[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 17 (Thursday, January 26, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4000-4002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-1592]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[Docket No. 111115680-1675-01]
RIN 0605-XA39


 Privacy Act of 1974; Altered System of Records

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Amendment, Privacy Act System of Records: COMMERCE/
CENSUS-6, Population Census Records for 1910 and All Subsequent 
Decennial Censuses.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, Title 
5 United States Code (U.S.C.) 552a(e)(4) and (11); and Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-130, Appendix I, ``Federal 
Agency Responsibilities for Maintaining Records About Individuals,'' 
the Department of Commerce is issuing notice of intent to amend the 
system of

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records under COMMERCE/CENSUS-6, Population Census Records for 1910 and 
All Subsequent Decennial Censuses. This amendment would update certain 
provisions concerning the safeguards for records in the system, update 
system manager information, and address and minor administrative 
updates. Accordingly, the COMMERCE/CENSUS-6, Population Census Records 
for 1910 and All Subsequent Decennial Censuses notice published in the 
Federal Register on November 1, 2002 (67 FR 66610), is amended as 
below. We invite public comment on the system amendment announced in 
this publication.

DATES: Comment Date: To be considered, written comments on the proposed 
amended system must be submitted on or before February 27, 2012.
    Effective Date: Unless comments dictate otherwise, the amended 
system of records will become effective as proposed on the date of 
publication of a subsequent notice in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Please address comments to: Chief Privacy Officer, Room 
8H115, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC 20233-3700.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Decennial Census of Population and 
Housing is one of the few Federal activities for which authority rests 
in the Constitution (Article 1, Section 2). Decennial census data 
collection processes touch the lives of every person in the United 
States. Decennial census data products provide the basis for 
apportioning among the states the seats in the U.S. House of 
Representatives, for developing the districts that members of Congress, 
state legislators, and other elected individuals represent, for the 
distribution of billions of dollars each year to governmental entities 
at all levels, and for untold numbers of governmental and business 
decisions. Decennial census records may also be used by respondents, 
their heirs, or legal representatives for proof of age, citizenship, 
proof of relationship, and limited use for genealogical purposes. The 
first change updates the safeguards to comprehensively cover the 
safeguards provided at the U.S. Census Bureau. The second change 
updates the system manager and corresponding address. Additionally, 
this amendment provides minor administrative updates to record source 
categories and exemptions claimed for the system. The entire resulting 
system of records notice, as amended, appears below.

System Name:
    COMMERCE/CENSUS-6, Population Census Records for 1910 and All 
Subsequent Decennial Censuses.

Security Classification:
    None.

System Location:
    U.S. Census Bureau, National Processing Center, 1201 East 10th 
Street, Jeffersonville, IN 47132.

Categories of Individuals Covered by the System:
    All persons ever counted during decennial censuses of population 
(1910 and all subsequent decennial censuses).

Categories of Records in the System:
    The categories of records contain records with direct identifiers 
(i.e., name) such as: household information: Name, address, 
relationship to head of household; demographic information: age (at 
time of census) or month/year (depending on census year), marital 
status, occupation and limited education data, race of household 
members, and other similar characteristics as reported in each census.

Authorities for Maintenance of the System:
    Title 13, U.S.C. 8.

Purpose(s):
    The purpose of this system is to search the 1910 and all subsequent 
decennial census records. Official census transcripts of the results 
are provided to the named person(s), their heirs, or legal 
representatives, upon receipt of a signed Application for Search of 
Census Records (Form BC-600). Census transcripts provide proof of age 
for Social Security or other retirement benefits. They can also be used 
in making passport applications, to prove relationship in settling 
estates, in limited genealogy research, or to satisfy other situations 
where a birth certificate or other legal documentation is needed but is 
not available. These records may be considered as statistical records 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552(a), as they were originally collected for 
statistical purposes, and are now maintained to perform searches at the 
request of subject individuals under procedures published in the 15 CFR 
part 50 and in accordance with 13 U.S.C. 8 to provide proof of age, 
citizenship, proof of relationship, and limited use for genealogical 
purposes.

Routine Uses of Records Maintained in the System, Including Categories 
of Users and the Purposes of Such Uses:
    None.

Disclosure to Consumer Reporting Agencies:
    None.

Policies and Practices for Storing, Retrieving, Accessing, Retaining, 
and Disposing of Records in the System:
Storage:
    Records are stored in a computerized environment, paper, microform, 
and electronic media. Paper copies, digital media, and electronic media 
that contain sensitive information are stored in secure facilities 
within a locked drawer or cabinet, or in secure storage facilities with 
24-hour monitoring. Records may also be stored in a highly restricted 
secure computerized environment with a customized level of 
authentication and access control.

Retrievability:
    A limited number of sworn U.S. Census Bureau staff will be 
permitted to retrieve individual records. Some census records are 
indexed by the SOUNDEX system--a numerical coding of the surname. The 
majority of census records are arranged on a geographic basis where the 
address must be known to determine which roll, microfilm, or electronic 
media that contains the name(s) for which a search is requested.

Safeguards:
    The U.S. Census Bureau is committed to respecting respondent 
privacy and confidentiality. Through the Data Stewardship Program, we 
have implemented management, operational, and technical controls and 
practices to ensure high-level data protection to respondents of our 
censuses and surveys: (1) An unauthorized browsing policy protects 
respondent information from casual or inappropriate use by any person 
with access to Title 13 protected data. (2) All employees permitted to 
access the system are subject to the restriction, penalties, and 
prohibitions of 13 U.S.C. 9 and 214 as modified by Title 18 U.S.C. 
3551, et seq., and the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(4)). (3) 
All U.S. Census Bureau employees and persons with special sworn status 
will be regularly advised of regulations issued pursuant to Title 13 
U.S.C. governing the confidentiality of the data, and will be required 
to complete an annual Title 13 awareness program. (4) All computer 
systems that maintain sensitive information are in compliance with the 
Federal Information Security Management Act, which includes auditing 
and controls over access to restricted data. (5) The use of unsecured 
telecommunications to transmit individually identifiable information is 
prohibited. (6) Paper

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copies that contain sensitive information are stored in secure 
facilities in a locked drawer or file cabinet behind a locked door. (7) 
Data sets released by the U.S. Census Bureau have been subjected to, 
and have successfully met, criteria established by an internal 
Disclosure Review Board to ensure no individually identifiable data are 
released. (8) Details from confidential records can only be released to 
the named persons, their heirs, or legal representatives upon 
submission of a notarized transcript application. (9) Individual 
records are confidential for 72 years (Title 44, U.S.C. Sec.  2108 
(b)).

Retention and Disposal:
    Records are retained indefinitely. Records are stored at the Census 
Bureau's National Processing Center in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and 
also are provided to the National Archives and Records Administration 
for permanent retention. Records stored at the National Archives and 
Records Administration are not made public for 72 years.

System Manager and Address:
    Associate Director for Field Operations, U.S. Census Bureau, 4600 
Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233-8000.

Notification Procedure:
    None.

Record Access Procedures:
    None.

Contesting Record Procedures:
    None.

Record Source Categories:
    Individuals covered by U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses.

Exemptions Claimed for System:
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(4) this system of records is exempt 
from the notification, access, and contest requirements of the agency 
procedures (under 5 U.S.C. 552a(c)(3), (d), (e)(1), (e)(4)(G), (H), and 
(I), and (f)). This exemption is applicable as the data are maintained 
by the U.S. Census Bureau and required by Title 13 to be used solely as 
statistical records and are not used in whole or in part in making any 
determination about an identifiable individual. This exemption is made 
in accordance with the Department's rules, which appear in 15 CFR part 
4, subpart B, and in accordance with agency rules published in the 
rules section of this Federal Register.

     Dated: January 18, 2012.
Jonathan R. Cantor,
Chief Privacy Officer, Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc. 2012-1592 Filed 1-25-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P