[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 237 (Friday, December 8, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76999-77001]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-31246]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DoD.

ACTION: Notice to alter a system of records.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Secretary of Defense proposes to alter a 
system of records notices in its inventory of record systems subject to 
the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended. The system of 
records identified as DHA 05, Military Depolyment Issues Files, is 
being altered to add two routine uses.

DATES: The changes will be effective on January 8, 2001 unless comments 
are received that would result in a contrary determination.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to OSD Privacy Act Coordinator, Records 
Management Division, Washington Headquarters Services, 1155 Defense 
Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1155.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Bosworth at (703) 601-4725.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of the Secretary of Defense 
notices for systems of records 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 system report, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(r) of the 
Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, was submitted on November 30, 2000, to 
the House Committee on Government Reform, the Senate Committee on 
Governmental Affairs, 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

[[Page 77000]]

February 8, 1996 (February 20, 1996, 61 FR 6427).

    Dated: December 1, 2000.
L. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
DHA  05

System name:
    Persian Gulf Veterans Illnesses Files (March 16, 1998, 63 FR 
12786).

Changes:
* * * * *

System name:
    Delete entry and replace with `Military Deployment Issues Files'.

System location:
    Delete entry and replace with `Office of the Special Assistant to 
the Secretary of Defense for Gulf War Illnesses, Medical Readiness, and 
Military Deployments, 5113 Leesburg Pike, Suite 901, Falls Church, VA 
22041-3226; DoD Deployment Health Clinical Center (including the 
Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation and Special Care Programs), Walter 
Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307-0002; DoD Deployment 
Health Research Center, Naval Health Research Center, 271 Catalina 
Boulevard, Barracks Building 322, San Diego, CA 92152-5302; DoD 
Deployment Health Medical Surveillance Center, Director of Epidemiology 
and Disease Surveillance, US Army Center for Health Promotion and 
Preventive Medicine, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5422; and US 
Armed Services Center for Unit Records Research, 7798 Cissna Road, 
Suite 101, Springfield, VA 22150-3197.'

Categories of individuals covered by the system:
    Delete entry and replace with `Individuals who participated in 
military deployments or related operations, exercises, or tests, or 
served in Operation Desert Storm and/or Operation Desert Shield, the 
Kuwait Theater of Operations who feel they may have been exposed to 
biological, chemical, radiological, disease, or environmental agents.'

Categories of records in the system:
    Delete first three paragraphs and replace with `Records consist of 
individual's name, Social Security Number or service number, last known 
or current address, occupational information, date and extent of 
involvement in military deployments or related operations, exercises, 
or tests, perceived issues, exposure information, medical treatment 
information, medical history of subject, and other documentation of 
reports of possible exposure to biological, chemical radiological, 
disease, or environmental agents.
    The system contains information from unit and historical records, 
medical and hospital records, and information provided to the DoD by 
individuals with first-hand knowledge of reports of possible 
biological, chemical, radiological, disease, or environmental 
incidents. Information from health care providers who have evaluated 
patients with illnesses possibly related to military deployments is 
also included. Records include those documents, files, and other media 
that could relate to possible deployment health issues or illnesses.'
* * * * *

Purpose(s):
    Delete entry and replace with `Records are collected and assembled 
to permit investigative examination and analysis of reports of possible 
exposure to biological, chemical, radiological, disease, or 
environmental agents incident to service in military deployments or 
related operations, exercises, or tests, or service in Gulf War 
deployments, to conduct scientific or related studies or medical 
follow-up programs, and to assist in the resolution of deployment 
related issues.'

Routine use(s) of records maintained in the system, including 
categories of users and purposes of such uses:
    Delete paragraphs three and four, and replace with `To the 
Department of Veterans Affairs and Health and Human Services, and the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to permit investigative, 
scientific, medical and other analyses regarding deployment health 
issues and incidents and possible causes, symptoms, diagnoses, 
treatment, and other characteristics pertinent to service member's and 
veteran's health.
    To the Military and Veterans Health Coordinating Board (MVHCB), 
which will coordinate with several agencies the clinical, research, and 
health risk communications issues relating to service member's (and 
veteran's) pre and post deployment health.'
* * * * *

Retention and disposal:
    Delete entry and replace with `Disposition pending (until NARA 
approves retention and disposition schedule, treat records as 
permanent.)'
* * * * *

Record source categories:
    Delete entry and replace with `Information is from the individual's 
themselves, witnesses to a possible event, health care providers who 
have evaluated patients with illnesses possibly related to service in 
military deployments or related operations, exercises, or tests as well 
as extracts from official DoD records to include: Personnel files and 
lists, unit histories, medical records, and related sources.'
* * * * *
DHA 05

System name:
    Military Deployment Issues Files.

System location:
    Office of the Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for 
Gulf War Illnesses, Medical Readiness, and Military Deployments, 5113 
Leesburg Pike, Suite 901, Falls Church, VA 22041-3226;
    DoD Deployment Health Clinical Center (including the Comprehensive 
Clinical Evaluation and Special Care Programs), Walter Reed Army 
Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307-0002;
    DoD Deployment Health Research Center, Naval Health Research 
Center, 271 Catalina Boulevard, Barracks Building 322, San Diego, CA 
92152-5302;
    DoD Deployment Health Medical Surveillance Center, Director of 
Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance, U.S. Army Center for Health 
Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-
5422; and
    U.S. Armed Services Center for Unit Records Research, 7798 Cissna 
Road, Suite 101, Springfield, VA 22150-3197.

Categories of Individuals covered by the system:
    Individuals who participated in military deployments or related 
operations, exercises, or tests, or served in Operation Desert Storm 
and/or Operation Desert Shield, the Kuwait Theater of Operations who 
feel they may have been exposed to biological, chemical, radiological, 
disease, or environmental agents.

Categories of records in the system:
    Records consist of individual's name, Social Security Number or 
service number, last known or current address, occupational 
information, date and extent of involvement in military deployments or 
related operations, exercises, or tests, perceived issues, exposure 
information, medical treatment information, medical history of subject, 
and other documentation of reports of possible exposure to biological, 
chemical radiological, disease, or environmental agents.

[[Page 77001]]

    The system contains information from unit and historical records, 
medical and hospital records, and information provided to the DoD by 
individuals with first-hand knowledge of reports of possible 
biological, chemical, radiological, disease, or environmental 
incidents. Information from health care providers who have evaluated 
patients with illnesses possibly related to military deployments is 
also included. Records include those documents, files, and other media 
that could relate to possible deployment health issues or illnesses.
    Records of diagnostic and treatment methods pursued on subjects 
following reports of possible incidental exposure are also included in 
this system.

Authority for maintenance of the system:
    10 U.S.C. 131, Office of the Secretary of Defense; 10 U.S.C. 136, 
Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness; and E.O. 9397 
(SSN).

Purpose(s):
    Records are collected and assembled to permit investigative 
examination and analysis of reports of possible exposure to biological, 
chemical, radiological, disease, or environmental agents incident to 
service in military deployments or related operations, exercises, or 
tests, or service in Gulf War deployments, to conduct scientific or 
related studies or medical follow-up programs, and to assist in the 
resolution of deployment related issues.

Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories 
of users and purposes of such uses:
    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:
    To the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security 
Administration for appropriate consideration of individual claims for 
benefits for which that agency is responsible.
    To the Department of Veterans Affairs and Health and Human 
Services, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to permit 
investigative, scientific, medical and other analyses regarding 
deployment health issues and incidents and possible causes, symptoms, 
diagnoses, treatment, and other characteristics pertinent to service 
member's and veteran's health.
    To the Military and Veterans Health Coordinating Board (MVHCB), 
which will coordinate with several agencies the clinical, research, and 
health risk communications issues relating to service member's (and 
veteran's) pre and post deployment health.
    The DoD `Blanket Routine Uses' set forth at the beginning of OSD's 
compilation of systems of records notices apply to this system.

Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, 
and disposing of records in the system:
Storage:
    Paper records are maintained in file folders; electronic records 
are stored on magnetic media; microfilm/microfiche are maintained in 
appropriate storage containers.

Retrievability:
    Records are retrieved by case number, name, Social Security Number 
or service number and key words.

Safeguards:
    Access to areas where records maintained is limited to authorized 
personnel. Areas are protected by access control devices during working 
hours and intrusion alarm devices during non-duty hours.

Retention and disposal:
    Disposition pending (until NARA approves retention and disposition 
schedule, treat records as permanent.)

System manager(s) and address:
    Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Gulf War 
Illnesses, Medical Readiness, and Military Deployments, 5113 Leesburg 
Pike, Suite 901, Falls Church, VA 22041-3226.

Notification procedure:
    Individuals seeking to determine whether information about 
themselves is contained in this system should address written inquiries 
to the Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Gulf War 
Illnesses, Medical Readiness, and Military Deployments, 5113 Leesburg 
Pike, Suite 901, Falls Church, VA 22041-3226.

Record access procedures:
    Individuals seeking access to records about themselves contained in 
this system of records should address written inquiries to the Special 
Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Gulf War Illnesses, Medical 
Readiness, and Military Deployments, 5113 Leesburg Pike, Suite 901, 
Falls Church, VA 22041-3226.

Contesting record procedures:
    The OSD's rules for accessing records, for contesting contents and 
appealing initial agency determinations are published in OSD 
Administrative instruction 81; 32 CFR part 311; or may be obtained from 
the system manager.

Record source categories:
    Information is from the individual's themselves, witnesses to a 
possible event, health care providers who have evaluated patients with 
illnesses possibly related to service in military deployments or 
related operations, exercises, or tests as well as extracts from 
official DoD records to include: personnel files and lists, unit 
histories, medical records, and related sources.

Exemptions claimed for the system:
    None.

[FR Doc. 00-31246 Filed 12-7-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-10-M