** High Priority **

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) published today, July 25, 2006, in the Federal Register an interim final rule requesting public comment on a change in the hours for conducting research at the National Archives Building (DC) and National Archives at College Park (MD) and for visiting the Rotunda and National Archives Experience on the Constitution Ave side of the National Archives Building.

 §  This rule and the changed hours will go into effect October 2, 2006.  

 §  Comments on this document must be received by September 8, 2006.  See the rule at the link below or at www.regulations.gov for information on the ways to submit comments.

  §  A public meeting relating to the rule will be held at the Jefferson Room in the National Archives Building at 1 pm on August 3.   Please enter through the Special Events entrance on the Constitution Avenue side of the building (between 7th St. and 9th St. NW).  Reservations are not required but space may be limited.

§ A link to the rule is at:     http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-11763.pdf

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE RULE:  NARA is revising its regulations with respect to research room and museum hours at our facilities in the Washington, DC, area.  The operating costs for these facilities have been increasing every year, particularly for staffing, security services and utilities. In these times of fiscal restraint, NARA has determined reluctantly that it is necessary to curtail service during time frames when only a small percentage of our users are present to ensure that we are able to provide quality services to customers during the times of greatest public use while we are also conducting other mission-critical duties.  Additional information about this rulemaking is available in the text of the document at the URL above.

POSTED BY:


Nancy Allard
Senior Policy Specialist
Policy and Planning Staff
NARA
301-837-1477
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