[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 190 (Wednesday, October 1, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56653-56654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24802]


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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 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 [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 Housing and Urban Development, Office of 
Multifamily Housing Assistance Restructuring (N1-207-03-1, 34 items, 29 
temporary items). Records relating to restructuring mortgages supported 
by public assistance, including such records as chronological files, 
working papers, asset files, grant files, contract files, contract 
appeal files, voucher files, a data base used for tracking properties 
and transactions, and web site copies of forms, publications, and other 
documents. Also included are electronic copies of records created using 
electronic mail and word processing. Recordkeeping copies of such 
records as program subject files, policy files, publications, reports 
and studies, and training records are proposed for permanent retention.
    2. Department of Justice, Civil Division (N1-60-03-4, 4 items, 4 
temporary items). Lists of approved annuity brokers and declarations 
submitted by annuity brokers seeking

[[Page 56654]]

approval to administer structured settlements entered into by the U.S. 
Government. Also included are electronic copies of records created 
using electronic mail and word processing.
    3. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration (N1-170-
03-8, 10 items, 10 temporary items). System inputs, outputs, master 
files, and documentation associated with the Chemical Transaction 
Analysis System, which is used to monitor the distribution of specified 
chemicals and identify suspicious transactions and relationships 
between chemical distributors. Also included are electronic copies of 
records created using electronic mail and word processing.
    4. Department of the Treasury, Office of Sallie Mae Oversight (N1-
56-03-8, 6 items, 3 temporary items). Work papers and electronic copies 
of records created using electronic mail and word processing relating 
to agency oversight of the Student Loan Marketing Association. Proposed 
for permanent retention are recordkeeping copies of examination 
reports, correspondence, and briefing materials.
    5. Department of the Treasury, Financial Management Service (N1-
425-03-6, 8 items, 8 temporary items). Records of the Financial 
Accounting and Services Division, including such records as courtesy 
disbursement files, inputs, outputs, system documentation, and master 
files of the Courtesy Disbursement Database, and out of balance 
correspondence files. Also included are electronic copies of records 
created using electronic mail and word processing.
    6. Department of the Treasury, U.S. Mint (N1-104-03-8, 6 items, 6 
temporary items). Records relating to the employee advocate program, 
including case files, working papers, and electronic copies of records 
created using electronic mail and word processing.
    7. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration 
(N1-15-03-1, 9 items, 9 temporary items). Electronic and paper records 
relating to health benefits and reimbursements provided to certain 
veterans and dependents of veterans. Included are such records as 
applications, requests, certifications, supporting documentation, 
payment information, correspondence, appeals documents, health care 
treatment documents, and claims for medical services. Master files, 
electronic indexes, system backups, internal reports, and system 
documentation are included as are electronic copies of records created 
using electronic mail and word processing.
    8. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Agency-wide (N1-138-03-1, 
5 items, 5 temporary items). Substantive and non-substantive working 
papers, including electronic copies of documents created using 
electronic mail and word processing.
    9. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Agency-wide (N1-
255-03-2, 3 items, 2 temporary items). Copies and printouts of records 
taken to or reproduced on board the International Space Station. Also 
included are electronic copies of records created using electronic mail 
and word processing. Proposed for permanent retention are recordkeeping 
copies of such records as daily work plans, procedural checklists and 
updates, payload and systems operational data, malfunction and 
reference data, and other data concerning the operations of the 
Station.
    10. National Archives and Records Administration, Office of Human 
Resources and Information Services (N1-64-03-8, 4 items, 4 temporary 
items). Requests for services and a tracking database relating to the 
Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program, which provides equipment 
and services for employees in accordance with Section 508 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Also included are electronic copies of 
records created using electronic mail and word processing.
    11. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Office of Nuclear Security and 
Incident Response (N1-431-03-1, 105 items, 90 temporary items). 
Electronic records in the Commission's Agencywide Document Access and 
Management System (ADAMS) accumulated by the Office of Nuclear Security 
and Incident Response, including electronic copies of records created 
using office automation tools and records used to create ADAMS portable 
document format files. Records proposed for disposal include electronic 
recordkeeping copies of records related to committees and conferences 
for which the agency is not the sponsor, program correspondence 
accumulated below the office director level, safeguard status reports, 
and systems security records. Paper copies of these records were 
previously approved for disposal. Series proposed for permanent 
retention include recordkeeping copies of such files as significant 
committee and conference records, emergency planning records, program 
correspondence accumulated at the office director level, international 
safeguards program files, and security policy files.

    Dated: September 24, 2003.
Michael J. Kurtz,
Assistant Archivist for Record Services--Washington, DC.
[FR Doc. 03-24802 Filed 9-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7515-01-P