[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 75 (Monday, April 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20952-20953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-8777]


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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 
June 3, 2004. 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: You may request a copy of any records schedule identified in 
this notice by contacting the Life Cycle Management Division (NWML) 
using one of the following means: Mail: NARA (NWML), 8601 Adelphi Road, 
College Park, MD 20740-6001. E-mail: [email protected]. FAX: 301-
837-3698.
    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 Agriculture, Risk Management Agency (N1-258-03-1, 
5 items, 5 temporary items). Routine investigative and audit case files 
and complaints that do not result in an investigation. Electronic 
copies of records created using electronic mail and word processing are 
included. The agency will notify NARA of any case files that may 
warrant permanent retention, and they will be appraised on a case-by-
case basis.
    2. Department of the Army, Agency-wide (N1-AU-03-23, 6 items, 6 
temporary items). Claims case files and other records relating to 
claims, including inputs, outputs, master files, and documentation 
associated with an electronic tracking system. This schedule also 
authorizes the agency to apply the proposed disposition instructions to 
any recordkeeping medium.
    3. Department of Homeland Security, Information Analysis and 
Infrastructure Protection Directorate (N1-563-04-9, 3 items, 3 
temporary items). Voluntary submissions of Critical Infrastructure 
Information in all media and formats received by the agency which do 
not meet the requirements for protection contained in Section 214 of 
the Homeland Security Act of 2002. Also included are electronic copies 
of records created using electronic mail and word processing. Notice of 
this schedule was previously published in the March 18, 2004, Federal 
Register. It has been re-published since the earlier version did not 
include electronic mail and word processing copies.
    4. Department of Homeland Security, Data Management Improvement Act 
Task Force (N1-563-04-10, 16 items, 4 temporary items). Administrative 
meeting files and site visit photographs. 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 annual reports to Congress, press materials, correspondence, 
meeting files (open and closed), briefing materials, files on 
workshops, Executive Director briefing files, and site visit files.
    5. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (N1-65-
03-2, 3 items, 3 temporary items). Audio, video, or other electronic 
recordings created in the course of investigations and intelligence 
operations.
    6. Department of State, Bureau of Administration (N1-59-03-10, 45 
items, 42 temporary items). Paper and electronic records of the Office 
of General Services Management relating

[[Page 20953]]

to such administrative functions as room reservations, motor vehicle 
fleet management, receptionist and laborer services, audiovisual 
services, video production, and authentication services. Also included 
are electronic copies of documents created using word processing and 
electronic mail. Proposed for permanent retention are master files of 
audio-visual materials (videos, photographs, and negatives) and related 
finding aids.
    7. Environmental Protection Agency, Agency-wide (N1-412-04-1, 3 
items, 3 temporary items). Records relating to the agency's child care 
assistance program, including correspondence, pay statements, 
applications, and related forms. Also included are electronic copies of 
records created using electronic e-mail and word processing.
    8. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of the Inspector General 
(N1-412-04-2, 4 items, 4 temporary items). Records relating to the 
Inspector General's Operations and Reporting System, an electronic 
system used for tracking information pertaining to audits, evaluations, 
investigations, special reports, and general assignments.
    9. Environmental Protection Agency, Agency-wide (N1-412-04-4, 6 
items, 6 temporary items). Records relating to the development of 
regulations and the collection of public comments for non-rulemaking 
actions, including paper and electronic copies of regulatory and 
general dockets, and the software, documentation, and electronic mail 
identification and verification data associated with the E-DOCKET 
electronic system, an on-line public review and comment system 
pertaining to dockets. Also included are electronic copies of records 
created using electronic e-mail and word processing.
    10. Environmental Protection Agency, Agency-wide (N1-412-04-5, 2 
items, 1 temporary item). Electronic copies of records created using 
electronic mail and word processing relating to the development of 
environmental policies and programs. Recordkeeping copies of these 
files, which include correspondence, briefing books, issue papers, 
reports, and directives, are proposed for permanent retention.
    11. Small Business Administration, Office of Hearings and Appeals 
(N1-309-04-2, 8 items, 8 temporary items). Case files and a related 
electronic tracking system accumulated in connection with 
administrative proceedings. Also included are Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act comments and electronic copies of documents 
created using electronic mail and word processing.

    Dated: April 8, 2004.
Michael J. Kurtz,
Assistant Archivist for Records Services--Washington, DC.
[FR Doc. 04-8777 Filed 4-16-04; 8:45 am]
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