[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 222 (Tuesday, November 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65042-65044]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28701]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

AGENCY: Department of the Air Force, DoD.

ACTION: Notice to amend systems of records.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Air Force is amending a system of 
records notice in its existing inventory of record systems subject to 
the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.
    The amendment is required to alert the users of this system of 
records of the additional requirements of the Health Insurance 
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, as implemented by 
DoD 6025.18-R, DoD Health Information Privacy Regulation. Language 
being added under the `Routine Use' category is as follows:

    Note: This system of records contains individually identifiable 
health information. The DoD Health Information Privacy Regulation 
(DoD 6025.18-R) issued pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability 
and Accountability Act of 1996, applies to most such health 
information. DoD 6025.18-R may place additional procedural 
requirements on the uses and disclosures of such information beyond 
those found in the Privacy Act of 1974 or mentioned in this system 
of records notice.


DATES: This proposed action will be effective without further notice on 
December 18, 2003, unless comments are received which result in a 
contrary determination.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Air Force Privacy Act Manager, Office 
of the Chief Information Officer, AF-CIO/P, 1155 Air Force Pentagon, 
Washington, DC 20330-1155.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Anne Rollins at (703) 601-4043.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of the Air Force systems of 
records notices 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 specific changes to the records system being amended are set 
forth below followed by the notice, as amended, published in its 
entirety. The proposed amendments are not within the purview of 
subsection (r) of the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended, 
which requires the submission of a new or altered system report.

    Dated: November 7, 2003.
Patricia L. Toppings,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
F044 AF SG O

System name:
    United States Air Force Master Radiation Exposure Registry (June 
11, 1997, 62 FR 31793).

Changes:
* * * * *

Authority for maintenance of the system:
    Replace `Regulation 161-28, Personnel Dosimetry Program' with 
`Instruction 48-148, Ionizing Radiation Protection, Air Force 
Instruction 40-201, Managing Radioactive Materials in the USAF, and Air 
Force Instruction 48-125, The U.S. Air Force Personnel Dosimetry 
Program''.

Purpose(s):
    Replace `USAF Occupational and Environmental Health Laboratory 
(OEHL)' with `311th Human Systems Wing's Air Force Institute for 
Environment Safety, and Occupational Health Risk Analysis (AFIERA), 
Radiation Surveillance Division (SDR)'.

Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories 
of users and the purposes of such uses:
    Add to end of entry `NOTE: This system of records contains 
individually identifiable health information. The DoD Health 
Information Privacy Regulation (DoD 6025.18-R) issued pursuant to the 
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, applies to 
most such health information. DoD 6025.18-R may place additional 
procedural requirements on the uses and disclosures of such information 
beyond those found in the Privacy Act of 1974 or mentioned in this 
system of records notice.'
* * * * *

Storage:
    Replace entry with ``Maintained in computers and on computer output 
products.''
* * * * *
F044 AF SG O

System name:
    United States Air Force Master Radiation Exposure Registry.

System location:
    United States Air Force Institute for Environment, Safety, and 
Occupational Health Risk Analysis (AFIERA), Brooks City-Base, TX 78235-
5103; Air Force medical centers, hospitals and clinics; Air Force 
operating locations and installations using sources of ionizing 
radiation. Official mailing addresses are published as an appendix to 
the Air Force's compilation of systems of records notices.

Categories of individuals covered by the system:
    All personnel currently enrolled in or having been monitored under 
the USAF's Personnel Dosimetry Program or on whom the Air Force has 
performed a bioassay for radioactive materials since 1960. This 
includes Air Force military and civilian employees; military and 
civilian employees of other Components and the Department of Defense; 
and some employees of other federal agencies and civilian contractors.

Categories of records in the system:
    Personal radiation dosimetry (film badge or thermoluminescent 
dosimeter) results in monthly and lifetime cumulative periods and 
results of bioassays for radioactive materials in the body.

Authority for maintenance of the system:
    Section 20.401(a) and (c), 10 Chapter I, Code of Federal 
Regulations (10 CFR

[[Page 65043]]

20.401(a)(c)) as directed by E.O. 12196, 29 CFR 1910.96(b)(2)(iii), (n) 
and (o), implemented by Air Force Instruction 48-148, Ionizing 
Radiation Protection, Air Force Instruction 40-201, Managing 
Radioactive Materials in the USAF, and Air Force Instruction 48-125, 
The U.S. Air Force Personnel Dosimetry Program and the USAF Master 
Radiation Exposure Registry.

Purpose(s):
    311th Human Systems Wing's Air Force Institute for Environment 
Safety, and Occupational Health Risk Analysis (AFIERA), Radiation 
Surveillance Division (SDR): To maintain a cumulative record of 
occupational exposure to ionizing radiation on each radiation worker 
monitored under the USAF's personnel dosimetry program as required by 
Public Law; to provide a copy of an individual's record to any future 
employer of that individual who makes a proper request for it as 
provided for by law; to provide individuals a copy of their Air Force 
occupational radiation exposure history; to provide information about 
an individual's ionizing radiation exposure history to medical 
personnel responsible for radiation safety and the individual's health 
care, and the individual's supervisor; to provide information about 
radiation exposures resulting from radiation accidents or incidents to 
authorized investigators of such events and the Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission (NRC) or Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration (DOL/OSHA); for use in epidemiological and statistical 
studies to determine the effectiveness of Air Force-wide radiological 
health programs, trends in exposure doses, exposure experiences of 
selected occupational groups and similar studies.
    Medical personnel:--To determine the requirements for occupational 
physical examinations and assess whether an individual's medical 
condition may be related to his or her radiation exposure; to use in 
formulating recommendations to supervisors on requirements to remove or 
limit an individual from further work with ionizing radiation sources; 
to determine the need for investigation of workplace environments for 
abnormal radiation exposure conditions; to formulate recommendations 
for modifications of facilities, equipment or procedures to limit 
workers' radiation exposures to as low as reasonably achievable; to 
assist in developing worker education programs on local radiation 
hazards.
    Employees' supervisors:--To determine whether employee can continue 
to work in a given radiation environment; to determine radiation 
exposures to personnel associated with a given task; to implement 
improvements in facilities, equipment, or procedures to reduce worker 
exposures to as low as reasonably achievable; to assist in local worker 
education about occupational radiation hazards.
    Individuals:--To be aware of their lifetime radiation exposures and 
aid in making personal judgments about the occupational radiation 
hazards of their environment and in fulfilling their individual 
responsibilities for radiation safety.
    Investigators of radiation accidents or incidents:--To assist in 
determining the possible causes of such an event and recommended 
measures to prevent recurrence; to determine the severity of the event 
and possible long term consequences to individuals involved in it or 
future similar events.
    NRC and DOL/OSHA:--To use in formulating or enforcement of national 
policies and regulations for protection of workers from ionizing 
radiation sources in their occupational environment.
    Future employers:--To use as the basis for continuing the lifetime 
cumulative record on individuals as required by Public Law and to use 
for all purposes for which the current employer uses these records.

Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories 
of users and the 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:
    The DoD `Blanket Routine Uses' published at the beginning of the 
Air Force's compilation of systems of records notices apply to this 
system.

    Note: This system of records contains individually identifiable 
health information. The DoD Health Information Privacy Regulation 
(DoD 6025.18-R) issued pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability 
and Accountability Act of 1996, applies to most such health 
information. DoD 6025.18-R may place additional procedural 
requirements on the uses and disclosures of such information beyond 
those found in the Privacy Act of 1974 or mentioned in this system 
of records notice.

Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, 
and disposing of records in the system:
Storage:
    Maintained in computers and on computer output products.

Retrievability:
    Retrieved by name or Social Security Number.

Safeguards:
    Records Air Force Institute for Environment, Safety, and 
Occupational Health Risk Analysis (AFIERA/SDRD) are accessed by 
custodian of the record system and persons responsible for servicing 
the record system in performance of their official duties and are 
controlled by computer system software and personnel screening. Records 
at installations are accessed by medical personnel in performance of 
their official duties. Records are controlled by personnel screening.

Retention and disposal:
    Records are permanent at Air Force Institute for Environment, 
Safety, and Occupational Health Risk Analysis (AFIERA/SDRD). Latest 
cumulative history entered in an individual's medical record is 
retained for the life of the medical record. Records retained by 
installation medical personnel and supervisors for one year, then 
destroyed by tearing into pieces, shredding, pulping, macerating, or 
burning.

System manager(s) and address:
    Chief, Radiation Protection Division, Air Force Medical Service 
Agency, 110 Luke Avenue, Room 405, Bolling AFB DC 20032-7050.

Notification procedure:
    Individuals seeking access to information about themselves 
contained in this system should address written inquiries to Radiation 
Protection Division, (AFMOA/SGZR), 110 Luke Avenue, Room 405, Bolling 
Air Force Base, DC 20032-7050, or visit the Air Force Institute for 
Environment Safety, and Occupational Health Risk Analysis (AFIERA)/
SDRD, 2350 Gillingham Drive, Brooks City-Base, TX 78235-5103.
    Information required for identification of an individual record is: 
Full name, Social Security Number and Service Number(s) if different 
from Social Security Number. If the request is from other than the 
individual to whom the records pertain, a signed authorization by the 
individual to release the records to the requester is required.

[[Page 65044]]

Record access procedures:
    Individuals seeking access to information about themselves 
contained in this system should address written inquiries to Radiation 
Protection Division, (AFMOA/SGZR), 110 Luke Avenue, Room 405, Bolling 
Air Force Base, DC 20032-7050, or visit the Air Force Institute for 
Environment Safety, and Occupational Health Risk Analysis (AFIERA)/
SDRD, 2350 Gillingham Drive, Brooks City-Base, TX 78235-5103.
    Information required for identification of an individual record is: 
Full name, Social Security Number and Service Number(s) if different 
from Social Security Number. If the request is from other than the 
individual to whom the records pertain, a signed authorization by the 
individual to release the records to the requester is required.

Contesting record procedures:
    The Air Force rules for accessing records, and for contesting 
contents and appealing initial agency determinations are published in 
Air Force Instruction 37-132; 32 CFR part 806b; or may be obtained from 
the system manager.

Record source categories:
    Information obtained from previous employers; other components and 
civilian or government agencies responsible for conducting a radiation 
protection program and personnel dosimetry at an individual's 
workplace; and medical institutions.

Exemptions claimed for the system:
    None.

[FR Doc. 03-28701 Filed 11-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P