[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 28, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81635-81637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-32688]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5386-N-14]


Privacy Act of 1974: Notice of New System of Records, Single 
Family Computerized Homes Underwriting Management Systems

AGENCY: Department of Housing and Urban Development.

ACTION: Revision to the routine uses.

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SUMMARY: Modified the routine uses to identify the Federal Reserve as a 
Federal agency that receives CHUMS data for statistical research. The 
Computerized Homes Underwriting Management System supports Housing 
staff in the processing of single family mortgage insurance 
applications, from initial receipt through endorsement. F17/CHUMS 
processes loans for first time homebuyers, Home Equity Conversion 
Mortgages (HECM), Section 203(k) for the rehabilitation of existing 
properties, VA Certified FHA loans and other programs. F17/CHUMS also 
provide automated assistance in appraisal, mortgage credit evaluation, 
and FHA's TOTAL Scorecard, a standardized credit assessment tool. It 
supports the conditional commitment process from the Mortgagee's 
request for property appraisal through issuance of a conditional 
commitment, firm commitment, endorsement, and the automated production 
of the Mortgage Insurance Certificate.

DATES: Effective Date: This proposal shall become effective January 27, 
2011, unless comments are received on or before that date which would 
result in a contrary determination.
    Comment Due Date: January 27, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Office of Single Family Program Development, 451 7th Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20410.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Robinson-Staton, Departmental 
Privacy Officer, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Room 2256, Washington, DC 
20410, Telephone Number (202) 402-8047. For Housing information: Bonnie 
McCloskey, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 9280, Washington, DC 20410, 
Telephone Number (202) 402-8138. A telecommunications device for 
hearing- and speech-impaired persons (TTY) is available at 1-800-877-
8339 (Federal Information Relay Services). (This is a toll-free 
number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title 5 U.S.C. section 552a(e)(4) and (11) 
provide that the public be given a 30-day period in which to comment on 
the proposed new system. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), 
which has oversight responsibilities under the Act, requires a 30-day 
period in which to conclude its review of the system. Therefore, please 
submit any comments by July 31, 2010. In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 
552a(r) and OMB Cir. A-130, the Department has provided a report to OMB 
and the Congress on the proposed modification.

    Dated: December 20, 2010.
Jerry E. Williams,
Chief Information Officer.
HUD/H-5

System name:
    Single Family Computerized Homes Underwriting Management System 
(CHUMS).

System location:
    HUD Headquarters and Single Family Homeownership Centers in 
Atlanta, Denver, Philadelphia, and Santa Ana.

Categories of individuals covered by the system:
    Individuals who have obtained a mortgage insured under HUD/FHA's 
single family mortgage insurance programs and individuals who 
unsuccessfully applied for an insured mortgage. Also, individuals 
involved in the HUD/FHA single-family underwriting process (builders, 
fee appraisers, fee inspectors, mortgagee

[[Page 81636]]

staff appraisers, mortgagee staff underwriters) and HUD employees 
involved in the single family underwriting process (e.g., staff 
appraisers, staff mortgage credit examiners, architectural employees, 
receiving clerks, assignment clerks, commitment clerks, records clerks, 
and closing clerks).

Categories of records in the system:
    Automated files contain name, address, Social Security Number or 
other identification number; racial/ethnic background, if disclosed, of 
the mortgagor and information about the mortgage loan. These records 
also contain the name, address, Social Security Number or other 
identification number, territory, workload, and minority data 
(including racial/ethnic background, Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) 
Code, and sex, for statistical tracking purposes) of builders, fee 
appraisers, and fee inspectors. These records will further contain the 
name and identifying number of each mortgagee staff appraiser and each 
mortgagee staff underwriter and the territory and workload of those 
individuals. Additionally, the automated files contain identification 
(name and social security or other identifying number) of HUD employees 
involved in the single family underwriting process (Homeownership 
Center managers, staff appraisers, architectural employees, receiving 
clerks, assignment clerks, commitment clerks, records clerks, and 
closing clerks).

Authority for maintenance of the system:
    Section 203, National Housing Act, Public Law 73-479. The 
information collection enables HUD/FHA to process applications for HUD 
mortgage insurance and respond to inquiries regarding applications and 
insured mortgages.

Purposes:
    The Computerized Homes Underwriting Management System supports 
Housing staff in the processing of single family mortgage insurance 
applications, from initial receipt through endorsement. F17/CHUMS 
processes loans for first time homebuyers, Home Equity Conversion 
Mortgages (HECM), Section 203(k) for the rehabilitation of existing 
properties, VA Certified FHA loans and other programs. F17/CHUMS also 
provides automated assistance in appraisal, mortgage credit evaluation, 
and FHA's TOTAL Scorecard, a standardized credit assessment tool. It 
supports the conditional commitment process from the Mortgagee's 
request for property appraisal through issuance of a conditional 
commitment, firm commitment, endorsement, and the automated production 
of the Mortgage Insurance Certificate.

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 other routine uses include: (a) To other 
agencies; such as, Departments of Agriculture, Education and Veterans 
Affairs, and the Small Business Administration--for use of HUD's Credit 
Alert Interactive Voice Response System (CAIVRS) to prescreen 
applicants for loans or loans guaranteed by the Federal Government to 
ascertain if the applicant is delinquent in paying a debt owed to or 
insured by the Government. (b) To the FBI to investigate possible fraud 
revealed in underwriting, insuring or monitoring. (c) To Department of 
Justice for prosecution of fraud revealed in underwriting, insuring or 
monitoring. (d) To General Accounting Office (GAO) for audit purposes. 
(e) To other federal agencies, including the Federal Reserve, and to 
financial institutions and computer software companies for automated 
underwriting, credit scoring and other risk management evaluation 
studies. (f) To other Federal agencies, including the Federal Reserve, 
for purposes of statistical research, not involving personally 
identifiable information, to evaluation program effectiveness in 
meeting the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development/
FHA's mission and to inform policy makers on changes to effect program 
improvements. If the Department suspects or has confirmed that the 
security or confidentiality of information in the system of records has 
been compromised; or if the Department has determined that as a result 
of the suspected or confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to 
economic or property interests, identity theft or fraud, or harm to the 
security or integrity of this system or other systems or programs 
(whether maintained by the HUD or another agency or entity) that rely 
upon the compromised information; than the disclosure made to such 
agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in 
connection with the HUD's efforts to respond to the suspected or 
confirmed compromise and prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, 
and disposing of records in the system:
Storage:
    Records are stored on magnetic tape/disc/drum.

Retrievability:
    Records are retrieved by name, Social Security Number or other 
identification number.

Safeguards:
    Automated records are maintained in secured areas. Access is 
limited to authorized personnel.

Retention and disposal:
    Computerized records of insured cases are retained for 10 years and 
those on rejected cases are retained for 3 years.

System manager(s) and address:
    Director, Home Mortgage Insurance Division, HUAH, Department of 
Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20410.

Notification procedure:
    For information, assistance, or inquiry about the existence of 
records, contact the Privacy Act Officer at the Department of Housing 
and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC. Written 
requests must include the full name, Social Security Number, date of 
birth, current address, and telephone number of the individual making 
the request.

Record access procedures:
    The Department's rules for providing access to records to the 
individual concerned appear in 24 CFR part 16. If additional 
information or assistance is required, contact the Privacy Act Officer 
at the appropriate location. A list of all locations is given in 
appendix A.

Contesting record procedures:
    Include the following standard language: Procedures for the 
amendment or correction of records, and for applicants want to appeal 
initial agency determination appear in 24 CFR part 16. If additional 
information or assistance is needed, it may be obtained by contacting: 
(i) In relation to contesting contents of records, the Privacy Act 
Officer at the appropriate location. A list of all locations is given 
in appendix A; (ii) in relation to appeals of initial denials, the HUD 
Departmental Privacy Appeals Officer, Office of General Counsel, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20410.

[[Page 81637]]

Record source categories:
    Mortgagors, appraisers, inspectors, builders, mortgagee staff 
appraisers, mortgagee staff underwriters, and HUD employees.

Exemptions for certain provisions of the act:
    None.
[FR Doc. 2010-32688 Filed 12-27-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P