[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 226 (Friday, November 24, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58196-58197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28951]




[[Page 58195]]

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Part V





Federal Emergency Management Agency





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Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 226 / Friday, November 24, 1995 / 
Notices   

[[Page 58196]]


FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY


Privacy Act of 1974; Notice of a Computer Matching Program

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency gives notice that FEMA 
and the United States Postal Service (USPS) propose to conduct a 
computer matching program with FEMA as the source agency and USPS as 
the recipient agency. The matching program will compare FEMA debtor and 
USPS payroll records to identify postal employees delinquently indebted 
to the Federal Government under the Disaster Relief Program, the 
National Flood Insurance Program, and any employee programs 
administered by FEMA.

DATES: We invite comments on this notice, which must be received no 
later than 30 days from November 24, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Please send any comments to the Rules Docket Clerk, Office 
of the General Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C 
Street, SW., room 840, Washington, DC 20472, (facsimile) 202-646-4536.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard S. Buck, Recorder, FEMA Data 
Integrity Board, (202) 646-4091.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 552a(e) of the Privacy Act, as 
amended by the Computer Matching & Privacy Protection Act of 1988, as 
amended, by Sec. 3(a) of Pub. L. 100-503, 5 U.S.C. 552(e)(12), requires 
agencies to publish advance notice of computer matching programs as a 
means of informing benefit recipients/employees of plans to conduct 
computer matches. FEMA and USPS propose to conduct a computer matching 
program with FEMA as the source agency and USPS as the recipient 
agency. The matching program will compare FEMA debtor and USPS payroll 
records to identify postal employees delinquently indebted to the 
Federal Government under the Disaster Relief Program, the National 
Flood Insurance Program, and any employee programs administered by 
FEMA. When voluntary repayment is not forthcoming, FEMA will request 
offset of those debts under the salary offset provisions of the Debt 
Collection Act of 1982, 5 U.S.C. 5514 note.
    This is the first year that FEMA has had a debt collection computer 
match. Prior experience with manual matches shows that approximately 
1.5 percent of FEMA's delinquent debtors that the Agency referred to 
the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for Federal income tax refund offset 
were either Federal employees/retirees, uniformed services active duty 
members/retirees, or Postal Service employees. The proposed match for 
1995 will compare approximately 5,500 debtor records, representing 
approximately $14 million in outstanding debt and is expected to show a 
similar number of matches (1.5 percent).
    FEMA estimates that in the 1996 tax year debt collections will be 
approximately $207,500 by taking salary and retirement offsets from 
debtors whose records have been identified by computer matching. Set 
forth below is a description of the computer matching program proposed 
by this notice in compliance with OMB Bulletin No. 89-22, 
``Instructions on Reporting Computer Matching Programs to the Office of 
Management & Budget (OMB), Congress and the Public.''

Report of Computer Matching Program--United States Postal Service and 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Comparing USPS Payroll and 
FEMA Debt Collection Records)

A. Participating Agencies

    The United States Postal Service (USPS) is the recipient agency and 
will perform the computer match with debt collection records provided 
by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the source agency in this 
matching program.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    This matching program will compare USPS payroll and the FEMA 
delinquent debtor files to identify postal employees who may owe 
delinquent debts to the Federal Government under programs administered 
by FEMA. The pay of an employee identified and verified as a delinquent 
debtor may be offset under the provisions of the Debt Collection Act of 
1982 if voluntary payment is not made.

C. Legal Authorities Authorizing Operation of the Match

    This matching program will be undertaken under the authority of the 
Debt Collection Act of 1982, 5 U.S.C. 5514 note; 31 U.S.C. 3711, 
Collection and Compromise, and Sec. 3716, Administrative Offset; 5 
U.S.C. 5514, Installment Deduction for Indebtedness; 4 CFR Ch. II, 
Federal Claims Collection Standards (General Accounting Office--
Department of Justice), 5 CFR Secs. 550.1101--550.1108, Collection by 
Offset from Indebted Government Employees; 44 CFR 11.45, Collection by 
Salary Offset, which authorizes federal agencies to offset a federal 
employee's salary as a means of satisfying delinquent debts owed to the 
United States.

D. Categories of Individuals Matched and Identification of Records Used

    The systems of records maintained by the participant agencies under 
the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a note, from which 
records will be disclosed for this matching program are:
    1. USPS will disclose records from its system ``Finance Records--
Payroll System, USPS 050.020'' containing payroll records for 
approximately 800,000 current employees. Disclosure will be made 
pursuant to routine use no. 24 of USPS 050.020, which last appeared at 
57 FR 57515, dated December 4, 1992.
    2. Federal Emergency Management Agency will provide extracts from a 
Privacy Act system of records (FEMA Debt Collection Files (FEMA/OC-2) 
containing records on approximately 5,500 debtors. A full description 
of these files was last published in the Federal Register (58 FR 63986-
63988) on December 3, 1993. Disclosures will be made from FEMA Debt 
Collection Files (OC-2/FEMA) pursuant to the first and third listed but 
unnumbered routine uses.

E. Description of the Matching Program

    Federal Emergency Management Agency will provide to USPS a computer 
disk containing the names and social security numbers (SSN) of FEMA's 
debtors. By computer, the USPS will compare that information with its 
payroll file, establishing matched individuals (i.e., ``hits'') on the 
basis of like SSN's. For each matched individual the USPS will provide 
to FEMA the name, SSN, home address, date of birth, work location, and 
employee type (permanent or temporary). The identity and debtor status 
of an individual will be verified by FEMA by manually comparing the 
``hit'' file with FEMA's debtor files, by conducting independent 
inquiries when necessary to resolve questionable identities, and by 
reviewing records of the suspected debtor's account to confirm that the 
debt is still in a non-pay status without resolution.
    Due process procedures will be provided by FEMA to matched 
individuals consisting of: (1) verification of the debt; (2) 30-day 
written notice to the debtor explaining the debtor's rights; (3) 
provision for the debtor to examine and copy FEMA's documentation of 
the debt; (4) provision 

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for the debtor to seek FEMA's review of the debt; (5) opportunity for a 
hearing before an individual who is not under the supervision or 
control of the Director of FEMA; and (6) opportunity for the debtor to 
enter into a written agreement satisfactory to FEMA for repayment. Only 
after FEMA has afforded the debtor these opportunities and certified 
over the signature of an authorized agency official that all due 
process procedures have been followed will steps be taken to effect 
involuntary salary offset.

F. Beginning and Ending Dates of the Matching Program

    The matching program is expected to begin in December 1995 and 
continue in effect for a period not to exceed 18 months. The agreement 
may be extended for one additional year beyond that period if, within 
three months prior to the actual expiration date of the matching 
agreement, the Data Integrity Boards of both the USPS and FEMA find 
that the computer matching program can be conducted without change and 
each party certifies that the matching program has been conducted in 
compliance with the matching agreement.

    Dated: November 22, 1995.
Gary D. Johnson,
Chief Financial Officer and Member, FEMA Data Integrity Board.
[FR Doc. 95-28951 Filed 11-22-95; 9:55 am]
BILLING CODE 6718-01-P