[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 216 (Monday, November 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60370-60371]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29904]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey


Privacy Act of 1974; as Amended; Revisions to the Existing System 
of Records

agency: Geological Survey, Department of the Interior.

action: Proposed revisions to an existing system of records.

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summary: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 
U.S.C. 552a), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is issuing public 
notice of its intent to modify an existing Privacy Act system of 
records notice, USGS-4, ``Employee Assistance Program Records.'' The 
revisions will update the address of the System Manager(s).

effective date: 5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(11) requires that the public be 
provided a 30-day period in which to comment on the intended use of the 
information in the system of records. The Office of Management and 
Budget, in its Circular A-130, requires an additional 10-day period 
(for a total of 40 days) in which to make these comments. Any persons 
interested in commenting on this revised system of records may do so by 
submitting comments in writing to the U.S. Department of the Interior, 
U.S. Geological Survey, USGS Privacy Act Officer, National Center, MS-
807, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Va 20192. Comments received 
within 40 days of publication in the Federal Register (December 21, 
1998), will be considered. The system will be effective as proposed at 
the end of the comment period, unless comments are received which would 
require a contrary determination.

addresses: Send written comments to U.S. Department of the Interior, 
U.S. Geological Survey, USGS Privacy Act Officer, National Center, MS-
807, Reston, Virginia, 20192. Hand deliver comments to the same 
address.

for further information contact: Chief, Branch of Employee/Labor 
Management Relations, Office of Personnel, U.S. Geological Survey, 
National Center, MS-601, Reston, Virginia, 20192.

supplementary information: The USGS is proposing to amend the system 
notice for USGS-4, ``Employee Assistance Program Records,'' to more 
accurately and clearly describe the address of the System Manager(s). 
The revision reflects a change of address in the Reston, Virginia, and 
the Atlanta, Georgia, System Managers locations.

    Dated: October 28, 1998.
Paul R. Celluzzi,
Chief, Corporate Information Technology Branch, Office of Information 
Services.

    Accordingly, the USGS proposes to amend the ``Employee Assistance 
Program Records,'' USGS-4 in its entirety to read as follows:
INTERIOR/USGS-4

System name:
    Employee Assistance Program--Records, USGS-4.

System location:
    This system of records is located with the contractor providing 
counseling services.

Categories of individuals covered by the system:
    U.S. Geological Survey employees and their families who seek, are 
referred, and/or receive assistance through the Employee Assistance 
Program (EAP).

Categories of records in the system:
    Records in this system include documentation of visits to employee 
counselors (Federal, State, local government, or private), the problem 
assessment, the recommended plan of action to correct the major issue, 
referral to community or private resource for assistance with personal 
problems, referral to community or private resource for rehabilitation 
or treatment, results of referral, and other notes or records of 
discussions held with the employee made by the EAP counselor. 
Additionally, records in this system may include documentation of 
treatment by a therapist or at a Federal, State, local government, or 
private institution.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
    42 U.S.C. 290dd-1; 42 U.S.C. 290ee-1.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES 
OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
    These records are used by the Employee Assistance Program Counselor 
to document the nature of an individual's problem and progress made to 
correct the problem. The primary uses of these records are: (1) For the 
EAP counselor to document the nature of individual's problem and 
progress made to correct the problem, and, (2) record an individual's 
participation in and the results of community or private referrals for 
solution of problems, rehabilitation, or treatment programs. These 
records and information may be used to disclose information to 
qualified personnel for the purpose of conducting scientific research, 
management audits, financial audits, or program evaluation, but such 
personnel may not identify, directly or indirectly, any individual 
patient in any report or otherwise disclose patient identities in any 
manner (when such records are provided to qualified researchers 
employed by the Department of the Interior all patient identifying 
information will be removed).

    Note: Disclosure of information pertaining to an individual with 
a history of alcohol or drug abuse must be limited in compliance 
with the restrictions of the confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug 
Abuse Patient Records Regulations, 42 CFR part 2. Disclosure of 
records pertaining to the physical and mental fitness of employees 
are, as a matter of Department policy, afforded the same degree of 
confidentiality.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING, 
AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
STORAGE:
    These records are maintained in file folders.

RETRIEVABILITY:
    These records are retrieved by the name of the individual on whom 
they are maintained.

SAFEGUARDS:
    These records are maintained in locked file cabinets with access 
strictly limited to those persons employed by the contractor(s) who are 
directly involved in the alcohol and drug abuse prevention function of 
the U.S. Geological Survey's Employee Assistance Program as that term 
is defined in 42 CFR, part 2.

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:
    Retained and disposed of according to Bureau Records Disposition 
Schedule, RCS/Item 405-04 a and b.

SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS:
    Chief, Branch of Employee/Labor Management Relations, Office of 
Personnel, U.S. Geological Survey, 601 National Center, Reston, 
Virginia 20192; Atlanta Personnel Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 3850 
Holcomb Bridge Rd., Norcross, Georgia 30092;

[[Page 60371]]

Rolla Personnel Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 1400 Independence 
Road, Rolla, Missouri 65401; Chief, Employee Relations Section, Central 
Region Personnel Branch, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, 
Denver, Colorado 80225; Western Region EAP Administrator, Employee 
Relations and Development Section, Western Region Personnel Branch, 345 
Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, California 94025.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
    Inquiries regarding the existence of records should be addressed to 
the appropriate System Manager. Individuals must furnish their name and 
date of birth for their records to be located and identified.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
    Same as notification above. Any individual must also follow the 
Department's Privacy Act Regulations regarding verification of identity 
and access to records (see 43 CFR 2.62).

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
    A petition for amendment shall be addressed to the appropriate 
System Manager. An individual must follow the Department's Privacy Act 
Regulations regarding and identity and amendment of records (see 43 CFR 
2.71).

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
    Information in this system of records comes from the individual to 
whom it applies, the supervisor of the individual if the individual was 
referred by a supervisor, the Employer Assistance Program staff who 
records the counseling session, and the therapists or institutions used 
as referrals or providing treatment.

[FR Doc. 98-29904 Filed 11-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-M