SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

NARA publishes notice in the Federal Register for records schedules they no longer need to conduct agency business. NARA invites public comments on such records schedules, as required by 44 U.S.C. 3303a(a).

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, Foreign Agricultural Service (DAA-0166-2018-0005, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Agricultural Attachés records documenting visitors programs, agency sponsored public representation functions, staffing information, and administrative records pertaining to established attaché posts.

2. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service (DAA-0166-2018-0015, 3 items, 3 temporary items). Budget records documenting budget formulation, estimates, and enactment. Information includes projections, allowances, preparation papers, justification statements, and supporting documentation.

3. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service (DAA-0166-2018-0017, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Agricultural import records documenting sugar and dairy import assistance to developing countries. Information includes applications, agreements, and related background information for participants in the two programs.

4. Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (DAA-0566-2018-0001, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Records of the Outstanding American by Choice initiative, which includes case files related to recognizing the contributions and achievements of individual naturalized U.S. citizens.

83 FR 20098