[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 2 (Thursday, January 4, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 336-338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-22547]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Privacy Act of 1974; Notice to Amend an Existing System of 
Records

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As required by the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, and the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-130, the Department of 
Energy (DOE) is publishing a notice of a proposed amendment to an 
existing system of records. DOE proposes to amend and change the name 
of DOE-21 ``Emergency Defense Mobilization

[[Page 337]]

Files'' to DOE-21 ``Asset Readiness Management System (ARMS)'' and 
convert the system from paper records to an electronic information 
system.
    This notice will provide a clearer description of the categories of 
personal information contained in the system of records and identify 
the purpose and authorities for collecting and maintaining this 
information.

DATES: The proposed amendment to this existing system of records will 
become effective without further notice on February 20, 2007 unless DOE 
receives adverse comments and determines that this amendment should not 
become effective on that date.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be directed to the following 
address: U.S. Department of Energy, Deborah Wilber, Director, Office of 
Emergency Response, National Nuclear Security Administration, NA-42, 
1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Abel Lopez, Director, Freedom of 
Information Act and Privacy Group, MA-74, U.S. Department of Energy, 
1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-5955; 
Isiah Smith, Deputy Assistant General Counsel for General Law, GC-77, 
U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington DC 
20585, (202) 586-5000; David S. Jonas, Office of the General Counsel, 
National Nuclear Security Administration, NA-3.1, U.S. Department of 
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington DC 20585, (202) 586-
5000; and Deborah Wilber, Director, Office of Emergency Response, 
National Nuclear Security Administration, NA-42, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington DC 20585, (202) 586-2920.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1974, the Atomic Energy Commission, a 
predecessor agency of DOE, established a program called the Nuclear 
Emergency Search Team (NEST) to prevent and/or respond to emergencies 
involving nuclear or radiological materials by providing the personnel, 
equipment and resources necessary to search for, locate and deactivate 
nuclear or radiological devices. In this way, NEST provides technical 
assistance to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the 
Department of State (DOS), the lead federal agency for terrorism 
response outside the United States. Under the Atomic Energy Act, the 
FBI is responsible for investigating illegal activities, including 
terrorist threats, involving the possible illicit use of nuclear 
materials within the United States. The events of September 11, 2001 
and the threat of nuclear terrorism have resulted in an increased 
impetus for ensuring that such federal government emergency response 
capabilities are ready to respond on short notice. To deploy NEST 
resources more rapidly and effectively, DOE plans to amend its system 
of records that maintain information about emergency response 
resources.
    Since September 11, 2001, DOE's emergency response mission has 
expanded and now includes minimizing as well as preventing the 
consequences of an event involving nuclear or radiological materials. 
For example, in the case of an accidental release of radiological 
materials, DOE will be able to use the information in this system of 
records to deploy teams that use radiation-monitoring equipment to 
detect and measure radiation contamination levels and provide 
information to state and local officials to determine what geographical 
areas need to be evacuated. DOE also will be able to use the 
information in this system of records to mobilize medical personnel to 
advise on the treatment of injuries resulting from radiation exposure.
    Homeland Security Presidential Directive HSPD-5 ``Management of 
Domestic Incidents'' mandated the development of an intergovernmental 
agency National Response Plan (NRP) to direct federal government agency 
capabilities and resources into a coordinated, unified domestic 
catastrophic incident management and response system. DOE's 
responsibilities relating to the federal government response to a 
domestic nuclear or radiological incident are detailed in the Nuclear/
Radiological Incident Annex of the NRP. The Homeland Security Act of 
2002 further outlines DOE's responsibilities for managing the readiness 
of capabilities and assets that may be called upon to respond to a 
nuclear or radiological incident. The Office of Emergency Response of 
the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) at the DOE will use 
ARMS to monitor readiness status and fulfill its responsibilities for 
managing, training, equipping and deploying DOE's response teams. The 
teams will consist of DOE and NNSA employees, contractor employees, 
employees from other federal agencies, and military personnel.
    DOE proposes to amend and change the name of DOE-21 ``Emergency 
Defense Mobilization Files'' to DOE-21 ``Asset Readiness Management 
System (ARMS)'' and convert the system from a paper file system to an 
electronic information system. In addition, DOE also proposes to 
establish a new routine use for the system of records. The proposed 
routine use will allow the disclosure of identifiable information to 
agents approved by NNSA Office of Emergency Response.
    The approved agents will be representatives from the FBI, the 
Department of Defense (DOD), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), 
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration (NASA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), 
and DOS. The agents will use the information exclusively to deploy and 
verify the identity of an individual for the purpose of gaining access 
to incident response security areas. This disclosure of identifiable 
information is compatible with the purpose for which this information 
is collected and maintained.
    The information maintained in the system of records includes social 
security number, employee number, date of hire, DOE badge number, 
security clearance number, date of birth, tourist passport number, 
official passport number, education level, blood type, immunization 
record, and other medical information. An individual's social security 
number, DOE badge number, security clearance number, date of birth, 
tourist passport number, and official passport number will be used to 
gain access to emergency incident areas controlled by the FBI, DOD, 
NRC, EPA, NASA, DHS, and DOS, and to create official travel manifests, 
to obtain visas necessary for official foreign travel. Date of hire 
information will be used to determine seniority and experience level of 
emergency response team members. Education level information will be 
needed to determine whether an individual meets the initial 
qualification level requirements for certain positions on an emergency 
response team. Blood type, immunization record, and other medical 
information will be used to determine the personal state of readiness 
of individual emergency response personnel. Employee number and DOE 
badge number information will be used during nuclear incidents to help 
DOE keep track of personnel available to deploy.
    DOE is submitting the report required by OMB Circular A-130 
concurrently with the publication of this notice. The text of this 
notice contains information required by the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 
552a(e)(4).


[[Page 338]]


    Issued in Washington, DC on December 27, 2006.
Ingrid A.C. Kolb,
Director Office of Management.
DOE-21

SYSTEM NAME:
    Asset Readiness Management System (ARMS).

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
    Classified/Unclassified.

SYSTEM LOCATION:
    U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20585.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
    Federal employees, military personnel, and contractors.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
    The following information may be maintained in the system: Name, 
home address, telephone number, e-mail address, social security number, 
employee number, date of hire, DOE badge number, security clearance 
number, date of birth, tourist passport number, official passport 
number, education level, blood type, immunization record, and other 
medical information.

AUTHORITY OF MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
    42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 2401 et seq.; Homeland Security 
Presidential Directive HSPD-5 ``Management of Domestic Incidents,'' The 
Homeland Security Act of 2002, Pub. L. 107-296, 116 Stat. 2135 (Nov. 
25, 2002), Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act, Pub. L. 106-390, 114 Stat. 1552-1575 (October 30, 2000).

PURPOSE:
    The records will be maintained and used by the Office of Emergency 
Response to quantify, monitor, and track readiness of and deploy 
personnel and equipment as part of a coordinated federal government 
response to an emergency involving nuclear and/or radiological 
materials.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES 
OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
    1. A record from this system may be disclosed as a routine use to 
officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of 
Defense, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Environmental Protection 
Administration, National Aeronautics Space Administration, Department 
Homeland Security, and Department of State who have been approved as 
agents by NNSA Office of Emergency Response for purposes of managing 
and assessing state of readiness, to obtain visas for official foreign 
travel, and to provide information to gain access to incident areas 
controlled by one or more U.S. government agencies under the National 
Response Plan.
    2. A record from this system may be disclosed as a routine use to a 
DOE contractor employee who has been approved as an agent by NNSA 
Office of Emergency Response in performance of the contract. Those 
provided information under this routine use are subject to the same 
limitations applicable to DOE officers and employees under the Privacy 
Act.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING 
AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
STORAGE:
    Records will be stored as electronic records in a computer 
database.

RETRIEVABILITY:
    Records may be retrieved by name, employee number, e-mail address, 
work telephone number, and home telephone number.

SAFEGUARDS:
    Electronic records are controlled through established DOE computer 
center procedures (personnel screening and physical security), and they 
are password protected. Passwords are known only by the system 
administrator and users of the system. Access is limited to those whose 
official duties require access to the records.

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:
    A request for approval of the records disposition schedule for this 
system is being provided to the National Archives and Records 
Administration. Questions regarding records contained in the system may 
be addressed to Records Manager, ORISE, Oak Ridge, Tennessee (865-576-
2641).

SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS(ES):
    Headquarters: U.S. Department of Energy, Director, Office of 
Emergency Response, National Nuclear Security Administration, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES:
    In accordance with the DOE regulation implementing the Privacy Act, 
at Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1008, a request by an 
individual to determine if a system of records contains information 
about him/her should be directed to the Director, Headquarters Freedom 
of Information Act and Privacy Act Group, U.S. Department of Energy. 
The request should include the requester's complete name and time 
period for which records are sought.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
    Same as Notification Procedures above. In accordance with the DOE 
Privacy Act regulation, proper identification is required before the 
request is processed.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
    Same as Notification Procedures above.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
    The subject individual and site training records.

SYSTEM EXEMPTED FROM CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVACY ACT:
    None.

 [FR Doc. E6-22547 Filed 1-3-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P