. Records 
include original complaints, transmittal memorandums, and related 
documents. Also included are electronic copies or records created using 
electronic mail and word processing.
    15. Peace Corps, Office of Overseas Posts (N1-490-02-2, 12 items, 8 
temporary items). Records relating to post startup and closeout, 
funding and other financial matters, and volunteer living allowances 
and stipends. Also included are electronic copies of records created 
using word processing and electronic mail. Proposed for permanent 
retention are recordkeeping copies of briefing books, country welcome 
books, country graduation books, and legacy reports.
    16. Tennessee Valley Authority, Fossil Power Group (N1-142-03-3, 8 
items, 6 temporary items). Design and construction drawings documenting 
the layout of structures and equipment at fossil power plants that are 
lacking in historical value. Records are maintained in paper and 
microfilm and as scanned images. Also included are electronic copies of 
documents created using electronic mail and word processing. Proposed 
for permanent retention are hard copy and electronic versions of 
drawings having historical value, such as site general plan drawings, 
drawings of structures, and switchyard drawings.

    Dated: July 25, 2003.
Michael J. Kurtz,
Assistant Archivist for Record Services--Washington, DC.
[FR Doc. 03-19652 Filed 8-1-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7515-01-P