[Federal Register: June 5, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 108)]
[Notices]               
[Page 38676-38678]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05jn02-61]                         

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

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 
July 22, 2002. 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),

[[Page 38677]]

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 records.mgt@nara.gov. 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: Marie Allen, Director, Life Cycle 
Management Division (NWML), National Archives and Records 
Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001. 
Telephone: (301) 713-7110. E-mail: records.mgt@nara.gov.

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 Air Force, Agency-wide (N1-AFU-02-14, 103 
items, 103 temporary items). Electronic copies of documents created 
using electronic mail and word processing that relate to command and 
control and to flying, missile, space, and other operations as well as 
electronic records that supplement or replace paper records relating to 
these matters that were previously approved for disposal. Records 
pertain to such subjects as wartime planning, Joint Chiefs of Staff 
communications, combat operations, search and rescue missions, space 
and missile operations, electronic warfare, radar, air defense and 
surveillance, planning for exercises and maneuvers, flight operations, 
aircrew management and training, aircraft utilization, air traffic 
control, and airfield management.
    2. Department of the Air Force, Agency-wide (N1-AFU-02-15, 81 
items, 81 temporary items). Electronic copies of documents created 
using electronic mail and word processing that relate to communications 
as well as electronic records that supplement or replace paper records 
relating to communications that were previously approved for disposal. 
Records relate to such subjects as systems policy and guidance, program 
management, general operations, telephone services, radio stations, 
communications security, and telecommunications service leasing.
    3. Department of the Air Force, Agency-wide (N1-AFU-02-16, 93 
items, 93 temporary items). Electronic copies of documents created 
using electronic mail and word processing that relate to Air Force 
health services, medical education, and the aerospace medicine program 
as well as electronic records that supplement or replace paper records 
relating to these matters that were previously approved for disposal. 
Records relate to such subjects as medical meetings, physical 
examinations, aeromedical evacuation, medical logistics, the treatment 
of patients, hospital accreditation, radiology, aerospace medicine 
programs, and bioenvironmental surveys.
    4. Department of the Army, Agency-wide (N1-AU-02-13, 2 items, 1 
temporary item). Electronic copies of documents created using 
electronic mail and word processing that relate to advanced technology 
assessments. Recordkeeping copies of these files are proposed for 
permanent retention. This schedule authorizes the agency to apply the 
proposed disposition instructions to any recordkeeping medium.
    5. Department of the Army, Agency-wide (N1-AU-02-14, 2 items, 2 
temporary items). Records relating to Army Reserve military technician 
requirement exceptions, including requests to extend active military 
status and exceptions to same unit and same skills requirements. 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 Defense, Defense Commissary Agency (N1-506-02-2, 
26 items, 26 temporary items). Short term records relating to internal 
agency evaluations and the equal employment opportunity (EEO) program. 
Included are such records as internal reviews and supporting 
documentation, copies of audits conducted by the General Accounting 
Office, the Department of Defense Inspector General, and the Defense 
Contract Audit Agency, EEO instructions, and files relating to special 
EEO events and awards. 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.
    7. Department of Defense, Defense Information Systems Agency (N1-
371-02-4, 18 items, 16 temporary items). Inspector general records. 
Included are such records as routine inspection reports, inspection 
work papers, complaint and investigation files, internal audit files, 
and audit reports. Also included are electronic copies of documents 
created using electronic mail and word processing. Recordkeeping copies 
of selected inspection reports are proposed for permanent retention.
    8. Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary (N1-48-01-3, 
12 items, 11 temporary items). Records relating to Year 2000 (Y2K) 
Computer Century Conversion activities, including policies and 
planning, budget matters, actions take to protect specific systems, web 
pages, and electronic copies of records created using electronic mail 
or word processing systems. Proposed for permanent retention are Y2K

[[Page 38678]]

informational posters and Y2K public awareness videotapes.
    9. Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (N1-
59-01-22, 30 items, 22 temporary items). Records of the Office of 
Defense Trade Controls relating to the regulation of the export of 
defense articles and services. Records include arms export case files, 
arms exporter license registration files, disclosure files, 
correspondence files, and procedures files. Also included are 
electronic copies of documents created using electronic mail and word 
processing. Proposed for permanent retention are recordkeeping copies 
of reports on exports, international arms traffic regulations files, 
technical assistance to foreign countries agreement files, and 
compliance files. Also proposed for permanent retention is a database 
containing information about munitions-related items being sent to 
foreign countries.
    10. Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (N1-
59-01-18, 14 items, 7 temporary items). Electronic copies of documents 
created in the Office of Plans, Policy, and Analysis using electronic 
mail and word processing. Proposed for retention are recordkeeping 
copies of files on small arms and light weapons, critical 
infrastructure and information security, non-lethal weapons, security 
assistance, land mine policy, defense planning, and defense trade.
    11. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration (N1-557-01-1), 9 items, 9 temporary items). Inputs, 
master files, outputs, and system documentation pertaining to the 
Licensing and Insurance System, an electronic system relating to the 
issuance of interstate operating authority for for-hire motor carriers, 
freight forwarders, and property brokers. Data includes applications 
for operating authorities, designation of process agents, 
certifications of insurance, surety bonds, and cancellation notices. 
Also included are electronic copies of documents created using 
electronic mail and word processing.
    12. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and 
Firearms (N1-436-02-1, 4 items, 4 temporary items). Records of 
polygraph examinations given as part of criminal investigations or pre-
employment applicant screening. This schedule reduces the retention 
period for employment examinations, which were previously approved for 
disposal. Also included are electronic copies of documents created 
using electronic mail and word processing.
    13. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration 
(N1-15-01-3, 10 items, 8 temporary items). Paper and electronic records 
used by the Environmental Agents Service to create, update, and modify 
records in the Agent Orange Registry, including electronic copies of 
records created using electronic mail and word processing. The registry 
is used to track patient demographics, generate hypotheses for research 
studies, report birth defects among veterans' children, and assist in 
the planning and delivery of health care services. The master data 
files maintained on optical disk and related documentation are proposed 
for permanent retention.
    14. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration 
(N1-15-01-4, 7 items, 7 temporary items). Paper and electronic records 
relating to the National Prosthetic Patient Database, including 
electronic copies of records created using electronic mail and word 
processing. Records include personal identifying information of 
patients, names of suppliers and issuers, transaction descriptions, and 
other information pertaining to the procurement of prosthetic devices.
    15. Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Office of the General 
Counsel (N1-116-02-2, 6 items, 5 temporary items). Legal precedent 
reference files, tort claims files, and citizen and prisoner 
correspondence files. Also included are electronic copies of documents 
created using electronic mail and word processing. Recordkeeping copies 
of tort claims involving extensive litigation or widespread media 
attention are proposed for permanent retention. Recordkeeping copies of 
the legal precedent subject files were previously scheduled for 
permanent retention.
    16. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Prevention, 
Pesticides, and Toxic Substances (N1-412-01-7, 3 items, 2 temporary 
items). Records accumulated in connection with citizen petitions for 
changes to rules relating to the Toxic Substances and Control Act that 
have been microfilmed. Also included are electronic copies of documents 
created using electronic mail and word processing. Microfilm copies of 
records and paper records that have not been filmed are proposed for 
permanent retention.

    Dated: May 24, 2002.
Michael J. Kurtz,
Assistant Archivist for Record Services--Washington, DC.
[FR Doc. 02-13862 Filed 6-4-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7515-01-P