[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 32 (Thursday, February 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8117-8118]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3933]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


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

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, 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 Minerals Management Service (MMS) is issuing public 
notice of its intent to modify an existing Privacy Act system of 
records notice, MMS-9, ``Employee Counseling Services Program.'' The 
revision identifies an organizational change and updates the address of 
the System Manager.

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, 
Minerals Management Service, ATTN: MMS Privacy Act Officer, MS-2200, 
381 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. Comments received 
within 40 days of publication in the Federal Register 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, 
Minerals Management Service, ATTN: MMS Privacy Act Officer, MS-2200, 
Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chief, Equal Employment and Development Opportunity Division, Minerals 
Management Service, 381 Elden Street, Mail Stop 2900, Herndon, Virginia 
20170-4817.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MMS is proposing to amend the system 
notice for MMS-9, ``Employee Counseling Services Program,'' to identify 
an organizational change and more clearly define the address of the 
System Manager. The revision reflects a change of organization and 
address at the Herndon, Virginia, System Manager location.
    Accordingly, the MMS proposes to amend the ``Employee Counseling 
Services Program,'' MMS-9 in its entirety to read as follows:
Robert E. Brown,
Associated Director for Administration and Budget.
INTERIOR/MMS-9

SYSTEM NAME:
    Employee Counseling Services Program--Interior, MMS-9.

SYSTEM LOCATION:
    This system of records is located with the contractor providing 
counseling services.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
    All Minerals Management Service employees, former employees, and 
their family members who seek, are referred, and/or receive assistance 
through the Employee Counseling Services Program. The records contained 
in this system which pertain to individuals contain principally 
personal and/or medical information. These records are subject to the 
Privacy Act.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
    Records in this system include documentation of visits to employee 
counselor (Employee Counseling Services Program Counselor) and the 
problem assessment, 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 Employee 
Counseling Services Program 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:
    (1) 42 U.S.C. 290dd-1; (2) 42 U.S.C. 290ee-1.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES 
OF USERS AND THE PURPOSE OF SUCH USES:
    The primary use of these records is to counsel and refer employees 
and/or their family members with personal or medical problems. 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

[[Page 8118]]

identities in any matter (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 STORAGE, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING, 
AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

storage:
    Maintained in folders in file cabinets.

Retrievability:
    Indexed by name of individual on whom they are maintained.

Safeguards:
    Maintained with safeguards meeting the requirements of 43 CFR 2.51 
for manual records.

Retention and disposal:
    These records are retained and disposed of in accordance with 
General Records Schedule No. 1, Item No. 27.

System manager(s) and address:
    Chief, Equal Employment and Development Opportunity Division, 
Minerals Management Service, 381 Elden Street, Mail Stop 2900, Herndon, 
Virginia 20170-4817.

Notification procedures:
    Inquiries regarding the existence of a record should be addressed 
to the System Manager. A written signed request stating that the 
individual seeks information concerning his/her records is required (43 
CFR 2.60).

Records access procedures:
    A request for access may be addressed to the System Manager. The 
request must be in writing, signed by the requester, and meet the 
content requirements of 43 CFR 2.63.

Contesting record procedures:
    A petition for amendment should be addressed to the System Manager 
and must meet the content requirements of 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 Employee Counseling Services Program 
staff who records the counseling session, and the therapists or 
institutions used as referrals or providing treatment.

[FR Doc. 99-3933 Filed 2-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-93-M