FYI...Char +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > >Forwarded message: > > > >The NARA proposal to revamp the system and fees for providing copies of > >Military Service Records, Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Files, and > >Pension Application Files has been published in the 25 April 2000 issue > >of the Federal Register. Public comment is invited and should be > >directed to > > > >NARA Regulation Comment Desk > >8601 Adelphi Road > >College Park, MD 20740-6001 > >Fax: 301 713-7270 > > > >The comment period closes on 26 June 2000. NARA prefers that you use > >either the postal address or fax number to submit our comments rather > >than e-mail. > >A complete copy of the Federal Register notice is available from the > >NARA Web site at http://www.nara.gov/nara/fees-pro.html. > > > >The proposed Reproduction Fee Schedule covers a number of items, but >the > >Military Service Records, and the Pension and Bounty-Land Warrants are > >of the greatest concern to genealogists. NARA proposes three major > >changes: > > > >1. The NATF Form 80 would be discontinued, to be replaced by two new > >forms: NATF Form 85 to request both Bounty-Land Warrant application > >files and Pension files (more than 75 years old), and NATF From 86 to > >request Military Service Records (more than 75 years old). > > > >2. For all three types of files, NARA would no longer send a selection > >of pages, but would send the complete file. This would eliminate the > >two-step process currently used and should be beneficial to most > >genealogists. > > > >3. The fees for all three types of files would be raised. For Military > >Service Records the new fee would be $17.00, regardless of the number >of > >pages included in the file. For Bounty-land Warrants the fee would be > >$17.25, again without regard to the number of pages. For Pension Files > >the fee would be $40.00, regardless of the number of pages. > > > >Finally, the proposal would go into effect on 1 September 2000, if > >approved. > > > >Many genealogists may consider the proposed fees to be excessive. NARA > >specifically invites comment on the proposed fee schedule. The FGS/NGS > >Records Preservation and Access Committee urges everyone who wants to > >comment to carefully read the full proposal before submitting comments. > >The proposed fees are intended to cover the actual cost of locating, > >copying and mailing the records, plus 10% as authorized by law, and are > >based on the average size of the files. NARA states that the average >for > >Military Service Records and Bounty-land Applications is somewhere >under > >20 pages, while the average for full Pension Files is 105 pages. > > > >The FGS/NGS Records Preservation and Access Committee will be looking >at > >the NARA proposal carefully, and will submit comments as appropriate. > >Individuals who would like to provide input to the Committee's > >evaluation are welcome to do so but are also encouraged to comment > >direct to NARA at the address given above. Comments for Committee > >consideration should be e-mailed to fgs-access@fgs.org, or mailed to > >Federation of Genealogical Societies, Attention: RPAC, PO Box 200940, > >Austin, TX 78720-0940. In order for the Records Preservation and Access > >Committee to adequately evaluate such input it must be received by 26 > >May 2000. The deadline for comment to NARA, however, is still 26 June > >2000. > > > >Posting of this message to other mail lists is encouraged. A copy of > >this message will also be available on the Records Preservation and > >Access page of the FGS Web site ><http://www.fgs.org/fgs-recordsnews.htm> > >and on the NGS Web site <http://www.ngsgenealogy.org> ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com