[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 87 (Friday, May 5, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26569-26571]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6849]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 19, 2006. 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 (Note the new address for requesting 
schedules using e-mail):
    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: Laurence Brewer, Director, Life Cycle 
Management Division (NWML), National Archives and Records 
Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001. 
Telephone: 301-837-1539. 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

[[Page 26570]]

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 (Note the New Address for Requesting Schedules Using 
E-Mail)

    1. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service (N1-
136-06-13, 8 items, 8 temporary items). Inputs, outputs, master files, 
system documentation, and electronic mail and word processing copies 
associated with an electronic information system used to collect and 
report on seed sample testing and interstate investigation data. This 
schedule authorizes the agency to apply the proposed disposition 
instructions to any recordkeeping medium.
    2. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service (N1-
136-06-3, 7 items, 7 temporary items). Inputs, outputs, master files, 
system documentation, and electronic mail and word processing copies 
associated with an electronic information system used to collect and 
report on livestock industry data as required by the Livestock 
Mandatory Reporting Act of 1999. This schedule authorizes the agency to 
apply the proposed disposition instructions to any recordkeeping 
medium.
    3. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, 
Education, and Extension Service (N1-540-06-1, 16 items, 16 temporary 
items). Inputs, outputs, master files, system documentation, and 
electronic mail and word processing copies associated with an 
electronic information system that tracks and reports on the grant 
application approval process for agricultural research projects 
mandated by Congress, as well as the allocation and disbursement of 
public funds. Final reports and summary information about completed and 
ongoing research were previously approved as permanent as part of the 
Current Research Information System. This schedule authorizes the 
agency to apply the proposed disposition instructions to any 
recordkeeping medium.
    4. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, 
Education, and Extension Service (N1-540-06-3, 8 items, 8 temporary 
items). Grant records, including funded and unfunded award and 
agreement case files, and formula-funded allocation records required to 
monitor disbursement and reporting. Also included are electronic copies 
of records 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 Air Force, Agency-wide (N1-AFU-03-14, 4 items, 
4 temporary items). Medical illustrations, photographs, and related 
indexes maintained by medical treatment facilities for instructional 
and reference purposes.
    6. Department of Commerce, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (N1-
241-05-1, 34 items, 34 temporary items). An agency-wide schedule that 
consists of records pertaining to quality services, corporate planning, 
legal administration, information technology operations, human 
resources, finance, budget, administrative services, and general 
administrative activities that fall outside of the General Records 
Schedules yet support agency administrative functions. This schedule 
authorizes the agency to apply the proposed disposition instructions to 
any recordkeeping medium.
    7. Department of Commerce, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (N1-
241-05-2, 16 items, 12 temporary items). Records include Patent and 
Trademark Depository Library administrative files, copies of products 
and publications used for public dissemination purposes, preliminary 
input information for dissemination of products and publications, 
short-term information dissemination products, and operations support 
files for the dissemination function. Proposed for permanent retention 
are recordkeeping copies of core agency and program publications, 
related indices, Patent and Trademark Depository Library program and 
publication files, and historical reference materials. This schedule 
authorizes the agency to apply the proposed disposition instructions to 
any recordkeeping medium.
    8. Department of Defense, Defense Finance and Accounting Service 
(N1-507-06-2, 1 item, 1 temporary item). An agency-wide schedule that 
applies to individual traveler charge card holder account files, 
including charge card applications, training certificates, and other 
administrative communications and correspondence.
    9. Department of Education, Office of the Chief Financial Officer 
(N1-441-06-1, 3 items, 3 temporary items). Operating documents and 
review files pertaining to research activities involving human 
subjects. Included are Department institutional review board procedures 
and membership rosters, meeting minutes, copies of research proposals 
reviewed and decision documentation, progress reports, and reports of 
injuries to research subjects. Also included are electronic copies of 
records created using electronic mail and word processing.
    10. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Air Marshal Service 
(N1-560-06-4, 12 items, 10 temporary items). Records of the Office of 
the Director including reference copies of routine correspondence 
relating to agency administrative and operational activities, 
correspondence pertaining to investigations of employees, and copies of 
audit reports and background documentation. Proposed for permanent 
retention are recordkeeping copies of transcripts from congressional 
inquiries or hearings, and reports provided to congressional 
committees. Also included are electronic copies of records created 
using electronic mail and word processing.
    11. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard (N1-26-05-14, 
9 items, 7 temporary items). Inputs and outputs associated with an 
electronic information system used to capture, link, and distribute 
contingency plans, operational exercises, and lessons learned. Also 
included are the master files relating to the plans and exercises, and 
electronic copies of records created using electronic mail and word 
processing. Proposed for permanent retention are the master files and 
documentation relating to lessons learned.
    12. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (N1-65-
05-6, 6 items, 3 temporary items). Prepublication review requests 
outside the scope of agency review and outputs associated with an 
electronic information system used to track the status of nonofficial 
publications submitted by agency employees. Also included are 
electronic copies of records created using electronic mail and word 
processing. Proposed for permanent retention are recordkeeping copies 
of prepublication review files, tracking system master files, and 
system documentation.
    13. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration 
(N1-406-06-3), 3 items, 3 temporary items. Records of the Office of 
Transportation Management relating to the tracking and

[[Page 26571]]

reviewing of funding for Intelligent Transportation System projects 
authorized under the Transportation Equity Act-21, Sections 5208 and 
5209. Also scheduled are electronic copies of records created using 
electronic mail and word processing.
    14. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration (N1-557-05-6, 50 items, 38 temporary items). Records 
accumulated by the Office of Enforcement and Program Delivery including 
cargo tank reports, chronological files, compliance case files, various 
grant case files, and cooperative agreement files. Also included are 
electronic copies of records created using electronic mail and word 
processing. Proposed for permanent retention are recordkeeping copies 
of commercial driver's license program publications, educational and 
technical assistance publications, Federal programs general subject 
file, and motor carrier safety training texts. This schedule authorizes 
the agency to apply the proposed disposition instructions to any 
recordkeeping medium.
    15. Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (N1-58-05-
7, 49 items, 42 temporary items). Records of the National Research 
Program relating to taxpayer compliance with filing income tax returns. 
Records include preliminary survey and study design requirements, 
measurement requirements, test documents, system design and 
specification records, and study reports. Also included are electronic 
copies of records created using electronic mail and word processing. 
Proposed for permanent retention are recordkeeping copies of sample 
selection requirements and final sample design, study prospectus, data 
dictionaries and electronic final research files, executive meeting and 
decision documentation, and internal audit reports.
    16. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of General Counsel (N1-
15-06-2, 35 items, 33 temporary items). General correspondence files, 
electronic tracking and control databases, labor management and equal 
employment opportunity case files, real property files, requests for 
information under the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act, 
hospital reimbursement records, debt collection records, litigation 
files, administrative tort claims, bankruptcy records, records 
concerning accreditation of service organization representatives, 
budget files, leases, patent case files, licensing board records, 
publication reviews, interagency agreements, and fiduciary records. 
Also included are electronic copies of records created using electronic 
mail and word processing records. Proposed for permanent retention are 
recordkeeping copies of precedential legal opinions and veteran benefit 
files.
    17. Environmental Protection Agency, Agency-wide (N1-412-06-5, 4 
items, 3 temporary items). Employee calendars, schedules, logs of daily 
activities, and electronic copies of records created with word 
processing and electronic mail applications. Proposed for permanent 
retention are recordkeeping copies of substantive information relating 
to the official activities of senior officials and assistants, the 
substance of which has not been incorporated into memoranda, reports, 
correspondence, or other records in the official files. This schedule 
authorizes the agency to apply the proposed disposition instructions to 
any recordkeeping medium.
    18. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and 
Development (N1-412-06-21, 5 items, 5 temporary items). Inputs, 
outputs, master files, documentation, and software associated with an 
electronic information system used for financial management, project 
tracking, human resources management, and laboratory implementation 
plan decisions.
    19. Farm Credit Administration (N1-103-06-1, 5 items, 4 temporary 
items). Public information requests and employee working papers 
relating to agency studies. Also included are electronic copies of 
records created using electronic mail and word processing systems. 
Proposed for permanent retention are recordkeeping copies of actions 
and votes of the agency's governing board.

    Dated: April 27, 2006.
Michael J. Kurtz,
Assistant Archivist for Records Services--Washington, DC.
[FR Doc. E6-6849 Filed 5-4-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7515-01-P