[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 149 (Monday, August 3, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46625-46627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16698]


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FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

AGENCY: Farm Credit Administration.

ACTION: Notice of a Modified System of Records.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, notice 
is hereby given that the Farm Credit Administration (FCA or Agency) is 
amending an existing system of records, FCA-9--Personnel Security 
Files--FCA. The Personnel Security Files--FCA system is used to records 
to determine suitability for employment and to issue a clearance. The 
Agency is updating the notice to reflect changes to the categories of 
individuals, to include more details, and make administrative updates, 
as well as non-substantive changes, to conform to the SORN template 
requirements prescribed in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
Circular No. A-108.

DATES: You may send written comments on or before September 2, 2020. 
FCA filed an amended System Report with Congress and the Office of 
Management and Budget on May 5, 2020. This notice will become effective 
without further publication on September 14, 2020 unless modified by a 
subsequent notice to incorporate comments received from the public.

ADDRESSES: We offer a variety of methods for you to submit your 
comments. For accuracy and efficiency reasons, commenters are 
encouraged to submit comments by email or through the FCA's website. As 
facsimiles (fax) are difficult for us to process and achieve compliance 
with section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, we are no longer accepting 
comments submitted by fax. Regardless of the method you use, please do 
not submit your comment multiple times via different methods. You may 
submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Email: Send us an email at [email protected].
     FCA website: http://www.fca.gov. Click inside the ``I want 
to. . .'' field, near the top of the page; select ``comment on a 
pending regulation'' from the dropdown menu; and click ``Go.'' This 
takes you to an electronic public comment form.
     Mail: David Grahn, Director, Office of Regulatory Policy, 
Farm Credit Administration, 1501 Farm Credit Drive, McLean, VA 22102-
5090.
    You may review copies of comments we receive at our office in 
McLean, Virginia, or from our website at http://www.fca.gov. Once you 
are in the

[[Page 46626]]

website, click inside the ``I want to. . .'' field, near the top of the 
page; select ``find comments on a pending regulation'' from the 
dropdown menu; and click ``Go.'' This will take you to the Comment 
Letters page, where you can select the SORN for which you would like to 
read public comments. The comments will be posted as submitted but, for 
technical reasons, items such as logos and special characters may be 
omitted. Identifying information that you provide, such as phone 
numbers and addresses, will be publicly available. However, we will 
attempt to remove email addresses to help reduce internet spam.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Autumn R. Agans, Privacy Act Officer, 
Farm Credit Administration, McLean, Virginia 22102-5090, (703) 883-
4020, TTY (703) 883-4019.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This publication satisfies the requirement 
of the Privacy Act of 1974 that agencies publish a system of records 
notice in the Federal Register when there is a revision, change, or 
addition to the system of records. The substantive changes and 
modifications to the currently published version of FCA-9--Personnel 
Security Files--FCA include:
    1. Identifying the records in the system as unclassified.
    2. Updating the system location to reflect the system's current 
location.
    3. Updating the system managers to reflect the system's current 
owner.
    4. Expanding and clarifying the categories of records and 
individuals to ensure they are consistent with the intended purpose.
    5. Expanding the record source categories to account for legacy 
records received from the Office of Personnel Management's National 
Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB) and the Department of Defense's 
(DoD) Defense Counterintelligence Security Agency (DCSA), which assumed 
investigation responsibilities from OPM in October 2019.
    6. Expanding and clarifying how records may be stored and 
retrieved.
    7. Revising the retention and disposal section to reflect updated 
guidance from the National Archives and Records Administration.
    8. Revising the safeguards section to reflect updated cybersecurity 
guidance and practices.
    Additionally, non-substantive changes have been made to the notice 
to align with the latest guidance from OMB.
    The amended system of records is: FCA-9--Personnel Security Files--
FCA. As required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(r) of the Privacy Act, as amended, 
FCA sent notice of this proposed system of records to the Office of 
Management and Budget, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate. The notice is published in its 
entirety below.

System Name and Number:
    FCA-9--Personnel Security Files--FCA.

Security Classification:
    Unclassified.

System Location:
    Office of Agency Services, Farm Credit Administration, 1501 Farm 
Credit Drive, McLean, VA 22102-5090.

System Manager:
    Personnel Security Officer, Office of Agency Services, Farm Credit 
Administration, 1501 Farm Credit Drive, McLean, VA 22102-5090.

Authority for Maintenance of the System:
    12 U.S.C. 2243, 2252; Executive orders 10577, 12968, 13467, 13488, 
and 13764.

Purposes of the System:
    We use information in this system of records to determine 
suitability for employment and to issue a clearance.

Categories of Individuals Covered by the System:
    Current and former FCA employees, individuals who have been 
extended and accepted formal offers of employment by the Agency, 
interns, and contractor personnel.

Categories of Records in the System:
    This system contains case files compiled during background 
investigations of employees and contractor personnel in public trust or 
sensitive positions. It may include: (a) Security forms (e.g., SF 85P, 
Questionnaire for Public Trust Positions); (b) investigative reports 
that may include a credit check, police records, and interviews with 
neighbors, former supervisors, and coworkers; (c) a determination of 
suitability for employment or for a security clearance by FCA's 
security officer; and (d) issuance of clearance statement. Certain 
records included in a case file are considered copies and are primarily 
owned by DCSA and are accounted for in DoD's ``Personnel Vetting 
Records System,'' DUSDI 02-DoD.

Record Source Categories:
    Information in this system of records comes from: (a) The 
individual to whom the record applies; (b) DoD and legacy OPM NBIB 
investigative files maintained by the DCSA; (c) employment information 
maintained by the FCA; and (d) external and internal investigative 
inquiries by Federal law enforcement agencies.

Routine Uses of Records Maintained in the System, Including Categories 
of Users and Purposes of Such Uses:
    See the ``General Statement of Routine Uses'' (64 FR 8175). 
Disclosure to consumer reporting agencies:
    None.

Policies and Practices for Storage of Records:
    Records are maintained in files folders and electronically in a 
computerized database.

Policies and Practices for Retrieval of Records:
    Records are retrieved by name, Social Security number, or some 
combination thereof.

Policies and Procedures for Retention and Disposal of Records:
    Records are retained in accordance with the National Archives and 
Records Administration's General Records Schedule requirements, and 
with the FCA Comprehensive Records Schedule.

Administrative, Technical, and Physical Safeguards:
    FCA implements multiple layers of security to ensure access to 
records is limited to those with a need-to-know in support of their 
official duties. Records are physically safeguarded in a secured 
environment using locked file rooms, file cabinets, or locked offices 
and other physical safeguards. Computerized records are safeguarded 
through use of user roles, passwords, firewalls, encryption, and other 
information technology security measures. Only the Personnel Security 
Officer and Alternate Personnel Security Officer have access to the 
records.

Record Access Procedures:
    To obtain a record, contact: Privacy Act Officer, Farm Credit 
Administration, 1501 Farm Credit Drive, McLean, VA 22102-5090, as 
provided in 12 CFR part 603.

Contesting Record Procedures:
    Direct requests for amendments to a record to: Privacy Act Officer, 
Farm Credit Administration, 1501 Farm Credit Drive, McLean, VA 22102-
5090, as provided in 12 CFR part 603.

Notification Procedure:
    Address inquiries about this system of records to: Privacy Act 
Officer, Farm

[[Page 46627]]

Credit Administration, McLean, VA 22102-5090.

Exemptions Promulgated for the System:
    Information in this system of records about a confidential source's 
identity is subject to a specific exemption, 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(5), to 
ensure accurate information on employment suitability.

History:
    Federal Register Vol. 64, No. 100/Tuesday, May 25, 1999 page 21875
    Vol. 70, No. 183/Thursday, September 22, 2005, page 55621

    Dated: July 28, 2020.
Dale Aultman,
Secretary, Farm Credit Administration Board.
[FR Doc. 2020-16698 Filed 7-31-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6705-01-P