[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 249 (Friday, December 27, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79026-79027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-31105]


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POSTAL SERVICE


Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

AGENCY: Postal Service\TM\.

ACTION: Notice of modification to existing systems of records.

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SUMMARY: The United States Postal Service[supreg] (Postal Service) is 
proposing to modify a General Privacy Act System of Records. These 
updates will account for an additional data element that the Postal 
Service uses to identify applicants, as well as how employee and 
applicant information is retrieved after a complaint or inquiry is 
received by the Postal Service from an employee or applicant who is 
deaf or hard of hearing.

DATES: These revisions will become effective without further notice on 
January 27, 2014 unless comments received on or before that date result 
in a contrary determination.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed or delivered to the Records Office, 
United States Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Room 9431, 
Washington, DC 20260-1101. Copies of all written comments will be 
available at this address for public inspection and photocopying 
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew J. Connolly, Chief Privacy 
Officer, Privacy and Records Office, 202-268-8582.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is in accordance with the 
Privacy Act requirement that agencies publish their amended systems of 
records in the Federal Register when there is a revision, change, or 
addition. The Postal Service\TM\ has reviewed this system of records 
and has determined that this General Privacy Act System of Records 
should be revised to modify categories of records in the system and 
retrievability.

I. Background

    The Postal Service has entered into a settlement to resolve all 
claims in a national employment discrimination class action lawsuit 
regarding deaf or hard of hearing employees and applicants. Among other 
things, the settlement requires the Postal Service to competitively 
select and enter into a contract with an independent ombudsperson. The 
ombudsperson will serve for a period of three (3) years, beginning 
October 29, 2013. In cooperation with the Postal Service Headquarters 
Disability Program Manager, the ombudsperson will monitor the Postal 
Service's compliance with the injunctive relief provisions of the 
settlement through the establishment of a call center and designed 
email address. Deaf and hard of hearing Postal Service employees will

[[Page 79027]]

be advised that they can register a comment or concern about 
communication accommodation issues via a designated email address and/
or through a toll-free number or other device provided by the call 
center. Deaf and hard of hearing Postal Service employees will further 
be advised that use of the email address and toll-free number or device 
to register a comment or concern does not affect their rights to file a 
grievance or complaint in any other process, nor does it serve as 
initial contact for any other process such as a grievance or EEO pre-
complaint processing pursuant to 29 CFR 1614.105. The Disability 
Program Manager will provide qualifying deaf and hard of hearing 
employees and applicants with information regarding how to contact the 
ombudsperson. Such individuals may register a comment or concern about 
communication and accommodation issues they have experienced in the 
workplace or during their employment application process with the 
Postal Service. To be able to identify and address specific comments 
and/or concerns, individuals will be asked to supply information 
specific to them, such as their name, residential addresses, and 
identification numbers such as their Employee Identification Number 
(EIN) or Applicant Identification Number (AIN). If necessary, the 
Ombudsperson will investigate the comments and/or concerns in order to 
make an independent assessment.

II. Rationale for Changes to USPS Privacy Act Systems of Records

    Currently, Postal Service system of records 100.900 Employee 
Inquiry, Complaint, and Investigative Records does not explicitly 
permit the Postal Service to collect AINs or retrieve records by AINs 
or EINs. The system of records 100.900 is being modified to account for 
the collection of applicant identification numbers from applicants who 
file an inquiry or complaint with the ombudsperson via the call center 
or designated email address. Additionally, to facilitate the record 
location process, retrievability is being updated to include Employee 
Identification Numbers and Applicant Identification Numbers.

III. Description of Changes to Systems of Records

    The Postal Service is modifying one system of records listed below. 
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(11), interested persons are invited to 
submit written data, views, or arguments on this proposal. A report of 
the proposed modifications has been sent to Congress and to the Office 
of Management and Budget for their evaluation. The Postal Service does 
not expect this amended notice to have any adverse effect on individual 
privacy rights. The affected systems are as follows:
USPS 100.900

SYSTEM NAME:
    Employee Inquiry, Complaint, and Investigative Record.
    Accordingly, for the reasons stated, the Postal Service proposes 
changes in the existing system of records as follows:
USPS 100.900

SYSTEM NAME:
    Employee Inquiry, Complaint, and Investigative Record

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM
* * * * *
    [CHANGE TO READ]
    2. Non-employee information: Name, gender, Applicant Identification 
Number, and contact information.
* * * * *

RETREIVABILITY
    [CHANGE TO READ]
    By employee and non-employee name, Employee Identification Number, 
Applicant Identification Number, subject category, facility, finance 
number, district, area, nationally, or case number.
* * * * *

Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Legal Policy & Legislative Advice.
[FR Doc. 2013-31105 Filed 12-26-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P