[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 57 (Friday, March 24, 1995)] [Notices] [Pages 15538-15542] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-7224] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary of Defense Privacy Act of 1974; Addition and Alteration of Systems of Records AGENCY: Department of Defense. ACTION: Notice of an addition and alteration of systems of records. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Department of Defense is adding one system of records notice and altering another in its inventory of Privacy Act systems of records notices subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended. DATES: These actions will be effective April 24, 1995, unless comments are received that would result in a contrary determination. ADDRESSES: Send comments to the OSD Privacy Act Officer, Washington Headquarters Services, Correspondence and Directives Division, Records Management Division, 1155 Defense Pentagon, Room 5C315, Washington, DC 20301-1155. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Dan Cragg at (703) 695-0970. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of the Secretary of Defense systems of records notices subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended, have been published in the Federal Register and are available from the address above. The proposed new and alteration system reports, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(r) of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, were submitted on March 13, 1995, to the Committee on Government Operations of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to paragraph 4c of Appendix I to OMB Circular No. A-130, `Federal Agency Responsibilities for Maintaining Records About Individuals,' dated July 25, 1994 (59 FR 37906, July 25, 1994). Dated: March 17, 1995. Patricia L. Toppings, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. DGC 04 Industrial Personnel Security Clearance Case Files (March 24, 1994, 59 FR 13941). * * * * * Delete entry and replace with `Personnel Security Clearance Adjudication Files.' Delete entry and replace with `Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals, Defense Legal Services Agency, Department of Defense, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22203-1995; Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals, Defense Legal Services Agency, 6946 Van Nuys Boulevard, Suite 124, Van Nuys, CA 91405-3935; and Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals, Defense Legal Services Agency, 3990 East Broad Street, Building 306, Columbus, OH 43216-5007. Decentralized inactive segments are held at the Washington National Records Center, and at the U.S. Army Investigative Records Depository, Fort Meade, MD 20755. Automated Joint Adjudicative Clearance System records are maintained on a system V5-02, Defense Central Index of Investigations, at Defense Investigative Service, Personnel Investigations Center, Baltimore, MD, with access by computer terminals at Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) locations.' Delete and replace entry with `Current and former Federal Government, contractor, state and local government employees and other persons whose security clearance or trustworthiness cases are referred to the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals.' * * * * * Delete entry and replace with `10 U.S.C. 140; 31 U.S.C. 1535; Executive Orders 10865, as amended, 10450, as amended, 12829, and 9397.' [[Page 15539]] Delete entry and replace with `These records are collected and maintained to determine whether the granting or retention of a security clearance to or affirmative trustworthiness decision for an individual is clearly consistent with the national interest; to record adjudicative actions and determinations; to record processing steps taken and processing time; to prepare statistical listings and summaries; to document due process actions taken; to assist authorized DoD Consulting Psychiatrists to compile evaluations and reports; to respond to inquiries from within the executive and legislative branches when the inquiry is made at the request of the individual or for official purposes; to monitor and control adjudicative actions and processes. Automated case status system and card files are used to record statistics, provide location and status and internal identification of cases, to prepare listings and statistical reports and summaries, and to monitor work flow and actions.' Delete entry and replace with `In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 552a(b) of the Privacy Act, these records or information contained therein may specifically be disclosed outside the DoD as a routine use pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows: Case files referred by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for adjudication by DOHA are provided to FEMA when action is completed, along with recommended clearance decisions. The `Blanket Routine Uses' set forth at the beginning of OSD's compilation of systems of records notices apply to this system.' * * * * * Delete entry and replace with `Completed case files are returned to non-DoD agencies and are subject to records retention schedules of the owning agency after completion of DOHA action. Copies of case summaries and recommended adjudication decisions and ancillary documents for all cases are retained for internal reference purposes by DOHA personnel. Industrial security and trustworthiness cases are retained at DOHA for two years after annual cut-offs, then are retired for twenty years at the Washington National Records Center and then destroyed. Inactive Department of Defense case files prior to 1982 are maintained at the U.S. Army Investigative Records Repository, Ft. Meade, MD 20755. Automated case tracking records and alphabetical card index files are retained as locator for active and inactive cases and for statistical purposes.' * * * * * DGC 04 Personnel Security Clearance Adjudication Files. Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals, Defense Legal Services Agency, Department of Defense, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22203-1995; Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals, Defense Legal Services Agency, 6946 Van Nuys Boulevard, Suite 124, Van Nuys, CA 91405-3935; and Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals, Defense Legal Services Agency, 3990 East Broad Street, Building 306, Columbus, OH 43216-5007. Decentralized inactive segments are held at the Washington National Records Center, and at the U.S. Army Investigative Records Depository, Fort Meade, MD 20755. Automated Joint Adjudicative Clearance System records are maintained on a system V5-02, Defense Central Index of Investigations, at Defense Investigative Service, Personnel Investigations Center, Baltimore, MD, with access by computer terminals at Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) locations. Current and former Federal Government, contractor, state and local government employees and other persons whose security clearance or trustworthiness cases are referred to the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals. System includes automated case status records for current cases and inactive cases, an alphabetical card index file for records of cases prior to 1984 used for recording actions taken and for identification and location of case files within the system, and individual case files. Case files include requests for investigation, clearance, and adjudication; general correspondence relating to cases; personnel security questionnaires; investigative reports prepared by various investigative agencies, which may include information obtained from interviews, court documents, law enforcement records, business records, and other sources; medical and psychiatric records and evaluations; adjudicator's case summaries; Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office (DISCO) referral recommendations; correspondence between or concerning applicants for clearance and DOHA elements, DISCO, medical facilities, DoD Psychiatric Consultants, investigative agencies, Military Departments, other DoD Components and Federal agencies, Personnel Security Specialists, Department Counsel, Administrative Judges, Appeal Board, and elements of the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Defense Investigative Service; written interrogatories and Statements of Reasons (SIR) to applicants, with replies, pleadings or correspondence filed and served on all parties, recommendations, summaries, and records of adjudicative actions; transcripts of hearings; exhibits admitted into evidence; decisions of Administrative Judges and Appeal Boards; and such other matter as may be included in the record. 10 U.S.C. 140; 31 U.S.C. 1535; Executive Orders 10865, as amended, 10450, as amended, 12829, and 9397. These records are collected and maintained to determine whether the granting or retention of a security clearance to or affirmative trustworthiness decision for an individual is clearly consistent with the national interest; to record adjudicative actions and determinations; to record processing steps taken and processing time; to prepare statistical listings and summaries; to document due process actions taken; to assist authorized DoD Consulting Psychiatrists to compile evaluations and reports; to respond to inquiries from within the executive and legislative branches when the inquiry is made at the request of the individual or for official purposes; to monitor and control adjudicative actions and processes. Automated case status system and card files are used to record statistics, provide location and status and internal identification of cases, to prepare listings and statistical reports and summaries, and to monitor work flow and actions. [[Page 15540]] In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 552a(b) of the Privacy Act, these records or information contained therein may specifically be disclosed outside the DoD as a routine use pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows: Case files referred by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for adjudication by DOHA are provided to FEMA when action is completed, along with recommended clearance decisions. The `Blanket Routine Uses' set forth at the beginning of OSD's compilation of systems of records notices apply to this system. Paper records are maintained in file folders, and on file cards; electronic records are stored on magnetic or optical media; certain automated records are maintained on magnetic tapes and disks at Defense Investigative Service, Personnel Investigations Center, Baltimore, MD. Filed alphabetically by name, or by case number. Access to computer data may be made by name and Social Security Number and a combination of name and other personal identifying data. Records are stored in a secure area accessible only to DOHA authorized personnel. Except for a small number of records that are classified and need to be safeguarded as classified materials, all other records are stored, processed, transmitted and protected as the equivalent of For Official Use Only information. Records are accessed by the custodian of the record system and by persons responsible for servicing the system, who are properly screened and have a need-to- know. Computer hardware is located in controlled areas with access limited to authorized personnel. Computer access is via dedicated data circuits with password control. Individual passwords are changed periodically and upon departure of personnel. The dedicated data feature prevents access from standard dial-up telephones. Automated systems are operated by DOHA and by the Defense Investigative Service, Personnel Investigations Center, Information Systems Division. Only DOHA personnel are given the security level on the computer system needed to amend, add, alter, change or delete DOHA records. Other authorized contributors and users of the Defense Central Index of Investigations have read-only access to DOHA case status records in the system. Completed case files are returned to non-DoD agencies and are subject to records retention schedules of the owning agency after completion of DOHA action. Copies of case summaries and recommended adjudication decisions and ancillary documents for all cases are retained for internal reference purposes by DOHA personnel. Industrial security and trustworthiness cases are retained at DOHA for two years after annual cut-offs, then are retired for twenty years at the Washington National Records Center and then destroyed. Inactive Department of Defense case files prior to 1982 are maintained at the U.S. Army Investigative Records Repository, Ft. Meade, MD 20755. Automated case tracking records and alphabetical card index files are retained as locator for active and inactive cases and for statistical purposes. Director, Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals, PO Box 3656, Arlington, VA 22203-1995. Individuals seeking to determine whether information about themselves is contained in this system should address written inquiries to the Director, Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals, PO Box 3656, Arlington, VA 22203-1995. Individual should provide their full name and Social Security Number. Individuals seeking access to information about themselves contained in this system of records should address written requests to the Director, Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals, PO Box 3656, Arlington, VA 22203-1995. Individuals should provide their full name, and any former names used, date and place of birth, Social Security Number. Requests must be signed and notarized or, if the individual does not have access to notary services, preceded by a signed and dated declaration verifying the identity of the requester, in substantially the following form: `I certify that the information provided by me is true, complete, and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief and this request is made in good faith. I understand that a knowing and willful false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or representation can be punished by fine or imprisonment or both.' (Signature). Some records may be made available for review at DOHA Headquarters, upon appointment made with Director. Individual must present picture identification, such as a valid driver's license. The OSD's rules for accessing records, for contesting contents and appealing initial agency determinations are published in OSD Administrative Instruction No. 81; 32 CFR part 311; or may be obtained from the system manager. Information is received from investigative reports from Federal investigative agencies; personnel security records and correspondence; medical and personnel records, reports and evaluations; correspondence from contractors, employers, organizations of assignment and Federal agencies, DoD organizations, agencies and offices; from individuals, their attorneys or authorized representatives; from witnesses at hearings or documentary evidence made part of the hearing record. Parts of this record system may be exempt under 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(5), as applicable. An exemption rule for this record system has been promulgated according to the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(1), (2), and (3), (c) and (e) and published in 32 CFR part 311. For additional information contact the system manager. DGC 17 Hearings and Appeals Case Files. Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals, Defense Legal Services Agency, Department of Defense, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22203-1995; Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals, Defense Legal Services Agency, 6946 Van Nuys Boulevard, Suite 124, Van Nuys, CA 91405-3935; and Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals, Defense Legal Services [[Page 15541]] Agency, 3990 East Broad Street, Building 306, Columbus, OH 43216-5007. (1) Beneficiaries and providers under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) that have unresolved disputes with the Office of CHAMPUS (OCHAMPUS); (2) Students in the Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDS) overseas and Section 6 schools and their sponsors. CHAMPUS-related categories include: Appointment memoranda and transmittal correspondence; case files; petitions and answers to petitions; exhibits admitted into evidence; written transcripts or electronic records of hearings; pleadings or correspondence properly filed and served on all parties; claims and all other pertinent materials relating to a claim; billings, applications or approval forms; medical records, family history files; such other matter as the hearing officer may include in the record, rulings or orders issued by the hearing office, and the hearing officer's written decision. Education-related categories include: Records pertaining to students attending DoD-operated dependent schools in case files pertaining to hearings and appeals conducted pursuant to appendix C to 32 CFR part 80, Special Education Children with Disabilities Within the Section 6 School Arrangements; 32 CFR part 57, Education of Handicapped Children in DoD Dependent Schools; or 32 CFR part 56, Nondiscrimination on the basis of Handicap in Programs and Activities Assisted or conducted by the Department of Defense, to afford impartial due process hearings and administrative appeals on the early intervention services or identification, evaluation, and educational placement of, and free appropriate public education provided to a disabled child; documents associated with such hearing, including: Appointment memoranda and transmittal correspondence; petitions and answers to petitions, the written transcript or the electronic record of the hearing, exhibits admitted into evidence; pleadings, written submissions or correspondence properly filed and served on all parties, such other matter as the hearing officer may include in the record, rulings or orders issued by the hearing office, the hearing officer's written decision; documents associated with administrative appeals from the hearing officer's written decision; including the administrative record on appeal, pleadings, written submissions or correspondence properly filed and served on all parties, rulings or orders issued by the appeal board, and the appeal board's written decision. Common to both categories, automated case status records for current cases and inactive cases are used to provide location and status and internal identification of cases, to prepare listings and internal statistical reports, and to monitor workflow and case handling actions. 10 U.S.C. 140 and E.O. 9397. Records are collected and maintained to support claims resolution and impartial due process hearings/and or ancillary proceedings to parties requesting them and to provide decisions to those parties involved in the hearings; to record processing steps taken and processing time; to prepare statistical listings and summaries; to document due process actions taken; to respond to inquiries from offices within the executive and legislative branches when the inquiry is made at the request of the individual, or for official purposes; to monitor and control adjudicative actions and processes. The automated case tracking system is used to record statistics, provide location and status and internal identification of cases, to prepare listings and internal statistical reports, and to monitor work flow and case handling actions. In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 552a(b) of the Privacy Act, these records or information contained therein may specifically be disclosed outside the DoD as a routine use pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows: The `Blanket Routine Uses' set forth at the beginning of OSD's compilation of systems of records notices apply to this system. Paper records are maintained in file folders, and on file cards; electronic records are stored on magnetic or optical media. Filed alphabetically by beneficiary, provider, child's or sponsor's name, Social Security Number, or by case number. Access to computer data may be made by name, Social Security Number, or a combination of other personal identifying data. Records are stored in a secure area accessible only to DOHA authorized personnel. All records are stored, processed, transmitted and protected as the equivalent of For Official Use Only information. Records are accessed by the custodian of the record system and by persons responsible for using or servicing the system, who are properly screened and have a need-to-know. Computer hardware is located in controlled areas with access limited to authorized personnel. Computer access is via dedicated data circuits with password control. Individual passwords are changed periodically and upon departure of personnel. The dedicated data feature prevents access from standard dial-up telephones. Along with decisions and other materials developed during DOHA processing of cases, the original case files, tapes, exhibit files, and associated documentation are returned to OCHAMPUS and the DoD Education Activity and are subject to records retention schedules of the owning agency after completion of DOHA action. Copies of decisions and audio tapes are destroyed when no longer needed for reference purposes but not later than 6 years after rendering a decision. Director, Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals, PO Box 3656, Arlington, VA 22203-1995. Individuals seeking to determine whether information about themselves is contained in this system should address written inquiries to the Director, Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals, PO Box 3656, Arlington, VA 22203-1995. Individuals seeking access to information about themselves contained in this system of records should address written inquiries to the Director, Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals, PO Box 3656, Arlington, VA 22203-1995. Individual should provide full name and any former names used, date and [[Page 15542]] place of birth, and Social Security Number. Some records may be made available for review at DOHA Headquarters upon appointment made with the Director. Individual must be able to provide picture identification or a valid driver's license. Requests must be signed and notarized or, if the individual does not have access to notary services, preceded by a signed and dated declaration verifying the identity of the requester, in substantially the following form: `I certify that the information provided by me is true, complete, and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief and this request is made in good faith. I understand that a knowing and willful false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or representation can be punished by fine or imprisonment or both. (Signature).' The OSD's rules for accessing records, for contesting contents and appealing initial agency determinations are published in OSD Administrative Instruction No. 81; 32 CFR part 311; or may be obtained from the system manager. For OCHAMPUS Cases: Case files referred by OCHAMPUS to DOHA Administrative Judges; correspondence and supplementary material from DOHA to the parties in connection with the handling of the case; correspondence, pleadings, written submissions and evidence associated with hearings from parties to such proceedings; DoD correspondence associated with receipt and transmittal of case files. For DoD Education Activity Cases: Case files assigned to DOHA Administrative Judges for hearing and/or administrative appeals; correspondence and supplementary material from DOHA to the parties in connection with the handling of the case; correspondence, pleadings, written submissions and evidence associated with hearings or appeals from parties to such proceedings; rulings, orders, and written decisions from hearing officers or appeal board; correspondence from individuals, their attorneys, or authorized representatives; and DoD correspondence associated with receipt and transmittal of case files. None. [FR Doc. 95-7224 Filed 3-23-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5000-04-F