[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 88 (Thursday, May 6, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25461-25462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10204]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY


Financial Management Service; Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; 
System of Records

AGENCY: Financial Management Service, Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of altered Privacy Act System of Records.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury, Financial Management Service 
(FMS), gives notice of a proposed alteration to the system of records 
entitled ``Treasury/FMS .016--Payment Records for Other Than Regular 
Recurring Benefit Payments,'' which is subject to the Privacy Act of 
1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a). The systems of records notice was 
last published in the Federal Register in its entirety on August 22, 
2001, in 66 FR 44204. Two amendments to Treasury/FMS .016 have been 
published on February 26, 2003, at 68 FR 8964, and April 1, 2003, at 68 
FR 15796, respectively.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than June 7, 2004. The 
proposed systems of records will be effective June 15, 2004 unless FMS 
receives comments which would result in a contrary determination.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be submitted to ASAP Program Manager, Federal 
Finance, Financial Management Service, 401 14th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20227, or by electronic mail to 
[email protected]. Comments received will be available 
for inspection at the same address between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 
p.m. Monday through Friday.

[[Page 25462]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Tighe, Federal Finance, 
(202) 874-6644.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Financial Management Service (FMS) is 
the money manager for the Federal Government. As such, FMS disburses 
over 900 million payments totaling more than $1.64 trillion in social 
security and veterans' benefits, income tax refunds, and other federal 
payments. In the operation of its payment programs, FMS maintains 
records on individuals who receive payments from the Federal 
Government. Some records on individuals who receive Federal payments 
are maintained in FMS's ``Payment Records for Other Than Regular 
Recurring Benefit Payments--Treasury/FMS .016.''
    As part of its continuing efforts to efficiently operate and manage 
its payment disbursement processes, FMS establishes new payment 
delivery mechanisms. This alteration of system of records Treasury/FMS 
.016 is being made to add information specific to payment records 
related to the Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP.gov) 
payment mechanism. This alteration updates system location, storage, 
retention and disposal, system managers, and record source categories.
    ASAP.gov is an FMS Internet payment mechanism that assists Federal 
agencies in disbursing monies to states, municipalities, nonprofit 
entities, universities and individuals. Payments can include 
unemployment insurance and Medicare payments to states; federally 
funded research grants and student loan payments to universities; and 
individual research grant payments to nonprofit entities and 
individuals. By using ASAP.gov, Federal entities authorize funding for 
electronic payments to end-recipients. An electronic payment is 
initiated when a payment requestor, acting on behalf of the end-
recipient, requests a specific payment amount. When the payment request 
is initiated, ASAP debits the Federal entity's Treasury account and 
sends a credit through either the Automated Clearing House (ACH), a 
future date settlement funds transfer system, or the Federal Reserve 
Bank funds transfer system (Fedwire), a same date settlement funds 
transfer system, to the payment requestor's bank account, resulting in 
a payment. ASAP.gov will allow states, municipalities, nonprofit 
entities, universities and individuals to enjoy the benefits of 
electronic payment authorization and transactions while minimizing the 
risks of fraudulent transactions and the loss of public funds.
    For the reasons set forth above, FMS proposes to alter system of 
records Treasury/FMS .016-Payment Records for Other Than Regular 
Recurring Benefit Payments, as follows:
Treasury/FMS .016

System name:
    Payment Records for Other Than Regular Recurring Benefit Payments--
Treasury/Financial Management Service.

System location:
    Description of the change: After the existing sentence, insert the 
following:
    ``Records also are located throughout the United States at Federal 
Reserve Banks which act as Treasury's fiscal agents. The address(es) of 
the fiscal agents may be obtained from the system managers.''
* * * * *

Storage:
    Description of the change: Remove the current entry and insert the 
following:
    ``Records are maintained in electronic or magnetic media and hard 
copy.''
* * * * *

Retention and disposal:
    Description of the change: Remove the current entry and insert the 
following:
    ``Some records are retained for three years; other records for 
payments are retained indefinitely. Records are retained in accordance 
with statute, court order or Treasury Directive 25-02, Records 
Disposition Management Program. Audit logs of transactions are retained 
for a period of six (6) months or as otherwise required by statute or 
court order. Records in electronic media are electronically erased 
using industry-accepted techniques.''
* * * * *

System manager(s) address:
    Description of the change: Remove the current entry and insert the 
following:
    ``Chief Disbursing Officer, Financial Management Service; Chief 
Architect, Federal Finance, Financial Management Service; or, Director, 
ASAP Program Office, Federal Finance, Financial Management Service, 401 
14th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20227.''
* * * * *

Record source categories:
    Description of the change: Remove the current entry and insert the 
following:
    ``Federal departments and agencies responsible for certifying, 
disbursing and collecting Federal payments; Treasury fiscal and 
financial agents that process payments and collections; and commercial 
database vendors. Each of these record sources may include information 
obtained from individuals.''
* * * * *

    Dated: April 27, 2004.
Jesus H. Delgado-Jenkins,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Management.
[FR Doc. 04-10204 Filed 5-5-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-35-P