36 CFR § 1230.3 - What definitions apply to this part?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t36/s1230.3"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "36 CFR § 1230.3 - What definitions apply to this part?"
title_number: 36
title_name: "Parks, Forests, and Public Property"
section_number: "1230.3"
section_name: "What definitions apply to this part?"
chapter_name: "NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "RECORDS MANAGEMENT"
part_number: "1230"
part_name: "UNLAWFUL OR ACCIDENTAL REMOVAL, DEFACING, ALTERATION, OR DESTRUCTION OF RECORDS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "44 U.S.C. 3105 and 3106."
regulatory_source: "74 FR 51014, Oct. 2, 2009, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "1230"
---


# 1230.3 What definitions apply to this part?

(a) See § 1220.18 of this subchapter for definitions of terms used throughout Subchapter B, including part 1230.

(b) As used in part 1230—

*Alteration* means the unauthorized annotation, addition, or deletion to a record.

*Deface* means to obliterate, mar, or spoil the appearance or surface of a record that impairs the usefulness or value of the record.

*Removal* means selling, donating, loaning, transferring, stealing, or otherwise allowing a record to leave the custody of a Federal agency without the permission of the Archivist of the United States.

*Unlawful or accidental destruction (also called unauthorized destruction)* means disposal of an unscheduled or permanent record; disposal prior to the end of the NARA-approved retention period of a temporary record (other than court-ordered disposal under § 1226.14(d) of this subchapter); and disposal of a record subject to a FOIA request, litigation hold, or any other hold requirement to retain the records.