[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 180 (Thursday, September 17, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55831-55833]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23135]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[Docket No. 150806684-5684-01]


Privacy Act of 1974, Altered System of Records

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

ACTION: Notice of amendment, Privacy Act System of Records, COMMERCE/
CENSUS-9, Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics System.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5 
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 this notice to amend the system of records under, COMMERCE/
CENSUS-9, Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics System, to update 
the categories of records, the authorities for maintenance of the 
system, the routine uses, the system manager(s) and

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address, and the policies and practices for storing, retaining, 
disposing, and safeguarding of the records, and to add three new 
sections to the system addressing the notification procedure, record 
access procedures, and contesting procedures. The purpose of 
Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics system of records is to enable 
the Census Bureau to undertake studies intended to improve the quality 
of its core demographic and economic censuses and surveys and to 
conduct policy-relevant research. By using administrative record data 
from other agencies, the Census Bureau will be able to improve the 
quality and usefulness of its data, while reducing costs and respondent 
burden. We invite public comment on the system amendment announced in 
this publication.

DATES: To be considered, written comments on the proposed amendments 
must be submitted on or before October 19, 2015. Unless comments are 
received, 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: Byron Crenshaw, Privacy 
Compliance Branch, Room--8H021, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC 
20233-3700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chief, Privacy Compliance Branch, 
Room--8H021, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC 20233-3700.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Commerce proposes to amend 
the system of records under, COMMERCE/CENSUS-9, Longitudinal Employer-
Household Dynamics System. The purpose of Longitudinal Employer-
Household Dynamics system of records is to enable the Census Bureau to 
undertake studies intended to improve the quality of its core 
demographic and economic censuses and surveys and to conduct policy-
relevant research. By using administrative record data from other 
agencies, the Census Bureau will be able to improve the quality and 
usefulness of its data, while reducing costs and respondent burden.
    This amendment makes the following seven changes to the information 
provided under the system. The first change updates the categories of 
records in the system to provide additional information and details 
surrounding the records including the use of administrative records. 
The second change updates the authorities for maintenance of the system 
by specifying which sections of Title 13 of the United States Code 
(U.S.C.) applies to this system of records. The third change updates 
the routine uses of records maintained by the system of records to 
indicate that the records in this system of records are solely for 
statistically purposes. The fourth change clarifies the storage of 
records including those obtained from source datasets. The fifth change 
updates the system manager and address to reflect that the system of 
records is being maintained in another program area. The sixth change 
updates the policies and practices for storing, retaining, disposing, 
and safeguarding of the records. The last change adds three new 
sections that address the notification procedure, record access 
procedures, and contesting procedures, to this system; these section 
were not included in the last publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register on May 10, 2002 (67 FR 31766). The entire resulting system of 
records, as amended, appears below.
COMMERCE/CENSUS-9
SYSTEM NAME:
    COMMERCE/CENSUS-9, Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics System.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
    None.

SYSTEM LOCATION:
    Bowie Computer Center, U.S. Census Bureau, 17101 Melford Boulevard, 
Bowie, MD 20715.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
    The population of the United States. In order to approximate 
coverage of the entire U.S. population, the U.S. Census Bureau (Census 
Bureau) will combine administrative record files from the Internal 
Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, selected Census 
Bureau economic and demographic censuses and surveys, and comparable 
data from selected state agencies.

CATAGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
    Records in this system of records consist of working statistical 
files (i.e., those files being analyzed to produce survey results), 
survey data files (i.e., those files containing answers directly from 
the respondent), and/or data contact files (i.e., those files used for 
contacting respondents). Some records in this system of records may be 
obtained from datasets maintained by the COMMERCE/CENSUS-8, Statistical 
Administrative Records System where direct identifiers have been 
replaced with a unique nonidentifying code (called the Protected 
Identification Key (PIK)) prior to delivery to this system of records, 
and, therefore are not on the working statistical files. These 
categories of records are maintained on unique data sets that are 
extracted or combined on an as needed basis using the unique non-
identifying codes but with the original identifiers removed. 
Additionally, some records from this system of records may be obtained 
from the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, 
selected Census Bureau economic and demographic censuses and surveys, 
and comparable data from selected state agencies. Records in this 
system of records may contain information such as: Demographic 
Information--e.g., gender, race, ethnicity, education, marital status, 
tribal affiliation, veterans status; Geographic Information--e.g., 
address; Economic Information--e.g., income, job information, total 
assets; Business information--e.g., business name, revenues, number of 
employees, and industry codes in support of economic statistical 
products; Respondent contact information--e.g., name, address, 
telephone number, age, and sex in support of survey and census data 
collection efforts; and Processing Information--e.g., processing codes 
and quality indicators. See the COMMERCE/CENSUS-8, Statistical 
Administrative Records System SORN for more information.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
    13 U.S.C. 6 and 9.

PURPOSES:
    The purpose of Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics system of 
records is to enable the Census Bureau to undertake studies intended to 
improve the quality of its core demographic and economic censuses and 
surveys and to conduct policy-relevant research. By using 
administrative record data from other agencies, the Census Bureau will 
be able to improve the quality and usefulness of its data, while 
reducing costs and respondent burden.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES 
OF USERS AND PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
    A record in this system of records may be disclosed to appropriate 
agencies, entities and persons when: (1) It is suspected or determined 
that the security or confidentiality of information in the system of 
records has been compromised; (2) 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 whether

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systems or programs (whether maintained by the Department or another 
agency or entity) that rely upon the compromised information; and (3) 
the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is 
reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Department's 
efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed compromise and to 
prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

DISCLOSURE TO CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES:
    None.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING, 
AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
STORAGE:
    Records will be stored in a secure computerized system and on 
magnetic tape; output data will be either electronic or paper copy. 
Paper copies or magnetic media will be stored in a secure area within a 
locked drawer or cabinet. Source data sets containing personal 
identifiers will be maintained in a secure restricted-access 
environment.

RETRIEVABILITY:
    Records are maintained within a secure, restricted access 
environment where direct identifiers have been deleted and replaced by 
unique serial identification numbers (PIK). The records can be 
retrieved by the PIK by only a limited number of persons sworn to 
uphold the confidentiality of Census Bureau data and who have a need to 
know. The purpose of these identifiers is not to facilitate retrieval 
of information concerning specific individuals, but only to develop 
matched data sets for subsequent statistical extracts.

SAFEGUARDS:
    The Census Bureau is committed to respecting respondent privacy and 
protecting 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 
census and surveys. (1) The Census Bureau unauthorized browsing policy 
protects respondent information from casual or inappropriate use by any 
person with access to data protected by Title 13 of the United States 
Code (U.S.C.). (2) All employees permitted to access the system are 
subject to the restrictions, penalties, and prohibitions of 13 U.S.C. 9 
and 214 as modified by 18 U.S.C. 3551, et seq., the Privacy Act of 1974 
(5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(4)); 26 U.S.C. 7213, 7213A, and 7431; and 42 U.S.C. 
1306, as well as any additional restrictions imposed by statutory 
authority of a sponsor. (3) All 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; and those who have access to Federal Tax Information data will 
be regularly advised of regulations issued pursuant to Title 26 U.S.C. 
governing the confidentiality of the data, and will be required to 
complete an annual Title 26 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 copies that contain sensitive information are 
stored in secure facilities in a locked drawer or file cabinet behind a 
locked door. (7) Additional data files containing direct identifiers 
will be maintained solely for the purpose of data collection 
activities, such as respondent contact and preloading an instrument for 
a continued interview, and will not be transferred to, or maintained 
on, working statistical files. (8) While the original data are housed 
at the Census Bureau they are afforded the same protections as data 
held confidential under 13 U.S.C. 9.

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:
    Records are retained in accordance with the General Records 
Schedule and Census Bureau's records control schedules that are 
approved by the National Archives and Records Administration. Records 
are retained in accordance with agreements developed with sponsoring 
agencies or source entity. Federal tax information administrative 
record data will be retained and disposed of in accordance with 
Publication 1075, Tax Information Security Guidelines for Federal, 
State, and Local Agencies and Entities. The Census Bureau issues an 
Annual Safeguard Activity Report that includes information on the 
retention and disposal of federal administrative record source data. 
Due to IRS regulation, Title 26 data cannot be transferred to the 
National Archive and Records Administration (NARA). Permanent data will 
be archived at the Census Bureau. Generally, records are retained for 
less than 10 years, unless a longer period required by the survey 
sponsor is necessary for statistical purposes or for permanent archival 
retention.

SYSTEM MANGER(S) AND ADDRESS:
    Associate Director for Research and Methodology, U.S. Census 
Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233.
    Custodian:
    Director, Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics Program, Center 
for Economic Studies, Research and Methodology Directorate, U.S. Census 
Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
    None.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
    None.

CONTESTNG RECORD PROCEDURES:
    None.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
    The Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, 
selected Census Bureau economic and demographic censuses and surveys, 
and comparable data from selected State Employment Security Agencies.

EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED FOR THE SYSTEM:
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552 a(k)(4), this system of records is 
exempted from the notification, access, and contest requirements of the 
agency procedures (under 5 U.S.C. Section 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 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 or 
establishment. 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 this Federal Register notice.

    Dated: September 9, 2015.
Michael J. Toland,
Department of Commerce, Acting Freedom of Information/Privacy Act 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-23135 Filed 9-16-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P