81 FR 8999 - Records Schedules; Availability and Request for Comments

NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 35 (February 23, 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 35 (Tuesday, February 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8999-9001]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03763]


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NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION

[NARA-2016-016]


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 March 24, 
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

[[Page 9000]]

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-0145-2014-
0005, 2 items, 1 temporary item). Records relating to the number of 
agency positions and grade levels. Proposed for permanent retention are 
organizational analysis and planning records related to changes in 
organizational functions.
    2. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency (DAA-0145-2014-
0006, 5 items, 3 temporary items). Complaint files of allegations not 
related to a specific investigation, and routine investigative and 
audit case files. Proposed for permanent retention are significant 
investigative and audit case files.
    3. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency (DAA-0145-2015-
0005, 2 items, 1 temporary item). Agency handbooks and directives for 
non-originating offices. Proposed for permanent retention are agency 
handbooks and directives for originating offices.
    4. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and 
Services Administration (DAA-0512-2014-0004, 66 items, 44 temporary 
items). Comprehensive agency records schedule, including financial 
records, audit reports, contracts, interagency agreements, memorandums, 
correspondence files, general subject files, planning records, 
international affairs records, public health association records, 
budget records, and legislative affairs records. Proposed for permanent 
retention are records related to organization management, directives, 
evaluation plans, information request reports, program delegations of 
authority, and records related to regulations, national standards for 
medical services, maternal and child health regulations, health 
resources reports, legislative histories, and official correspondence.
    5. Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Customs and Border 
Protection (DAA-0568-2015-0002, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Audio and 
video recordings activated by law enforcement incidents.
    6. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and 
Explosives (DAA-0436-2012-0006, 6 items, 4 temporary items). Records 
related to the manufacture and export of firearms. Proposed for 
permanent retention are annual reports of statistical data.
    7. Department of the Navy, Agency-wide (DAA-NU-2015-0007, 36 items, 
30 temporary items). Records related to financial management, including 
budget evaluations, purchase requests, and related records. Proposed 
for permanent retention are records on policy, audit reports, 
appropriation language, program objectives, charters, and financial 
statements.
    8. Department of State, Bureau of Administration (DAA-0059-2015-
0017, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Records of the Systematic Review 
Program Division including copies of documentation supporting 
declassification review.
    9. Department of State, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization 
Operations (DAA-0059-2015-0005, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Records of 
the Office of Policy including background and reference files related 
to regional and thematic conflicts.
    10. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DAA-0059-
2015-0013, 4 items, 4 temporary items). Records of the Project 
Coordination Branch including files related to physical security 
standards of government facilities.
    11. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration 
(DAA-0399-2013-0005, 4 items, 3 temporary items). Records related to 
general agreements, approved loans, and denied loans. Proposed for 
permanent retention are national and bilateral agreements.
    12. Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (DAA-0058-
2016-0001, 7 items, 7 temporary items). Continuing education records 
for tax professionals to include vendor contract materials such as 
accreditation files, applications, survey results, and related 
documents.
    13. Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (DAA-0058-
2016-0005, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Foreign financial asset records 
of individual and corporate taxpayers.
    14. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office of the Director 
(DAA-0587-2013-0003, 5 items, 4 temporary items). Executive Secretary 
records including working papers, routine correspondence and associated 
trackers, and non-substantive policy guidance materials. Proposed for 
permanent retention are high-level Bureau reports.
    15. Environmental Protection Agency, Agency-wide (DAA-0412-2013-
0021, 5 items, 4 temporary items). Environmental program and project 
records including records relating to the regulation of pesticides and 
toxic substances, monitoring of air and water quality, scientific 
research, and other programs. Proposed for permanent retention are 
significant environmental program and project records.
    16. Federal Communications Commission, International Bureau (DAA-
0173-2015-0010, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Master files of an 
electronic information system used to track broadcast transmission 
applicants.
    17. National Archives and Records Administration, Research Services 
(N2-36-15-1, 4 items, 4 temporary items). Records of the Department of 
Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, consisting of 
administrative records related to expenditures for consumable goods and 
travel expenses for training. These records were accessioned to the 
National Archives and lack sufficient historical value to warrant 
continued preservation.
    18. National Archives and Records Administration, Research Services 
(N2-208-16-1, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Residual records of the Office 
of War Information which are duplicative of other records found in this 
record group. These records were accessioned to the National Archives 
but lack sufficient historical value to warrant continued preservation.
    19. Securities and Exchange Commission, Agency-wide (DAA-0266-2014-
0008, 2 items, 1 temporary item).

[[Page 9001]]

Email records of non-senior agency employees. Proposed for permanent 
retention are email records of senior-level agency officials.
    20. Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Credit Ratings 
(DAA-0266-2016-0006, 10 items, 7 temporary items). Records related to 
oversight of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations, 
including draft rulemaking and official action records, records 
incidental to the reporting, and internal studies and research 
projects. Proposed for permanent retention are reports filed with the 
Commission, final rulemaking and official action records, and external 
guidance.

    Dated: February 12, 2016.
Laurence Brewer,
Director, Records Management Operations.
[FR Doc. 2016-03763 Filed 2-22-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7515-01-P