[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 51123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20951]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY


Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended

AGENCY: Financial Management Service, Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of amendment to system of records.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the 
Financial Management Service gives notice of a proposed alteration to 
the Privacy Act system of records entitled ``Treasury/FMS .008--Mailing 
List Records.''

DATES: Comments must be received no later than September 16, 2011. The 
altered system of records will become effective September 16, 2011 
unless comments are received which would result in a contrary 
determination.

ADDRESSES: You should send your comments to Peter Genova, Deputy Chief 
Information Officer, Financial Management Service, 401 14th Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20227. 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. You may send your comments by electronic mail to 
[email protected] or http://regulations.gov. All comments, 
including attachments and other supporting materials, received are 
subject to public disclosure. You should submit only information that 
you wish to make available publicly.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Genova, Deputy Chief Information 
Officer, (202) 874-1736.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 16, 2010, the Financial 
Management Service (FMS), a bureau within the U.S. Department of the 
Treasury (Treasury), established a new system of records entitled 
``Mailing List Records--Treasury/FMS .008'' by publishing a new system 
of records notice at 75 FR 78802, pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974, 
as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a. FMS proposes to amend that system of records 
by adding to the ``categories of individuals covered by the system,'' 
and the ``categories of records in the system.''
    Under the existing system of records, FMS may obtain and maintain 
identifying information (names and addresses) of low-to-moderate income 
individuals who are more likely to be unbanked or underbanked, who 
could potentially receive Federal tax refund payments, and whose names 
and addresses are included on mailing lists purchased from commercial 
providers. These records are maintained in order for the bureau to send 
letters to these individuals to inform them of the benefits of 
electronic payments and Treasury-recommended account options for 
receiving payments electronically. The information may also be used to 
study the effectiveness of offering account options to individuals to 
receive Federal payments. To study program efficacy, FMS may use the 
mailing list records to collect aggregate statistical information on 
the success and benefits of direct mail and the use of commercial 
database providers.
    FMS proposes to broaden the ``categories of records in the system'' 
to include demographic information about these individuals, in addition 
to identifying information. Further, FMS proposes to expand the 
``categories of individuals covered by the system'' to include not only 
individuals whose records were purchased from commercial providers, but 
also those individuals whose information was obtained from other 
sources, such as people who have previously been mailed a paper check 
by FMS. The proposed amendments to the system would allow FMS to obtain 
and use information such as income range, likelihood of being unbanked, 
and gender in determining what types of account options best meet the 
needs of low- to moderate-income individuals for the purpose of 
receiving their Federal payments. The addition of these data elements 
to the system will give FMS access to information which will allow the 
bureau to better understand the needs of the specific population that 
could benefit from electronic payment of tax refunds. In this way, FMS 
will be able to more effectively serve the public.
    The altered system of records report, as required by 5 U.S.C. 
552a(r) of the Privacy Act, has been submitted to the Committee on 
Government Reform of the House of Representatives, the Committee on 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Office of Management and 
Budget, pursuant to Appendix I to OMB Circular A-130, ``Federal Agency 
Responsibilities for Maintaining Records About Individuals,'' dated 
November 30, 2000. For the reasons described in the preamble, FMS 
proposes to alter its system of records Treasury/FMS .008--Mailing List 
Records, as set forth below.
Treasury/FMS .008

System name:
    Mailing List Records--Treasury/Financial Management Service.
* * * * *

Categories of individuals covered by the system:
    Description of change: At the end of the first sentence following 
the word ``providers'' add the phrase ``or acquired from other 
sources.'' The paragraph is revised to read: ``Low- to moderate-income 
individuals who are more likely to be unbanked or underbanked, who 
could potentially receive Federal tax refund payments, and whose names 
and addresses are included on mailing lists purchased from commercial 
providers or acquired from other sources.''

Categories of records in the system:
    Description of change: At the end of the sentence following the 
word ``address'' add the phrase ``as well as demographic data, such as 
income range, gender or other characteristics.'' The paragraph is 
revised to read:
    ``The records may contain identifying information, such as an 
individual's name(s) and address, as well as demographic data, such as 
income range, gender or other characteristics.''
* * * * *

     Dated: August 8, 2011.
 Veronica Marco,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Privacy, Transparency, and 
Records.
[FR Doc. 2011-20951 Filed 8-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-35-P