81 FR 58537 - Records Schedules; Availability and Request for Comments

NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 165 (August 25, 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 mandatory instructions on what happens to records when agencies no longer need them for current Government business. The records schedules 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 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 165 (Thursday, August 25, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58537-58539]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20355]


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NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION

[NARA-2016-046]


Records Schedules; Availability and Request for Comments

AGENCY: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

[[Page 58538]]


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 agencies no longer need them for current 
Government business. The records schedules 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 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 September 
26, 2016. Once NARA finishes appraising 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 to 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 Appraisal and Agency Assistance 
(ACRA) using one of the following means:
    Mail: NARA (ACRA); 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 Appraisal and Agency Assistance (ACRA); 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 
records retention periods and submit these schedules for NARA's 
approval. These schedules provide for timely transfer into the National 
Archives of historically valuable records and authorize the agency to 
dispose 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 creates or maintains the records. Items included 
in schedules submitted to NARA on or after December 17, 2007, are media 
neutral unless the item is expressly limited to a specific medium. (See 
36 CFR 1225.12(e).)
    Agencies may not destroy Federal records without Archivist of the 
United States' approval. The Archivist approves destruction only after 
thoroughly considering 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, this notice lists the 
organizational unit(s) accumulating the records (or notes that the 
schedule has agency-wide applicability when schedules 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-0145-2016-
0008, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Background records and public 
comments related to Federal Register notices and agency rulemaking.
    2. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency (DAA-0145-2016-
0009, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Records of payments made to farmers.
    3. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency (DAA-0145-2016-
0010, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Records related to a defense 
preparedness program, including plans, correspondence, and reports.
    4. Department of Defense, National Guard Bureau (DAA-0168-2016-
0004, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Records regarding manpower planning 
and allocation including briefings, presentations, statistical reports, 
and related records.
    5. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary 
(DAA-0468-2016-0001, 5 items, 5 temporary items). Records of the Office 
of Public Affairs to include intranet and Web site records relating to 
content, management, and support.
    6. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary 
(DAA-0468-2016-0002, 8 items, 3 temporary items). Records of the Office 
of the Inspector General including routine correspondence, regulation 
support records, and working papers. Proposed for permanent retention 
are policy records, press releases, and Congressional correspondence, 
testimonies, and mandated reports.
    7. Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and 
Immigration Services (DAA-0566-2016-0015, 6 items, 6 temporary items). 
Master files of an electronic information system used to track 
applications for employment-based specialty occupation visas rejected 
because they were received after the quota for that visa category was 
reached.
    8. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration 
(DAA-0015-2016-0008, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Records related to 
approving and monitoring homeless shelter providers including 
applications and performance files.
    9. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration 
(DAA-0015-2016-0005, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Records relating to 
projected health care cost and utilization including statistical 
studies, analyses, and summary reports.
    10. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, 
Agency-

[[Page 58539]]

wide (DAA-0588-2016-0001, 4 items, 2 temporary items). Email relating 
to temporary program and administrative functions and to non-
substantive rulemaking activities. Proposed for permanent retention is 
email relating to program management and committee activity functions.
    11. National Archives and Records Administration, Government-wide 
(DAA-GRS-2016-0008, 1 item, 1 temporary item). General Records Schedule 
for records that agencies are required by statute to publish online for 
public access, such as as online Freedom of Information Act libraries.
    12. National Archives and Records Administration, Government-wide 
(DAA-GRS-2016-0011, 17 items, 16 temporary items). General Records 
Schedule for records of maintenance and service of facilities, 
equipment, vehicles, property, and supplies. Proposed for permanent 
retention are maintenance manuals of unique or customized aircraft.
    13. National Archives and Records Administration, Government-wide 
(DAA-GRS-2016-0012, 4 items, 4 temporary items). General Records 
Schedule for records produced in managing mail, printing, and 
telecommunication services.
    14. National Archives and Records Administration, Government-wide 
(DAA-GRS-2016-0013, 3 items, 3 temporary items). General Records 
Schedule for records on the routine day-to-day administration of the 
financial management and reporting, technology management, and 
information access and protection functions.

Laurence Brewer,
Chief Records Officer for the U.S. Government.
[FR Doc. 2016-20355 Filed 8-24-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7515-01-P