81 FR 72123 - Records Schedules; Availability and Request for Comments

NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 202 (October 19, 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 202 (Wednesday, October 19, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72123-72124]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25224]


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NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION

[NARA-2017-004]


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 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 November 18, 
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 Defense, National Guard Bureau (DAA-0168-2016-
0003, 3 items, 2 temporary items). Records relating to legislative 
inquiries to agency leadership including routine or administrative 
information. Proposed for permanent retention are records relating to 
questions of policy, budget, appropriations and similar records.
    2. Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense (DAA-
0330-2016-0015, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Master files of an 
electronic information system used to track nominators and candidates 
of a program for business and community leaders to gain a greater 
awareness of national defense issues.
    3. Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense (DAA-
0330-2016-0016, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Records relating to 
employers who have pledged to provide a supportive work environment for 
members of the National Guard and Reserves.
    4. Department of Energy, Agency-wide (DAA-0434-2016-0007, 2 items, 
1 temporary item). Records relating to the Ombudsman program including 
case files. Proposed for permanent retention are the charter, mission 
statement, and statistical analysis.
    5. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary 
(DAA-0468-2016-0002, 8 items, 4 temporary items). Records of the Office 
of the Inspector General including routine correspondence, regulation 
support records, testimonies, and working papers. Proposed for 
permanent retention are substantive Congressional correspondence and 
mandated reports, policy records, and press releases.
    6. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement (DAA-0567-2015-0008, 8 items, 8 temporary items). 
Protective equipment records including incident case files, annual 
incident reports, proficiency and instructor certifications, body armor

[[Page 72124]]

requests, and related administrative materials.
    7. Department of Justice, Agency-wide (DAA-0060-2016-0004, 1 item, 
1 temporary item). Records relating to evaluation and selection of 
prospective employees, interns, and volunteers.
    8. Department of Justice, INTERPOL Washington United States 
National Central Bureau (DAA-0060-2015-0002, 8 items, 8 temporary 
items). Records relating to United States representation to INTERPOL 
including reports, meeting minutes, agreements, and administrative 
records.
    9. Department of Justice, Office of Information Policy (DAA-0060-
2016-0005, 10 items, 7 temporary items). Records relating to oversight 
of Federal agency compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 
(FOIA). Records include report drafts, background and resource material 
gathered in preparing final reports, records relating to the 
administration of the FOIA, compliance monitoring, and legal advice to 
agencies. Proposed for permanent retention are Government-wide FOIA 
Reports, the Department of Justice Guide to the FOIA, and records of 
the Chief FOIA Officers Council.
    10. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration 
(DAA-0408-2013-0004, 2 items, 2 temporary items). General financial 
records, including Government Accountability Office exception files, 
and accountable officer designee records.
    11. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration (DAA-0416-2015-0001, 1 item, 1 temporary item). 
Electronic information system used to facilitate the criminal 
investigation of odometer fraud.
    12. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration (DAA-0571-2015-0001, 4 items, 4 temporary items). 
Web site records including internal and external Web sites, content 
management system, Web site logs and statistical compilations.
    13. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration (DAA-0571-2015-0010, 1 item, 1 temporary item). 
Records pertaining to plans for responding to pipeline spills.
    14. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration (DAA-0571-2015-0015, 1 item, 1 temporary item). 
Activity files to include quarterly and technical program activity 
reports.
    15. National Archives and Records Administration, Government-wide 
(DAA-GRS-2014-0002, 21 items, 21 temporary items). General Records 
Schedule for employee acquisition records including classification 
standards, position descriptions, classification appeals, job vacancy 
case files and application packages, interview records, records 
relating to political appointments, special hiring authority program 
records, pre-appointment files, and administrative records of agency 
agreements with the Office of Personnel Management to process 
examination and certification of potential employees.
    16. National Archives and Records Administration, Government-wide 
(DAA-GRS-2015-0007, 23 items, 23 temporary items). General Records 
Schedule for employee relations records such as Alternative Dispute 
Resolution files; Reasonable Accommodation program records; Equal 
Employment Opportunity program and complaint files; anti-harassment 
program records; labor management relations records; administrative 
grievance, disciplinary and adverse action files; displaced employee 
program records; and telework/alternative worksite program files.
    17. Peace Corps, Overseas Posts (DAA-0490-2016-0012, 6 items, 6 
temporary items). Records include administrative records, copies of 
policies and procedures, handbooks, logs, and emergency planning 
materials.
    18. Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Human Resources 
(DAA-0266-2016-0013, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Records of agency 
employee applications for assistance in repaying outstanding qualifying 
Federal student loans.
    19. Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Human Resources 
(DAA-0266-2016-0014, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Records of employee 
temporary work assignments with Federal, State, local, and American 
Indian tribal governments; colleges and universities; and other 
eligible organizations.

Laurence Brewer,
Chief Records Officer for the U.S. Government.
[FR Doc. 2016-25224 Filed 10-18-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7515-01-P