[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 112 (Monday, June 14, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31430-31431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12430]



[[Page 31430]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

32 CFR Part 310

RIN 0790-AL16
[Docket ID: DoD-2021-OS-0030]


Privacy Act of 1974; Implementation

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary of Defense, Department of Defense 
(DoD).

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: The DoD is amending this part to remove the exemption rules 
associated with five systems of records established for the Defense 
Manpower Data Center (DMDC) under the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. 
Elsewhere in today's issue of the Federal Register, the DoD is giving 
concurrent notice of the rescindment of these same five DMDC systems of 
records notices. The DoD is also amending this part to remove the 
exemption rules associated with eight Privacy Act system of records 
notices previously rescinded by the DoD. This rule is being published 
as a direct final rule as the Department does not expect to receive any 
adverse comments. If such comments are received, this direct final rule 
will be withdrawn and a proposed rule for comments will be published.

DATES: This rule is effective August 23, 2021 unless comments are 
received that would result in a contrary determination. Comments will 
be accepted on or before August 13, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number and 
title, by any of the following methods.
    * Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
    * Mail: The DoD cannot receive written comments at this time due to 
the COVID-19 pandemic. Comments should be sent electronically to the 
docket listed above.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number or Regulatory Information Number (RIN) 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 https://www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any 
personal identifiers or contact information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Lyn Kirby, [email protected]; 
(703) 571-0070.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Privacy Act permits Federal agencies to 
exempt eligible records in a system of records from certain provisions 
of the Act, including the provisions providing individuals with a right 
to request access to and amendment of their own records and accountings 
of disclosures of such records. If an agency intends to exempt a 
particular system of records, it must first go through the rulemaking 
process to provide public notice and an opportunity to comment on the 
proposed exemption. The Office of the Secretary is modifying 32 CFR 
part 310. The rules explain why exemptions are being claimed for the 
associated system of records. During the rulemaking process, the public 
are invited to provide comments, which DoD will consider before the 
issuance of a final rule implementing those exemptions. The final rules 
implementing exemptions for DoD systems of records are codified in 
DoD's privacy regulation at 32 CFR part 310.
    When a system of records is no longer required to be collected or 
maintained, the system of records may be discontinued. The notice for 
that system of record is rescinded in the Federal Register, and the 
records covered by the rescinded system of records are lawfully 
transferred or disposed of in accordance with requirements. At the time 
of rescindment or following rescindment of the system of records 
notice, Federal agencies will seek also to rescind the associated 
exemption rules within the Code of Federal Regulations.
    This rule is being published as a direct final rule as the 
Department does not expect to receive any significant adverse comments. 
If such comments are received, this direct final rule will be cancelled 
and a proposed rule for comments will be published. If no such comments 
are received, this direct final rule will become effective ten days 
after the comment period expires.
    For purposes of this rulemaking, a significant adverse comment is 
one that explains (1) why the 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 significant adverse comment necessitates 
withdrawal of this direct final rule, the Department will consider 
whether the comment raises an issue serious enough to warrant a 
substantive response had it been submitted in a standard notice-and-
comment process. A comment recommending an addition to the rule will 
not be considered significant and adverse unless the comment explains 
how this direct final rule would be ineffective without the addition.
    The DoD is modifying 32 CFR part 310 by rescinding the following 
regulation provisions in their entirety due to the underlying systems 
of records notices being rescinded (concurrently by associated public 
notice) or having been previously rescinded through public notice:
     32 CFR 310.16(a)(12), System identifier and name. N05520-
1, Personnel Security Eligibility Information System.
     32 CFR 310.20(b)(5), System identifier and name. LDIA 10-
0001, Equal Opportunity, Diversity and Alternate Dispute Resolution 
Records.
     32 CFR 310.29(b)(2), System identifier and name. 
JS006.CND, Department of Defense Counternarcotics C4I System.
     32 CFR 310.29(c)(1), System identifier and name. DGC 16, 
Political Appointment Vetting Files.
     32 CFR 310.29(c)(4), System identifier and name. DWHS P32, 
Standards of Conduct Inquiry File.
     32 CFR 310.29(c)(5), System identifier and name. DUSDP 02, 
Special Personnel Security Cases.
     32 CFR 310.29(c)(7), System identifier and name. DGC 20, 
DoD Presidential Appointee Vetting File.
     32 CFR 310.29(c)(15), System identifier and name. DCIFA 
01, CIFA Operational and Analytical Records.
     32 CFR 310.29(c)(17), System identifier and name. DMDC 11, 
Investigative Records Repository.
     32 CFR 310.29(c)(18), System identifier and name, DMDC 12 
DoD, Joint Personnel Adjudication System (JPAS).
     32 CFR 310.29(c)(20), System identifier and name, DMDC 13 
DoD, Defense Clearance and Investigations Index (referenced in today's 
concurrent notice as DMDC 13 DoD, Defense Central Index of 
Invstigations (DCII)).
     32 CFR 310.29(c)(23), System identifier and name. DMDC 17 
DoD, Continuous Evaluation Records for Personnel Security.
     32 CFR 310.29(c)(27), System identifier and name. DMDC 24 
DoD, Defense Information System for Security (DISS).

Regulatory Analysis

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

    Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess all 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is

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necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits 
(including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety 
effects, distribute impacts, and equity). Executive Order 13563 
emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, of 
reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. It 
has been determined that this rule is not a significant regulatory 
action.

Congressional Review Act

    This rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

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

    It has been certified that Privacy Act rules for the DoD do not 
have significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities because they are concerned only with the administration of 
Privacy Act systems of records within the DoD.

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

    It has been determined that this rule does not impose additional 
information collection requirements on the public under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

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

    It has been determined that this rule 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 it will not significantly or uniquely affect 
small governments.

Executive Order 13132, ``Federalism''

    It has been determined that this rule 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.

List of Subjects in 32 CFR Part 310

    Privacy.

    Accordingly, 32 CFR part 310 is amended as follows:

PART 310--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for part 310 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552a.


Sec.  310.16   [Amended]

0
2. Amend Sec.  310.16 by removing and reserving paragraph (a)(12).


Sec.  310.20   [Amended]

0
3. Amend Sec.  310.20 by removing and reserving paragraph (b)(5).


Sec.  310.29  [Amended]

0
4. Amend Sec.  310.29 by removing and reserving paragraphs (b)(2) and 
(c)(1), (4), (5), (7), (15), (17), (18), (20), (23), and (27).

    Dated: June 9, 2021.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2021-12430 Filed 6-11-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P