[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56210-56211]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15701]


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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program

AGENCY: Small Business Administration (SBA).

ACTION: Notice of a computer matching program--SBA and the Louisiana 
Office of Community Development (LOCD).

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended by the 
Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988, the Computer 
Matching Privacy Act Amendments of 1990, the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) Guidelines on the Conduct of Matching Programs, and OMB 
Bulletin 89-22, ``Instructions on Reporting Computer Matching Programs 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Congress and the 
Public'', the Small Business Administration (SBA) is issuing a public 
notice of its intent to conduct a computer matching program with LOCD 
which uses a computer information system of SBA. The purpose of the 
computer matching program is to ensure that there is no duplication of 
benefits (DOB), as prohibited by the Small Business Act, between SBA 
disaster loans made to homeowners in Louisiana affected by the 2005 
Gulf Coast hurricanes and LOCD grants to the same homeowners.

DATES: This matching program is expected to begin October 26, 2006. Any 
public comment must be received before this expected start date.

ADDRESSES: Any interested party may submit written comments to: Small 
Business Administration, Office of Disaster Assistance, 409 3rd Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20416.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: On the matching program: Becky 
Brantley, Disaster External Affairs Liaison, 202-205-6734, and on the 
Privacy Act: Lisa Babcock, Chief, Freedom of Information/Privacy Acts 
Office, 202-401-8203.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  Pursuant to subsection (o) of the Privacy 
Act of 1974, as amended (15 U.S.C. 552a), the SBA and LOCD have 
concluded an agreement to conduct a computer matching program between 
the agencies. The purpose of the computer matching program is to 
exchange personal data to identify individuals who have been approved 
for an SBA home disaster loan as a result of the 2005 Gulf Coast 
hurricanes and who seek to obtain a grant from the LOCD for the same 
loss. Matching the information will prevent a DOB between an SBA 
disaster loan and an LOCD grant to the same homeowner. Section 7(b)(1) 
of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(1)) prohibits SBA, in 
making physical disaster loans, from duplicating the benefits that 
recipients of such loans may receive from other sources.

[[Page 56211]]

    The parties to the agreement have determined that a computer 
matching program is the most efficient, expeditious, and effective 
means of obtaining and processing the information needed to make a 
decision on whether there is a DOB. The principal alternative to using 
this matching program would be to manually match the loan applications 
processed by SBA with the grant applications submitted to the LOCD. 
Manual matching would impose an administrative burden on the agencies 
and might result in delays in determining eligibility for LOCD grants 
to affected victims of the hurricanes.
    A copy of the agreement between SBA and LOCD is available on 
request. Requests should be submitted to the same address listed above 
for comments.

Reporting of Matching Program

    In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as 
amended by the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 
(Pub. L. 100-503), and the Computer Matching Privacy Act Amendments of 
1990 (Pub. L. 101-56), (collectively, the Law), and OMB Bulletin 89-22, 
copies of this notice are being provided to the House Committee on 
Government Reform and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs, and to OMB.

Authority

    The matching program will be conducted pursuant to the Law.

Objectives To Be Met by the Matching Program

    The matching program will allow LOCD and SBA to share data in order 
to prevent an applicant for an LOCD grant from receiving a DOB with an 
SBA home disaster loan.

Records To Be Matched

    The SBA records involved in the match are home loan applications 
received by SBA from disaster victims in Louisiana as a result of the 
2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes. These home loan application records are 
contained in the SBA Privacy Act System of Records: Disaster Loan Case 
File--SBA 20, last published at 69 FR 58598.

Period of the Match

    The computer matching program will be conducted in accordance with 
the agreement between SBA and the LOCD. The agreement will remain in 
effect until the last LOCD grant award has been processed by LOCD or 
June 30, 2007, whichever is earlier. The agreement may be extended by 
mutual agreement of the parties. Either SBA or LOCD, upon thirty (30) 
days written notice, may request an extension or may terminate the 
agreement.

Charles McClam,
Acting Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-15701 Filed 9-25-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8025-01-P