[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 189 (Wednesday, September 30, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58607-58608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24791]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

32 CFR Part 311

[Docket ID: DoD-2015-OS-0077]


Privacy Act of 1974; Implementation

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DoD.

ACTION: Direct final rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) is exempting 
those records contained in DPFPA 07, entitled ``Counterintelligence 
Management Information System (CIMIS),'' pertaining to investigatory 
material compiled for counterintelligence and law enforcement purposes 
(under (k)(2) of the Act), other than material within the scope of 
subsection (j)(2) of the Privacy Act to enable the protection of 
identities of confidential sources who might not otherwise come forward 
and who furnished information under an express promise that the 
sources' identity would be held in confidence. The exemption will allow 
DoD to provide protection against notification of investigatory 
material including certain reciprocal investigations which might alert 
a subject to the fact that an investigation of that individual is 
taking place, and the disclosure of which would weaken the on-going 
investigation, reveal investigatory techniques, and place confidential 
informants in jeopardy who furnished information under an express 
promise that the sources' identity would be held in confidence. 
Further, requiring OSD to grant access to records and amend these 
records would unfairly impede the investigation of allegations of 
unlawful activities. To require OSD to confirm or deny the existence of 
a record pertaining to a requesting individual may in itself provide an 
answer to that individual relating to an on-going investigation. The 
investigation of possible unlawful activities would be jeopardized by 
agency rules requiring verification of record, disclosure of the record 
to the subject, and record amendment procedures.

DATES: The rule will be effective on December 9, 2015 unless adverse 
comments are received by November 30, 2015. If adverse comment is 
received, the Department of Defense will publish a timely withdrawal of 
the rule in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number and 
title, by any of the following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Department of Defense, Office of the Deputy Chief 
Management Officer, Directorate of Oversight and Compliance, Regulatory 
and Audit Matters Office, 9010 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-
9010.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number for this Federal Register document. The general 
policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is 
to make these submissions available for public viewing on the Internet 
at http://www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, 
including any personal identifiers or contact information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cindy Allard at (571) 372-0461.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This direct final rule makes changes to the 
Office of the Secretary Privacy Program rules. These changes will allow 
the Department to add an exemption rule to the Office of the Secretary 
of Defense Privacy Program rules that will exempt applicable Department 
records and/or material from certain portions of the Privacy Act.
    This rule is being published as a direct final rule as the 
Department of Defense does not expect to receive any adverse comments, 
and so a proposed rule is unnecessary.

Direct Final Rule and Significant Adverse Comments

    DoD has determined this rulemaking meets the criteria for a direct 
final rule because it involves non-substantive changes dealing with 
DoD's management of its Privacy Programs. DoD expects no opposition to 
the changes and no significant adverse comments. However, if DoD 
receives a significant adverse comment, the Department will withdraw 
this direct final rule by publishing a notice in the Federal Register. 
A significant adverse comment is one that explains: (1) Why the direct 
final rule is inappropriate, including challenges to the rule's 
underlying premise or approach; or (2) why the direct final rule will 
be ineffective or unacceptable without a change. In determining whether 
a comment necessitates withdrawal of this direct final rule, DoD will 
consider whether it warrants a substantive response in a notice and 
comment process.

[[Page 58608]]

Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review'' and Executive 
Order 13563, ``Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review''

    It has been determined that Privacy Act rules for the Department of 
Defense are not significant rules. This rule does not (1) Have an 
annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely 
affect in a material way the economy; a sector of the economy; 
productivity; competition; jobs; the environment; public health or 
safety; or State, local, or tribal governments or communities; (2) 
Create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action 
taken or planned by another Agency; (3) Materially alter the budgetary 
impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs, or the 
rights and obligations of recipients thereof; or (4) Raise novel legal 
or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the President's 
priorities, or the principles set forth in these Executive orders.

Public Law 96-354, ``Regulatory Flexibility Act'' (5 U.S.C. Chapter 6)

    It has been determined that this Privacy Act rule for the 
Department of Defense does not have significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities because it is concerned only with 
the administration of Privacy Act systems of records within the 
Department of Defense. A Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is not 
required.

Public Law 96-511, ``Paperwork Reduction Act'' (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35)

    It has been determined that this Privacy Act rule for the 
Department of Defense imposes no information requirements beyond the 
Department of Defense and that the information collected within the 
Department of Defense is necessary and consistent with 5 U.S.C. 552a, 
known as the Privacy Act of 1974.

Section 202, Public Law 104-4, ``Unfunded Mandates Reform Act''

    It has been determined that this Privacy Act rule for the 
Department of Defense does not involve a Federal mandate that may 
result in the expenditure by State, local and tribal governments, in 
the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million or more and 
that this rulemaking will not significantly or uniquely affect small 
governments.

Executive Order 13132, ``Federalism''

    It has been determined that this Privacy Act rule for the 
Department of Defense does not have federalism implications. This rule 
does not have substantial direct effects on the States, on the 
relationship between the National Government and the States, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of 
government. Therefore, no Federalism assessment is required.

List of Subjects in 32 CFR Part 311

    Privacy.

    Accordingly, 32 CFR part 311 is amended to read as follows:

PART 311--OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AND JOINT STAFF 
PRIVACY PROGRAM

0
1. The authority citation for 32 CFR part 311 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 522a.


0
2. Section 311.8 is amended by adding paragraph (c)(25) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  311.8  Procedures for exemptions.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (25) System identifier and name: DPFPA 07, Counterintelligence 
Management Information System (CIMIS).
    (i) Exemptions: Portions of this system that fall within 5 U.S.C. 
552a (k)(2) are exempt from the following provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552a, 
section (c)(3); (d); (e)(1); (e)(4) (G) through (I); and (f) of the 
Act, as applicable.
    (ii) Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(2).
    (iii) Reasons:
    (A) From subsections (c)(3) because making available to a record 
subject the accounting of disclosure from records concerning him or her 
would specifically reveal any investigative interest in the individual. 
Revealing this information could reasonably be expected to compromise 
ongoing efforts to investigate a known or suspected offender by 
notifying the record subject that he or she is under investigation. 
This information could also permit the record subject to take measures 
to impede the investigation, e.g., destroy evidence, intimidate 
potential witnesses, or flee the area to avoid or impede the 
investigation.
    (B) From subsection (d) because these provisions concern individual 
access to and amendment of certain records contained in this system, 
including counterintelligence, law enforcement, and investigatory 
records. Compliance with these provisions could alert the subject of an 
investigation of the fact and nature of the investigation, and/or the 
investigative interest of agencies; compromise sensitive information 
related to national security; interfere with the overall 
counterintelligence and investigative process by leading to the 
destruction of evidence, improper influencing of witnesses, fabrication 
of testimony, and/or flight of the subject; could identify a 
confidential source or disclose information which would constitute an 
unwarranted invasion of another's personal privacy; reveal a sensitive 
investigation or constitute a potential danger to the health or safety 
of law enforcement personnel, confidential informants, and witnesses. 
Amendment of these records would interfere with ongoing 
counterintelligence investigations and analysis activities and impose 
an excessive administrative burden by requiring investigations, 
analyses, and reports to be continuously reinvestigated and revised.
    (C) From subsection (e)(1) because it is not always possible to 
determine what information is relevant and necessary at an early stage 
in a given investigation. Also, because Pentagon Force Protection 
Agency and other agencies may not always know what information about a 
known or suspected offender may be relevant to for the purpose of 
conducting an operational response.
    (D) From subsections (e)(4)(G) through (I) (Agency Requirements) 
because portions of this system are exempt from the access and 
amendment provisions of subsection (d).
    (E) From subsection (f) because requiring the Agency to grant 
access to records and establishing agency rules for amendment of 
records would compromise the existence of any criminal, civil, or 
administrative enforcement activity. To require the confirmation or 
denial of the existence of a record pertaining to a requesting 
individual may in itself provide an answer to that individual relating 
to the existence of an on-going investigation.
    Counterintelligence investigations would be jeopardized by agency 
rules requiring verification of the record, disclosure of the record to 
the subject, and record amendment procedures.

    Dated: July 31, 2015.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2015-24791 Filed 9-29-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P