[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42346-42348]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-6396]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 143 / Wednesday, July 26, 2006 / 
Notices  

[[Page 42346]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Privacy Act of 1974: Report of a New System of Records

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer, USDA.

ACTION:  Notice of proposed new system of records; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) proposed to create a new Privacy Act system of 
records, entitled ``USDA eAuthentication Service.'' The system is 
owned, administered, and secured by the Office of the Chief Information 
Officer (OCIO), a USDA staff office. The primary purpose of the 
eAuthentication Service is to provide verification of customer 
identity, authorization, and electronic signatures for USDA application 
and service transactions.

DATES: Effective Date: This notice will be adopted without further 
publication on August 25, 2006, unless modified by a subsequent notice 
to incorporate comments received from the public. USDA invites comments 
on all portions of this notice. Comments must be received by the 
contact listed on or before August 25, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Owen Unangst, Program Manager, Office 
of the Chief Information Officer, United States Department of 
Agriculture, NRCS Information Technology Center, 2150 Centre Avenue 
Building A, Fort Collins, CO 80526-1891 or via e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4) 
requires the Department to publish in the Federal Register this notice 
or new or revised system of records managed by the Department. Pursuant 
to the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA, Pub. L. 105-277), 
the Freedom to E-File Act (Pub. L. 106-222), the Electronic Signature 
in Global and National Commerce Act (E-SIGN, Pub. L. 102-229), and the 
eGovernment Act of 2002 (H.R. 2458), USDA is creating a new system of 
records entitled ``USDA eAuthentication Service'' to be managed by the 
USDA Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO).
    GPEA requires that Federal agencies provide citizens with secure 
electronic options for forms, filing, and other transactions needed to 
conduct official business with the government. The eAuthentication 
Service provides a trusted and secure infrastructure, which is primary 
to the delivery of eGovernment services in a GPEA compliant manner. 
eAuthentication support citizens' capabilities to conduct transactions 
with USDA by providing single sign-on capability to access USDA 
applications and services via the Internet, management of user 
credential, and verifications of identity, authorization, and 
electronic signature with USDA, its agencies, and partners. Benefits to 
citizens and USDA include a secure, consistent method of electronic 
authentication, a reduction in the cost to maintain redundant 
registration information, and reduced authentication system development 
and acquisition costs.
    USDA eAuthentication collects information from citizens in order to 
provide accounts that facilitate the electronic authentication and 
authorization. The credentials and permissions associated with an 
account are what authenticates and authorizes a user to access a 
requested USDA resource. USDA obtains customer information through an 
electronic self-registration process provided through the 
eAuthentication Web site. The collected information will be secured in 
two ways: Appropriate technical security will be in place both during 
storage and transit; the physical security of the system will be 
provided by the hosting facility which restricts access to authorized 
personnel.
    USDA customers can self-register for a Level 1 or Level 2 Access 
account. A Level 1 Access account provides users with limited access to 
USDA Web site portals and applications that have minimal security 
requirements. A Level 2 Access account enables users to conflict 
official electronic business transactions via the Internet, enter into 
a contract with USDA, and submit information electronically via the 
Internet to USDA Agencies. Due to the increased customer access 
associated with a Level 2 Access account, customers must be 
authenticated in person at a USDA Office by a local registration 
authority, in addition to an electronic self-registration. Once an 
account is activated, customers may use the associated user ID and 
password that they created to access USDA resources that are protected 
by the eAuthentication Service.
System of Records

System Name:
    USDA eAuthentication Service.

Security Classification:
    None.

System Location:
    USDA-NRCS Information Technology Center, 2150 Centre Avenue 
Building A, Fort Collins, CO 80526-1891; USDA-Rural Development, 1520 
Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103.

Categories of Individuals Covered by the System:
    This system contains records and related correspondence on 
individuals who can access USDA application and services that are 
protected by eAuthentication. This includes members of the public and 
USDA employees.

Categories of Individuals Covered by the System:
    This system contains records and related correspondence on 
individuals who can access USDA applications and services that are 
protected by eAuthentication. This includes members of the public and 
USDA employees.

Categories of Records in the System:
    The eAuthentication system will collect the following information 
from individuals when transacting electronically with USDA: name, 
address, country of residence, telephone, e-mail address, date of 
birth, and mother's maiden name. The system will also require users to 
create a user ID and password.

Authority for Maintenance on the System:
    Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA, Pub. L. 105-277) of 
1998; Freedom to E-File Act (Pub. L. 106-222)

[[Page 42347]]

of 2000; Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (E-
SIGN, Pub. L. 106-229) of 2000; eGovernment Act of 2002 (H.R. 2458).

Purpose(s):
    The records in this system are used to electronically authenticate 
and authorize users accessing protected USDA applications and services.

Routine Uses of Records Maintained in the System, Including Categories 
of Users and the Purposes of Such Uses:
    1. Disclosure to USDA applications protected by eAuthentication, as 
a user requests access to individual applications.
    2. Disclosure to external Web applications integrated with the 
government's federated architecture for authentication. Under this 
architecture, the user will request access to an external application 
with their USDA credential prior to any disclosure of information. All 
external applications will have undergone rigorous testing before 
joining the architecture.
    3. Referral to the appropriate agency, whether Federal, State, 
local, or foreign, charged with the responsibility of investigating or 
prosecuting violation of law, or of enforcing or implementing a 
statute, rule, regulation, or order issued pursuant thereto, of any 
record within this system when information available indicates a 
violation or potential violation of law, whether civil, criminal, or 
regulatory in nature.
    4. Disclosure to a court, magistrate, or administrative tribunal, 
or to opposing counsel in a proceeding before a court, magistrate, or 
administrative tribunal, of any record within the system that 
constitutes evidence in that proceeding, or which is sought in the 
course of discovery, to the extent that USDA determines that the 
records sought are relevant to the proceeding.
    5. Disclosure to a congressional office from the record of an 
individual in response to any inquiry from the congressional office 
made at the request of that individual.
    6. Disclosure at the individual's request to any Federal 
department, State or local agency, or USDA partner utilizing or 
interfacing with eAuthentication to provide electronic authentication 
for electronic transactions. The disclosure of this information is 
required to securely provide, monitor, and analyze the requested 
program, service, registration, or other transaction.
    7. Disclosure to USDA employees or contractors, partner agency 
employees or contractors, or private industry employed to identify 
patterns, trends, and anomalies indicative of fraud, waste, or abuse.
    8. Disclosure to determine compliance with program requirements.

Policies and Practices for Storing, Retrieving, Accessing, Retaining, 
and Disposing of Records in the System:
Storage:
    Records are stored and maintained electronically on USDA owned and 
operated systems in St. Louis, MO, and Ft. Collins, CO.

Retrievably:
    Records can be retrieved by name, username, or system ID.

Safeguard:
    Records are accessible only to authorized personnel. Protection of 
the records is ensured by appropriate technical controls. The physical 
security of the system is provided by restricted building access. In 
addition, increased security is provided by encryption of data when 
transmitted. The system has undergone a Certification and 
Accreditation.

Retention and Disposal:
    Since records are maintained electronically, they will be retained 
indefinitely.

System Manager(s) and Address:
    Owen Unangst, NRCS Information Technology Center, 2150 Centre 
Avenue Building A, Fort Collins, CO 80526-1891.

Notification Procedure:
    An individual may request information regarding this system of 
records or information as to whether the system contains records 
pertaining to such individual from the Fort Collins office. The request 
for information should contain the individual's name, username, 
address, and email address. Before information of any record is 
released, the system manager may require the individual to provide 
proof of identify or require the requester to furnish authorization 
from the individual to permit release of information.

Record Access Procedures:
    An individual may obtain information as to the procedures for 
gaining access to a record in the system, which pertains to such 
individual, by submitting a request to the Privacy Act Officer, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., South Building, Washington, DC 20250-3700. 
The envelope and letters should be marked ``Privacy Act Request.'' A 
request for information should contain name, address, username, name of 
system of records, year of records in question, and any other pertinent 
information to help identify the file.

Contesting Record Procedures:
    Procedures for contesting records are the same as procedures for 
record access. Include the reason for contesting the record and the 
proposed amendment to the information with supporting documentation to 
show how the record is inaccurate.

Record Source Categories:
    Information from the system will be submitted by the user. When a 
user wishes to transact with USDA or its partner organizations 
electronically, the user must enter name, address, country of 
residence, telephone, date of birth, mother's maiden name, username, 
and password. As the USDA eAuthentication Service is integrated with 
other government or private sector authentication systems, data may be 
obtained from those systems to facilitate single-sign on capabilities.

Exemptions Claimed for this System:
    None.

    Dated: July 12, 2006.
Mike Johanns,
Secretary.

Privacy Act System USDA/OCIO-2 Narrative Statement

    The purpose of this system of records for the eAuthentication 
Service is to identify how the user information collected is protected, 
used, and verified. Through a self-registration process USDA customers 
and employees are able to obtain accounts as authorized users that will 
enable them to access USDA Web applications and services. Additionally, 
users of the eAuthentication system are able to securely and 
confidently conduct business transactions with the USDA electronically 
via the Internet.
    The information collected will be used to create eAuthentication 
accounts that are used to authenticate users to USDA Web applications. 
In addition, customer and employee account information is provided to 
USDA applications that the user chooses to access, in order to 
facilitate authorization and business transactions.
    The authority for maintaining this system of records lies within 
the Government Paperwork Elimination Action (Sections 1702, 1703, 
1705), the Freedom to E-File Act (Section 3 [7 U.S.C. 7032], Section 5 
[7 U.S.C. 7034], and Section 6 [7 U.S.C. 7035], the Electronic 
Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act [15 U.S. 7001],

[[Page 42348]]

and the E-Government Act (Title III: FISMA of 2002 Section 301).
    Within USDA, access to system data is granted on a limited basis to 
USDA customers, employees, administrators, help desk individuals, and 
other Federal agencies to facilitate electronic user authentication and 
authorization. Users can use their account's user ID and password to 
access to modify basic personal data such as address and email. Users 
do not have access to modify sensitive data such as level of access of 
permissions associated with an account. Only system administrators have 
access to update sensitive fields, and only do so when a ticket is 
escalated from the help desk.
    System administrators have access to user information on a limited 
basis allowing them to only perform their specific job function. Access 
is limited to administrators on a least privileged basis utilizing 
separation of duties. Administrators and help desk persons have 
eAuthentication accounts with the appropriate level of access and 
permissions that allow them to access and modify user data. These 
permissions are granted by a limited number of management personnel.
    Information obtained by the eAuthentication Service is stored and 
maintained electronically on secure USDA-owned and operated systems in 
St. Louis, MO and Fort Collins, CO. In addition, information stored 
electronically will be available only to authorized personnel, whose 
identity will be authenticated by eAuthentication Service.
    The system provides for eight types of routine user releases, as 
follows:
    Routine use 1 permits disclosure to USDA applications protected by 
eAuthentication, as a user requests access to individual applications.
    Routine use 2 permits disclosure to external Web applications 
integrated with the government's federated architecture for 
authentication. Under this architecture, the user will request access 
to an external application with their USDA credential prior to any 
disclosure of information. All external applications will have 
undergone rigorous testing before joining the architecture.
    Routine use 3 permits referral to the appropriate agency, whether 
Federal, State, local, or foreign, charged with the responsibility of 
investigating or prosecuting violation of law, or of enforcing or 
implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order issued pursuant 
thereto, of any record within this system when information available 
indicates a violation or potential violation of law, whether civil, 
criminal, or regulatory in nature.
    Routine use 4 permits disclosure to a court, magistrate, or 
administrative tribunal, or to opposing counsel in a proceeding before 
a court, magistrate, or administrative tribunal, of any record within 
the system that constitutes evidence in that proceeding, or which is 
sought in the course of discovery, to the extent that USDA determines 
that the records sought are relevant to the proceeding.
    Routine use 5 permits disclosure to a congressional office from the 
record of an individual response to any inquiry from the congressional 
office made at the request of that individual.
    Routine use 6 permits disclosure at the individuals' request to any 
Federal department, State or local agency, or USDA partner utilizing or 
interfacing with eAuthentication to provide electronic authentication 
for electronic transactions. The disclosure of this information is 
required to securely provide, monitor, and analyze the requested 
program, service, registration, or other transaction.
    Routine use 7 permits disclosure to USDA employees or contractors, 
partner agency employees or contractors, or private industry employed 
to identify patterns, trends, and anomalies indicative of fraud, waste, 
or abuse.
    Routine use 8 permits disclosure to determine compliance with 
program requirements.
    A copy of the forms developed to collection information is attached 
to this report. These proposed information collections are at OMB for 
review and clearance in conjunction with the Paperwork Reduction Act.
    The system of records will not be exempt from any provisions of the 
Privacy Act.

eAuthentication Forms for Collection for SORN Narrative Statement

    Main Page: http://www.eauth.egov.usda.gov/index.html.
    Select Create an Account from Left Navigation Bar. From the first 
sentence on this page, select the USDA Employee Create an Account link. 
Select the ``Continue'' button at the bottom right of the screen to 
move through the account creation process. Select the ``Continue'' 
button at the bottom right of the screen again, which opens the 
Employee Account Creation, Step 1 of 6: Employee Information page. 
Follows steps.

[FR Doc. 06-6396 Filed 7-25-06; 8:45 am]
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