81 FR 14132 - Records Schedules; Availability and Request for Comments

NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 51 (March 16, 2016)

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 81, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 16, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14132-14133]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05918]


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NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION

[NARA-2016-020]


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 April 15, 
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 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-0145-2015-
0006, 9 items, 8 temporary items). Records related to the Production 
Adjustment Program to include farm history cards, allotments, 
reconstitutions, and general management files, as well as producer, 
farm tract, and crop records. Proposed for permanent retention are 
significant farm history records.
    2. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation 
Service (DAA-0114-2016-0001, 6 items, 1 temporary

[[Page 14133]]

item). Duplicate copies of aerial photographic imagery. Proposed for 
permanent retention are original analog negative film, digital imagery 
that does not exist in analog format, negative imagery indices, and 
film reports.
    3. Department of Defense, Defense Health Agency (DAA-0330-2015-
0008, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Master files of an electronic 
information system used in the determination of the medical 
acceptability of applicants to any of the United States Service 
Academies, the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 
and Reserve Officer Training Corps Scholarship Programs.
    4. Department of Defense, Defense Health Agency (DAA-0330-2016-
0001, 3 items, 3 temporary items). Master files of an electronic 
information system used in blood donation activities of the Armed 
Services Blood Program.
    5. Department of Defense, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DAA-
0374-2014-0019, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Records relating to quality 
assurance, inspections, and audits of weapons systems.
    6. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy (DAA-0434-2015-0012, 5 items, 5 temporary items). Records 
relating to exclusions/waivers from the use of energy-efficient 
vehicles by state and municipal governments.
    7. Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service 
(DAA-0513-2015-0011, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Records, to include 
applications, correspondence, project papers, and achievement 
materials, that document applicants to an Indian Health Service 
educational or occupational program.
    8. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of 
Health (DAA-0443-2016-0001, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Intramural 
research records consisting of project documentation that supports 
patents or inventions rights that do not meet the criteria for 
permanent retention.
    9. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management 
Agency (DAA-0311-2016-0001, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Master files of 
an electronic information system used as a reference tool for after-
action reports.
    10. Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and 
Immigration Services (DAA-0566-2016-0001, 2 items, 2 temporary items). 
Master file of an electronic information system used to track 
administrative review of case appeals.
    11. Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and 
Immigration Services (DAA-0566-2016-0002, 8 items, 2 temporary items). 
Applications for naturalization when rejected due to incorrect fees or 
non-sufficient funds, or due to being incomplete or missing 
signature(s). Proposed for permanent retention are all other 
naturalization applications (approved, denied, abandoned, withdrawn, 
terminated, and administratively closed).
    12. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration 
(DAA-0317-2015-0001, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Records include an 
email archive file and annual administrative report image files.
    13. Department of State, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization 
Operations (DAA-0059-2015-0006, 5 items, 5 temporary items). Records of 
the Office of Partnership and Strategic Communications including copies 
of briefing books, program records, and reference materials/background 
information on partners and engagements.
    14. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration (DAA-0416-2015-0004, 2 items, 2 temporary items). 
Content records of agency social networking Web sites.
    15. Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (DAA-0058-
2015-0004, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Tax exempt and government 
entities compliance records to include case file management and 
workflow process tracking.
    16. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration 
(DAA-0015-2016-0001, 6 items, 6 temporary items). Database of patient-
generated data including demographics, releases, assessments, and 
health or daily living information incorporated into electronic health 
records.
    17. National Archives and Records Administration, Government-wide 
(DAA-GRS-2015-0005, 7 items, 7 temporary items). A revised General 
Records Schedule for non-mission employee training, including 
individual employee records and Senior Executive Service Development 
program records.
    18. National Archives and Records Administration, Government-wide 
(DAA-GRS-2016-0001, 5 items, 5 temporary items). Additions and 
revisions to the General Records Schedule for records of financial 
management and reporting including unaccepted bids and proposals, 
vendor and bidder information, contract appeal records, and Federal 
Procurement Data System agency submissions.
    19. National Archives and Records Administration, Government-wide 
(DAA-GRS-2016-0002, 4 items, 4 temporary items). Revisions to the 
General Records Schedule for information access and protection records 
clarifying coverage of records under previously approved items, and 
clarifying retention of otherwise disposable records until associated 
Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act, and Mandatory Declassification 
Review requests are disposable.
    20. National Archives and Records Administration, Government-wide 
(DAA-GRS-2016-0003, 4 items, 4 temporary items). Addition to the 
General Records Schedule for information access and protection records 
to include records related to Privacy Act System of Records Notices 
(SORNs), Privacy Threshold Analyses (PTAs), Initial Privacy Assessments 
(IPAs), Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs), and computer matching 
programs.

    Dated: March 9, 2016.
Laurence Brewer,
Director, Records Management Operations.
[FR Doc. 2016-05918 Filed 3-15-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7515-01-P