[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 122 (Monday, June 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32478-32479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: X96-10624]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Bureau of the Public Debt


Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program

AGENCY: Bureau of the Public Debt, Department of the Treasury.

ACTION:  Notice of computer matching program between the Bureau of the 
Public Debt, Department of the Treasury, and the United States Postal 
Service.

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SUMMARY:  Subsection (o) of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended by the 
Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-503) 
requires agencies to publish advance notice of computer matching 
programs as a means of informing the public of plans to conduct 
computer matches.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 24, 1996. Unless 
comments are received that result in a contrary determination, the 
matching program covered by this notice will begin no sooner than 40 
days after this notice, report, and a copy of the matching agreement, 
as approved by the Data Integrity Boards of both agencies have been 
sent to the Congress and the Office of Management and Budget (or later 
if there are objections to the agreement), or 30 days after publication

[[Page 32479]]

of this notice in the Federal Register, whichever date is later.
ADDRESS: Comments may be mailed to Jimmy Phillips, Debt Collection 
Officer, Bureau of the Public Debt, PO Box 1328, Parkersburg, West 
Virginia 26101-1328.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jimmy L. Phillips, Debt Collection 
Officer, Bureau of the Public Debt, (304) 480-5110.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  The Bureau of the Public Debt (Public 
Debt), Department of the Treasury, proposes to conduct a computer 
matching program with the United States Postal Service (USPS). The 
matching program will compare USPS payroll and Public Debt debtor 
records to identify USPS employees delinquently indebted to the Federal 
Government under programs administered by Public Debt. When voluntary 
payment is not forthcoming, Public Debt will request offset of those 
debts under the offset provisions of the Debt Collection Act of 1982 
(Pub. L. 97-365).
     Set forth below is a description of the computer matching program 
proposed by this notice in compliance with OMB Circular A-130, Appendix 
I,``Federal Agency Responsibility for Maintaining Records about 
Individuals,'' dated February 8, 1996.

Notice of Computer Matching Program:

    Bureau of the Public Debt, Department of the Treasury, and the 
United States Postal Service (Comparing Public Debt Debtor Records and 
USPS Payroll Records).

 Recipient agency:

    The United States Postal Service (USPS).

 Source agency:

    Bureau of the Public Debt (Public Debt)

 Purpose of the Matching Program:

    This matching program will compare USPS payroll and Public Debt 
delinquent debtor files to identify USPS employees who may owe 
delinquent debts to the Federal Government under programs administered 
by Public Debt. 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 when voluntary repayment is not forthcoming.

 Legal Authorities Authorizing Operation of the Match:

    This matching program will be undertaken under the authority of the 
Debt Collection Act of 1982, as amended (Pub. L. 97-365); 31 U.S.C. 
Chapter 37, Subchapter I (General) and Subchapter II (Claims of the 
United States Government), 31 U.S.C. 3711 Collection and Compromise, 31 
U.S.C. 3716 Administrative Offset; 5 U.S.C. 5514 Installment Deduction 
for Indebtedness (Salary Offset); 4 CFR Chapter II Federal Claims 
Collection Standards (General Accounting Office--Department of 
Justice), 550.1101--550.1108 Collection by Offset from Indebted 
Government Employees (OPM); 31 CFR Part 5, Subparts B and D (Department 
of the Treasury) which authorize Federal agencies to offset a Federal 
employee's salary as a means of satisfying delinquent debts owed to the 
United States.

 Categories of Individuals Matched and Identification of Records 
Used:

    The system of records maintained by the participant agencies under 
the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, from which records will be 
disclosed for this matching program are:
     1. USPS will use records from its ``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 was last published in 57 FR 57515, 
dated December 4, 1992.
     2. Public Debt will provide extracts from six Privacy Act systems 
of records containing records about approximately 1,800 debtors, full 
descriptions of which were last published in the Federal Register on 
November 9, 1995. Disclosure will be made from:
 (1) ``Personnel and Administrative Records--Treasury/BPD .001'' (60 
FR 56865), routine use No. 7;
 (2) ``United States Savings Type Securities--Treasury/BPD .002'' 
(60 FR 56868), routine use No. 14;
 (3) ``United States Securities (Other than Savings Type 
Securities)--Treasury/BPD .003'' (60 FR 56870), routine use No. 14;
 (4) ``Treasury Integrated Management Information System (TIMIS)--
Treasury/DO .002 (60 FR 56651), routine use No. 15;
 (5) ``Treasury Integrated Financial Management and Revenue System--
Treasury/DO .210 (60 FR 56675), routine use No. 11; and
 (6) ``Telephone Call Detail Records--Treasury/DO .211'' (60 FR 
56677), routine use No. 11.

 Description of the Matching Program:

    Public Debt will provide to USPS a data extract containing the 
names and social security numbers (SSNs) of its debtors. By computer, 
the USPS will compare this information with its payroll file, 
establishing matched individuals (i.e., ``hits'') on the basis of like 
SSNs. For each matched individual, the USPS will provide to Public Debt 
the following information: 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 Public Debt by 
manually comparing the ``hit'' file with Public Debt's debtor files; 
conducting independent inquiries when necessary to resolve questionable 
identities; and 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 Public Debt 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 Public Debt's 
documentation of the debt; (4) provision for the debtor to seek Public 
Debt's review of the debt; (5) opportunity for a hearing before an 
individual who is not under the supervision or control of Public Debt; 
and (6) opportunity for the debtor to enter into a written agreement 
satisfactory to Public Debt for repayment. Only after Public Debt 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 
offset.

 Beginning and Ending Dates of the Matching Program:

    The matching program is expected to begin in June 1996, but no 
sooner than 40 days after transmittal of this notice, computer matching 
agreement, and report to the Congress and the Office of Management and 
Budget and to continue in effect for a period not to exceed 18 months 
(December 1997). The agreement may be extended for an additional 12 
months beyond that if, within three months prior to the actual 
expiration date of the matching agreement, the Data Integrity Boards of 
both the USPS and the Treasury Department 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 agreements.
    Dated: June 18, 1996

Ida Hernandez
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary (Administration)

[FR Doc. 15997 Filed 6-21-96: 8:45 am]
Billing Code: 4810-40-F