[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 64 (Monday, April 4, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-7914]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 4, 1994]


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FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

46 CFR Part 503

[Docket No. 94-02]

 

Access to any Record of Identifiable Personal Information

AGENCY: Federal Maritime Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Maritime Commission is amending its Privacy Act 
(``Act'') regulations to adopt additional exemptions from requirements 
of the Act in regard to information about individuals which is included 
in certain investigatory material systems of records. The amendments 
are required to avoid compromise of ongoing investigations, disclosure 
of confidential sources and unwarranted invasion of privacy of third 
parties.

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 4, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph C. Polking, Secretary, Federal 
Maritime Commission, 800 North Capital Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20573-0001, (202) 523-5725.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Maritime Commission, by Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking (``NPR'') published February 11, 1994; 59 FR 
6610, proposed amendments to its regulations implementing the Privacy 
Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a. The Commission previously had exempted certain 
systems of records containing investigatory materials from the 
provisions of subsections (c)(3) and (d) of the Act which require an 
accounting of disclosures and permit access to records in the systems. 
The NPR proposed additional exemptions under subsections (k)(2) and (5) 
of the Act for various systems of records within the agency. These 
exemptions would apply to those systems of records which include 
investigatory material compiled either for law enforcment purposes or, 
to the extent disclosure would reveal the identity of a confidential 
source, for the purpose of determining suitability for Federal civilian 
employment or for access to classified information. An additional 
exemption under subsection (j)(2) of the Act was proposed for the 
``Inspector General File'' system of records in regards to activity 
pertaining to the enforcement of criminal laws. The thrust of the NPR 
was to invoke the full reach of permitted exemptions so that the 
provisions of certain subsections of the Act would not routinely limit 
the sources from which information is obtained and the types of 
information permitted to be collected, or require procedures for 
notification of the existence of and access to these classes of 
records.
    No comments were filed in response to the NPR and the Commission 
has determined to adopt the amendments proposed therein as final. The 
new exemptions pertaining to law enforcement records are appropriate to 
avoid compromise of ongoing investigations, disclosure of the identity 
of confidential sources, and invasion of personal privacy of third 
parties. The exemptions pertaining to personnel-related investigatory 
records will protect confidential sources.
    The Chairman of the Commission certifies pursuant to section 605(b) 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 605(b), that this rule, if 
adopted, will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities, including small businesses, small 
organizational units or small governmental organizations because 
individuals affected by the rule do not appear to fall within the 
meaning of ``small entity.''

List of Subjects in 46 CFR Part 503

    Classified information, Freedom of Information, Privacy, Sunshine 
Act.

    Therefore, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a (j) and (k) and 533, part 503 
of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:
    1. The authority citation for part 503 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552, 552a, 552b, 553; E.O. 12356, 47 FR 
14874, 15557, 3 CFR 1982 Comp., p. 167.

    2. Section 503.68 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 503.68  Exemptions.

    (a) The system of records designated FMC-25 Inspector General File 
is exempt from the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552a except subsections (b), 
(c) (1) and (2), (e)(4) (A) through (F), (e) (6), (7), (9), (10), and 
(11) and (i) to the extent it contains information meeting the criteria 
of 5 U.S.C. 552a(j)(2) pertaining to the enforcement of criminal laws. 
Exemption is appropriate to avoid compromise of ongoing investigations, 
disclosure of the identity of confidential sources and unwarranted 
invasions of personal privacy of third parties.
    (b) The following systems of records are exempt from the provisions 
of 5 U.S.C. 552a(c)(3), (d), (e)(1), (e)(4) (G), (H) and (I) and (f), 
which otherwise require the Commission, among other things, to provide 
the individual named in the records an accounting of disclosures and 
access to and opportunity to amend the records. The scope of the 
exemptions and the reasons therefor are described for each particular 
system of records.
    (1) FMC-1  Personnel Security File. All information about 
individuals that meets the criteria of 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(5), regarding 
suitability, eligibility or qualifications for Federal civilian 
employment or for access to classified information, to the extent that 
disclosure would reveal the identity of a source who furnished 
information to the Commission under a promise of confidentiality. 
Exemption is required to honor promises of confidentiality.
    (3) FMC-7  Licensed Ocean Freight Forwarders File. All information 
that meets the criteria of 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(2) regarding investigatory 
materials compiled for law enforcement purposes. Exemption is 
appropriate to avoid compromise of ongoing investigations, disclosure 
of the identity of confidential sources and unwarranted invasions of 
personal privacy of third parties.
    (3) FMC-22  Investigatory Files. All information that meets the 
criteria of 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(2) regarding investigatory material 
compiled for law enforcement purposes. Exemption is appropriate to 
avoid compromise of ongoing investigations, disclosure of the identity 
of confidential sources and unwarranted invasions of personal privacy 
of third parties.
    (4) FMC-24  Informal Inquiries and Complaint Files. All information 
that meets the criteria of 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(2) regarding investigatory 
material compiled for law enforcement purposes. Exemption is 
appropriate to avoid compromise of ongoing investigations, disclosure 
of the identity of confidential sources and unwarranted invasion of 
personal privacy of third parties.
    (5) FMC-25  Inspector General File. (i) All information that meets 
the criteria of 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(2) regarding investigatory material 
compiled for law enforcement purposes. Exemption is appropriate to 
avoid compromise of ongoing investigations, disclosure of the identity 
of confidential sources and unwarranted invasions of personal privacy 
of third parties.
    (ii) All information about individuals that meets the criteria of 5 
U.S.C. 552a(k)(5), regarding suitability, eligibility or qualifications 
for Federal civilian employment or for access to classified 
information, to the extent the disclosure would reveal the identity of 
a source who furnished information to the Commission under the promises 
of confidentiality. Exemption is required to honor promises of 
confidentiality.
    (6) FMC-26  Administrative Grievance File. (i) All information that 
meets the criteria of 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(2) regarding investigatory 
material compiled for law enforcement purposes, Exemption is 
appropriate to avoid compromise of ongoing investigations, disclosure 
of the identity of confidential sources and unwarranted invasions of 
personal privacy of third parties.
    (ii) All information about individuals that meets the criteria of 5 
U.S.C. 552a(k)(5), regarding suitability, eligibility or qualification 
for Federal civilian employment or for access to classified 
information, to the extent that disclosure would reveal the identity of 
a source who furnished information to the Commission under a promise of 
confidentiality. Exemption is required to honor promises of 
confidentiality.

    By the Commission.
Joseph C. Polking,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-7914 Filed 4-1-94; 8:45 am]
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