80 FR 79951 - Records Schedules; Availability and Request for Comments

NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 246 (December 23, 2015)

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 agencies with mandatory instructions for what to do with records when agencies no longer need them for current Government business. The instructions authorize agencies to preserve records of continuing value in the National Archives of the United States and to destroy, after a specified period, records lacking administrative, legal, research, or other value. NARA publishes notice in the Federal Register for records schedules in which agencies propose to destroy records not previously authorized for disposal or to 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).

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 246 (Wednesday, December 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79951-79953]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32303]


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NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION

[NARA-2016-008]


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 agencies with mandatory 
instructions for what to do with records when agencies no longer need 
them for current Government business. The instructions authorize 
agencies to preserve records of continuing value in the National 
Archives of the United States and to destroy, after a specified period, 
records lacking administrative, legal, research, or other value. NARA 
publishes notice in the Federal Register for records schedules in which 
agencies propose to destroy records not previously authorized for 
disposal or to 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: NARA must receive requests for copies in writing by January 22, 
2016. Once NARA appraises the records, we will send you a copy of the 
schedule you requested. We usually prepare appraisal memoranda that 
contain additional information concerning the records covered by a 
proposed schedule. You may also request these. If you do, we will also 
provide them once we have completed the appraisal. You have 30 days 
after we send you these requested documents in which to submit 
comments.

ADDRESSES: You may request a copy of any records schedule identified in 
this notice by contacting Records Management Services (ACNR) using one 
of the following means:
    Mail: NARA (ACNR); 8601 Adelphi Road; College Park, MD 20740-6001.
    Email: [email protected].
    FAX: 301-837-3698.
    You must cite the control number, which appears in parentheses 
after the name of the agency that submitted the schedule, and a mailing 
address. If you would like an appraisal report, please include that in 
your request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Hawkins, Director, by mail at 
Records Management Services (ACNR); National Archives and Records 
Administration; 8601 Adelphi Road; College Park, MD 20740-6001, by 
phone at 301-837-1799, or by email at [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. These schedules provide for timely transfer into the National 
Archives of historically valuable records and authorize 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.
    The schedules listed in this notice are media-neutral unless 
otherwise specified. An item in a schedule is media-neutral when an 
agency may apply the disposition instructions to records regardless of 
the medium in which it has created or maintains the records. Items 
included in schedules submitted to NARA on or after December 17, 2007, 
are media-neutral unless the item is specifically limited to a specific 
medium. (See 36 CFR 1225.12(e).)
    Agencies may not destroy Federal records without the approval of 
the Archivist of the United States. The

[[Page 79952]]

Archivist grants this approval only after thorough consideration of the 
records' administrative use by the agency of origin, the rights of the 
Government and of private people directly affected by the Government's 
activities, and whether or not the records have historical or other 
value.
    In addition to identifying the Federal agencies and any 
subdivisions requesting disposition authority, lists the organizational 
unit(s) accumulating the records or lists that the schedule has agency-
wide applicability (in the case of schedules that cover records that 
may be accumulated throughout an agency); 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); and 
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 also includes information 
about the records. You may request additional information about the 
disposition process at the addresses above.

Schedules Pending

    1. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency (DAA-0145-2014-
0007, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Case files and summaries of appeals 
and litigation, including correspondence and background materials.
    2. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency (DAA-0145-2014-
0008, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Transition payment records and 
assessments of a loan program. Included are correspondence, contract 
folders, applications, registers, compliance documents, and program 
assessments.
    3. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency (DAA-0145-2015-
0013, 3 items, 3 temporary items). Outreach, bankruptcy, and accounting 
records. Included are correspondence, public notifications, and 
reports.
    4. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency (DAA-0145-2015-
0014, 6 items, 6 temporary items). Farm loan program files, property 
inventories, compliance reviews, and program documentation records.
    5. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency (DAA-0145-2015-
0015, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Legal advice and opinion records of 
the Office of the General Counsel.
    6. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency (DAA-0161-2015-
0001, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Tobacco loss assistance program files 
of the Commodity Credit Corporation. Included are eligibility 
requirements, payments records, producer folders, and reports.
    7. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety Inspection Service (DAA-
0584-2015-0001, 4 items, 4 temporary items). Records related to 
regulatory waivers, procedural changes, suitability determination, and 
product safety for meat, poultry, and egg product plants.
    8. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (DAA-0370-2015-0006, 6 items, 6 temporary items). 
Inspector General complaint case files, audit case files, and files 
containing information or allegations which are of an investigative 
nature but do not relate to a specific investigation.
    9. Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense (DAA-
0330-2015-0007, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Research files related to 
programs that support the military community.
    10. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy (DAA-0434-2015-0011, 7 items, 6 temporary items). Records 
related to the development of energy efficient vehicles. Proposed for 
permanent retention are reports to Congress on alternative fuel.
    11. Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service 
(DAA-0513-2015-0010, 12 items, 12 temporary items). Records of the 
Division of Health Professions Support, including scholarship program 
records, successful and unsuccessful program completion files, 
unsuccessful applications, and monitoring files.
    12. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement (DAA-0567-2016-0001, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Records 
related to energy efficiency at agency facilities.
    13. Department of the Navy, United States Marine Corps (DAA-0127-
2014-0004, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Master files and outputs of an 
electronic information system used to manage and analyze collected 
electronic signals and communications and outputs for commands in the 
field.
    14. Department of the Navy, United States Marine Corps (DAA-0127-
2015-0004, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Master files and outputs of an 
electronic information system used to track and manage maintenance of 
Marine Corps vehicles.
    15. Department of State, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization 
Operations (DAA-0059-2015-0001, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Records of 
the Office of the Executive Director including administrative 
memorandums, background materials, and copies of budget materials.
    16. Department of State, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization 
Operations (DAA-0059-2015-0004, 4 items, 4 temporary items). Records of 
the Office of Overseas Operations including routine memorandums, 
reports, working files, and administrative records.
    17. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration 
(DAA-0399-2015-0002, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Content records of 
agency social networking Web sites.
    18. Department of Transportation, Surface Transportation Board 
(DAA-0134-2013-0020, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Studies of the effect 
of proposed rail line construction.
    19. Department of Transportation, Surface Transportation Board 
(DAA-0134-2013-0021, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Studies of the effect 
of proposed rail line mergers, acquisitions, and other actions.
    20. Environmental Protection Agency, Agency-wide (DAA-0412-2013-
0010, 4 items, 3 temporary items). Routine rulemaking records, working 
papers, and other background records related to the development and 
approval process of regulations and state standards. Proposed for 
permanent retention are significant rulemaking records and records 
related to the approval, amendment, repeal, or implementation of final 
regulations and directives.
    21. Executive Office of the President, Office of Science and 
Technology Policy (DAA-0359-2016-0001, 1 item, 1 temporary items). Non-
substantive working papers.
    22. Federal Communications Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau 
(DAA-0173-2016-0007, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Records include copies 
of infrastructure sharing agreements and transmittal cover letters.
    23. National Archives and Records Administration, Agency-wide (DAA-
0064-2015-0003, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Routine administrative 
records common to all offices.
    24. National Archives and Records Administration, Research Services 
(N2-64-15-1, 6 items, 6 temporary items). Records of the National 
Archives and Records Administration related to a cluster of holdings 
associated with foreign affairs records including receipts, working 
files and background materials, and samples to support disposal 
requests. These records were accessioned to the National Archives but 
lack sufficient historical value to warrant continued preservation.
    25. Securities and Exchange Commission, Agency-wide (DAA-0266-2016-
0004, 2 items, 1 temporary item). Supporting documentation for studies 
and reports. Proposed for permanent

[[Page 79953]]

retention are congressionally mandated studies and reports.

    Dated: December 14, 2015.
Laurence Brewer,
Director, Records Management Operations.
[FR Doc. 2015-32303 Filed 12-22-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7515-01-P