We are requesting comments on a draft NARA Bulletin entitled “Determining the Appropriate Age for Scheduling Permanent Records Transfers to the National Archives.”
This draft Bulletin provides Federal agencies with guidance on determining the appropriate age at which permanent records, regardless of their media or format, should be scheduled for transfer to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The Bulletin also has a questionnaire for agencies to use when determining appropriate transfer age.
NARA Bulletins are designed to provide fundamental guidance to Federal agencies who must then determine the most appropriate ways to incorporate the guidance into their work.
Please make your comments about the draft Bulletin and questionnaire by September 10, 2014. We will review all the comments we receive. Thank you.
In regards to the questionnaire, the question on whether statute of limitations has expired on the records could not be accurately answered. The statute of limitations varies depending upon type of litigation and you cannot totally anticipate in advance the evidential value of the records for different purposes (ref. Congressional Research Services Report on Federal Statute of Limitations.