The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is proposing a comprehensive revision to the current NARA regulations on Federal records management.

Specifically, NARA proposes to revise Subchapter B of chapter XII, title 36, Code of Federal Regulations. The existing Subchapter B contains several Parts that are subdivided into multiple subparts, making it difficult to locate information quickly. The proposed rule instead has broken the material into smaller more focused Parts and has presented it in plain language format. The intent of the revisions is to make the regulations easier to read, understand, and use. Specific substantive changes to existing provisions are identified in the preamble, which can be found by clicking here.

This revision covers provisions addressing the following topics.

Part B
1220–Federal records; general
1222–Creation and maintenance of Federal records
1223–Managing vital records
1224–Records disposition program
1225–Scheduling records
1226–Implementing disposition
1227–General records schedules
1228–Loan of permanent and unscheduled records
1229–Emergency authorization to destroy records
1230–Unlawful or accidental removal, defacing, alteration, or destruction of records
1231–Transfer of records from the custody of one executive agency to another
1232–Transfer of records to records storage facilities
1233–Transfer, use, and disposition of records in a NARA Federal Records Center
1234–Facility standards for records storage
1235–Transfer or records to the National Archives of the United States
1236–Electronic records management
1237–Audiovisual, cartographic, and related records management
1238–Microform records management
1239–Program assistance and inspections

Comments must be submitted on or before October 3, 2008.

NARA invites interested persons to submit comments on this proposed rule. Please include “Attn: 3095-AB16” and your name and mailing address in your comments. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.

Fax: Submit comments by facsimile transmission to 301-837-0319.

Mail: Send comments to Regulations Comments Desk (NPOL), Room 4100, Policy and Planning Staff, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001.

Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver comments to 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura McCarthy at telephone number 301-837-3023 or Nancy Allard at telephone number 301-837-1477. They can also be reached at fax number 301-837-0319.