Elimination of Requirement to Rewind Computer Tapes

AGENCY:

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

NARA is revising its regulations to eliminate the requirement that Federal agencies rewind under controlled tension all computer tapes containing unscheduled or permanent records every 3\1/2\ years. This change will affect Federal agencies that store unscheduled or permanent records on computer open-reel tapes or tape cartridges.

DATES:

Effective May 25, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nancy Allard or Shawn Morton at (301) 713-7360.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This rule was published as a proposed rule for comment in the Federal Register on February 3, 2000 (65 FR 5295). NARA received 6 comments on the proposed rule, all supporting the change. Four comments were from Federal agencies and two comments were from private individuals.

This rule is not a significant regulatory action for the purposes of Executive Order 12866. As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act, it is hereby certified that this rule will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities because it applies to Federal agencies. This rule does not have any federalism implications.

List of Subjects in 36 CFR Part 1234

• Archives and records
• Computer technology

For the reasons stated in the preamble, the National Archives and Records Administration is amending 36 CFR Part 1234 to read as follows:

PART 1234—ELECTRONIC RECORDS MANAGEMENT

Subpart C—Standards for the Creation, Use, Preservation, and Disposition of Electronic Records

1. The authority citation for part 1234 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 44 U.S.C. 2904, 3101, 3102, and 3105.

2. In § 1234.30, remove paragraph (g)(3) and redesignate paragraphs (g)(4) through (g)(7) as paragraphs (g)(3) through (g)(6) respectively.