[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71294-71297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27113]


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POSTAL SERVICE


Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

AGENCY: U.S. Postal Service[supreg].

ACTION: Notice of a modified system of records.

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SUMMARY: The United States Postal Service[supreg] (USPS[supreg]) is 
proposing to revise a Customer Privacy Act Systems of Records (SOR). 
These modifications are being made to reflect enhanced functionality 
within an integrated technology system that supports USPS Identity 
Verification Services (IVS) and will seek to enhance In-Person Identity 
Proofing Capabilities to voluntarily align with National Institute of 
Standards and Technology (NIST) 800.63A Digital Identity standards. 
This enhanced functionality will be used to meet internal USPS needs 
and the requirements of other Federal government agencies. 
Modifications to this SOR are also being proposed to support a separate 
initiative that enhances the In-Person enrollment process for the 
Informed Delivery[supreg] feature, with an objective to improve the 
customer experience.

DATES: These revisions will become effective without further notice on 
January 14, 2022, unless, in response to comments received on or before 
that date result in a contrary determination.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted via email to the Privacy and 
Records Management Office, United States Postal Service Headquarters 
([email protected]). To facilitate public inspection, arrangements to 
view copies of any written comments received will be made upon request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janine Castorina, Chief Privacy and 
Records Management Officer, Privacy and Records Management Office, 202-
268-3069 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is in accordance with the 
Privacy Act requirement that agencies publish their systems of records 
in the Federal Register when there is a revision, change, or addition, 
or when the agency establishes a new system of records. The Postal 
Service has determined that Customer Privacy Act System of Records USPS 
910.000 Identity and Document Verification Services, should be revised 
to support efforts to enhance identity proofing capabilities and 
voluntarily align with new digital identity standards set forth by 
NIST. Additional proposed modifications support enhancements to the In-
Person enrollment process for the Informed Delivery feature.

I. Background

    The Postal Service utilizes a modern integrated Identity 
Verification System (IVS) to optimize, manage, and develop the Postal 
Service capabilities to support Identity Proofing for USPS, and other 
Federal Agencies under agreement with USPS, to provide identity 
verification services. Services provided by USPS may include biometric 
fingerprint collection, remote proofing, In-Person proofing webservices 
and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that enable the support 
and fulfillment of Federal agency requirements. USPS SOR 910.000, 
Identity and Document Verification, is being modified to reflect 
enhanced functionality within this integrated Identity Verification 
Services (IVS) system.
    The Postal Service is seeking to enhance USPS's identity proofing 
capabilities. The objectives of this initiative will advance the 
mission of the Postal Service by:
     Providing additional Identity proofing capabilities to 
meet requirements set forth in agreements with participating Federal 
Agencies, as authorized by 39 U.S.C. 411
     Improve the effectiveness and security of USPS internal 
identity proofing capabilities and processes
    The Postal Service is voluntarily aligning its capabilities and 
processes with selected guidelines and standards for In-Person identity 
proofing from the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
(NIST). USPS offers an In-Person Proofing (IPP) service to support 
individuals that are not able to verify their identity remotely online. 
In-Person proofing capabilities provide different levels of certainty 
for which a user's identity claim can be assessed at an

[[Page 71295]]

accepted level of trust to determine eligibility for access to 
applications and uses. By enhancing identity proofing capabilities and 
processes, the Postal Service is positioning itself to better support 
the needs of other Federal Agencies that require identity proofing 
services. The Postal Service is uniquely positioned to offer In-Person 
proofing services at selected Retail Post Offices, across its large 
Retail Network, with the added values of accessibility and convenience.
    Currently, the IPP Basic capability is used to support the Informed 
Delivery feature at USPS. However, the IPP program continues to mature 
to support potential Federal use cases or requirements, and advanced 
capabilities. The future vision and roadmap for the USPS IPP program 
will include the ability to support advanced identity proofing 
standards for sensitive or risk averse transactions that would require 
real-world evidence to ensure that the user is who they claim to be. 
The new and enhanced In Person proofing capability will voluntarily 
align with NIST 800.63A guidelines for Identity Proofing at the 
Identity Assurance Level (IAL), Level 2 (IAL-2). In this context, the 
Identity Proofing process utilizes attribute information provided by 
the individual applicant, such as name, address of residence, phone 
number and email address, that is subsequently validated using various 
forms of identity evidence and documentation. The goal of identity 
verification is to confirm and establish a linkage between the claimed 
identity and the real-life existence of the subject presenting the 
evidence, thereby ensuring that the individual user is who they claim 
to be and minimizing the risk of fraud or misuse.
    More detailed information that pertains to Identity Proofing 
Requirements may be obtained from NIST Special Publication 800-63, 
Digital Identity Guidelines available for viewing at https://www.nist.gov/identity-access-management/nist-special-publication-800-63-digital-identity-guidelines. As described by NIST, ``The Special 
Publication (SP) 800-63 document suite provides technical requirements 
for federal agencies implementing digital identity services in a four-
volume set: SP 800-63-3 Digital Identity Guidelines, SP 800-63A 
Enrollment and Identity Proofing, SP 800-63B Authentication and 
Lifecycle Management, and SP 800-63C Federation and Assertions. The 
publication provides security and privacy controls for digital identity 
management for designated levels of assurance, including identity 
proofing, authentication and use of authenticators, and identity 
federation. SP 800-63-3 establishes risk-based processes for the 
assessment of risks for identity management activities and selection of 
appropriate assurance levels and controls. Organizations have the 
flexibility to choose the appropriate assurance level to meet their 
specific needs.''
    As indicated above, by voluntarily aligning with the NIST Digital 
Identity Guidelines for Enrollment and Identity Proofing as outlined in 
NIST SP-800.63A, the Postal Service can attain certification at the 
IAL-2 Level, that will enhance the ability to meet the future needs of 
other Federal Agencies as authorized by 39 U.S.C. 411, via interagency 
agreements. Obtaining IAL-2 Level certification will enhance In-Person 
Proofing capabilities available through the Postal Service and the 
ability to support other Federal Agency initiatives and partnerships 
that require IAL-2 level Identity Proofing services.
    The Postal Service is also proposing to enhance the In-Person 
enrollment process for the Informed Delivery feature by streamlining 
the process steps and combining aspects for determining eligibility and 
identity proofing. The customer will have the option to voluntarily 
have the barcode on the back of their government issued IDs scanned to 
capture name and address information that will be used to confirm 
eligibility for the Informed Delivery feature, and to prefill that 
information during the enrollment process. The objective of this 
Informed Delivery initiative is to improve efficiency by combining 
similar information collected across the In-Person enrollment process 
when customers sign-up for the Informed Delivery feature.

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

    The Postal Service is proposing to modify USPS SOR 910.000 in 
support of enhancing In-Person Proofing, Identity Proofing Capabilities 
to support both USPS and external Federal Agencies by voluntarily 
aligning with NIST 800.63 standards.
    The Postal Service requires the need to capture and store a 
customer or participants name, address, phone number, personal email, 
high-resolution images and associated attribute information, then 
validate the information collected using various forms of identity 
evidence and documentation to enhance Identity Proofing capabilities 
that will be used to:
     Verify the authenticity of the person's associated 
Identity Documents to further confirm their proof of Identity
     Align with audit requirements for storing and maintaining 
Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
     Voluntarily align with NIST 800.63 Identity Verification 
guidelines and standards
     Provide USPS with the ability to provide Identity Proofing 
services to other partnering Federal Agencies
     Provide reporting capabilities for USPS and other 
partnering Federal Agencies
     Provide the Postal Service with the ability to be 
certified at the 800.63A IAL-2 level, increasing the USPS security 
posture and the ability to meet the security requirements of other 
Federal Agency partnerships.
    Accordingly, to support enhanced In-Person Proofing, Identity 
Proofing capabilities, three new purposes are being added to USPS SOR 
910.000, along with proposed modifications to three existing purposes. 
A new Category of Records and record retention and disposal policy that 
pertain to records maintained for Identity Proofing activities are also 
being added to support the enhanced IPP initiative.
    In addition, the Postal Service is proposing to modify SOR 910.000, 
to include two new purposes in support of enhancements to the In-Person 
enrollment process for the Informed Delivery feature. Similarly, 
modifications to USPS SOR 820.300, Informed Delivery are being proposed 
and will be described in a separate Federal Register Notice.

III. Description of the Modified System of Records

    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 revisions to this SOR has been sent to Congress and to the 
Office of Management and Budget for their evaluations. The Postal 
Service does not expect this modified system of records to have any 
adverse effect on individual privacy rights. Accordingly, for the 
reasons stated above, the Postal Service proposes revisions to this 
system of records. SOR 910.000 Identity and Document Verification is 
provided below in its entirety.

SYSTEM NAME AND NUMBER:
    USPS 910.000, Identity and Document Verification Services.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
    None.

[[Page 71296]]

SYSTEM LOCATION:
    USPS Marketing, Headquarters; Integrated Business Solutions 
Services Centers; and contractor sites.

SYSTEM MANAGER(S):
    Chief Information Officer and Executive Vice President, United 
States Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20260-
1500.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
    39 U.S.C. 401, 403, 404, and 411.

PURPOSE(S) OF THE SYSTEM:
    1. To provide services related to identity and document 
verification services.
    2. To issue and manage public key certificates, user registration, 
email addresses, and/or electronic postmarks.
    3. To provide secure mailing services.
    4. To protect business and personal communications.
    5. To enhance personal identity and privacy protections.
    6. To improve the customer experience and facilitate the provision 
of accurate and reliable delivery information.
    7. To identify, prevent, or mitigate the effects of fraudulent 
transactions.
    8. To support other Federal Government Agencies by providing 
authorized services.
    9. To ensure the quality and integrity of records.
    10. To enhance the customer experience by improving the security of 
Change-of-Address (COA) and Hold Mail processes, along with other 
products, services and features that require identity proofing and 
document verification.
    11. To protect USPS customers from becoming potential victims of 
mail fraud and identity theft.
    12. To identify and mitigate potential fraud in the COA and Hold 
Mail processes, along with other products, services and features that 
require identity proofing and document verification.
    13. To verify a customer's identity when applying for COA and Hold 
Mail services, along with other products, services and features that 
require identity proofing and document verification.
    14. To provide an audit trail for COA and Hold Mail requests 
(linked to the identity of the submitter).
    15. To enhance remote identity proofing with a Phone Verification 
and One-Time Passcode solution.
    16. To enhance remote identity proofing, improve fraud detection 
and customer's ability to complete identity proofing online with a 
Device Reputation Remote Identity Verification solution.
    17. To verify a customer's Identity using methods and Identity 
Proofing standards that voluntarily align with NIST Special Publication 
800.63 and support other Federal Agency partner security requirements.
    18. To enhance In-Person identity proofing, improve Identity 
Document fraud detection and enable a customer to successfully complete 
identity proofing activities required for access to Postal Service 
products, services and features.
    19. To enhance In-Person identity proofing, improve Identity 
Document fraud detection and enable a customer to successfully complete 
identity proofing activities as required by partnering Federal Agencies 
to authorize or allow individual customer access to a privilege, 
system, or role.
    20. To facilitate the In-Person enrollment process for the Informed 
Delivery[supreg] feature.
    21. To provide customers with the option to voluntarily scan the 
barcode on the back of government issued IDs to capture name and 
address information that will be used to confirm eligibility and 
prefill information collected during the In-Person Informed Delivery 
enrollment process.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
    1. Customers who apply for identity and document verification 
services.
    2. Customers who may require identity verification for Postal 
products, services and features.
    3. USPS customers who sign-up, register or enroll to participate as 
users in programs, request features, or obtain products and/or services 
that require document or identity verification.
    4. Individual applicants and users that require identity 
verification or document verification services furnished by the Postal 
Service in cooperation with other Government agencies.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
    1. Customer information: Name, address, customer ID(s), telephone 
number, text message number and carrier, mail and email address, date 
of birth, place of birth, company name, title, role, and employment 
status.
    2. Customer preference information: Preferred means of contact.
    3. Authorized User Information: Names and contact information of 
users who are authorized to have access to data.
    4. Verification and payment information: Credit or debit card 
information or other account number, government issued ID type and 
number, verification question and answer, and payment confirmation 
code. (Note: Social Security Number and credit or debit card 
information may be collected, but not stored, in order to verify ID.)
    5. Biometric information: Fingerprint, photograph, height, weight, 
and iris scans. (Note: Information may be collected, secured, and 
returned to customer or third parties at the request of the customer, 
but not stored.)
    6. Digital certificate information: Customer's public key(s), 
certificate serial numbers, distinguished name, effective dates of 
authorized certificates, certificate algorithm, date of revocation or 
expiration of certificate, and USPS-authorized digital signature.
    7. Online user information: Device identification, device 
reputation risk and confidence scores.
    8. Transaction information: Clerk signature; transaction type, date 
and time, location, source of transaction; product use and inquiries; 
Change of Address (COA) and Hold Mail transactional data.
    9. Electronic information: Information related to encrypted or 
hashed documents.
    10. Recipient information: Electronic signature ID, electronic 
signature image, electronic signature expiration date, and timestamp.
    11. In-Person Proofing and Enhanced Identity Verification 
Attributes: Contents of Valid Identification (ID) Documents; High 
resolution images of front and back of ID documents, bar code on ID 
Document and the content of displayed and encoded fields on ID 
documents that may be collected and stored in order to facilitate 
security validation and Identity Proofing of an applicant, participant 
or customer's ID; Facial Image; Name, Address, and Unique ID Document 
number; Birthdate, Eye Color, Height and Weight; Signature; Organ 
donation preference.
    12. Strong ID Documents used for In-Person Identity Proofing: Photo 
ID, unique ID Number and the name of the Individual being identified; 
Passports, Passport cards; State ID Cards, State Driver's Licenses: 
Uniformed Service ID's, and Government ID documents.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
    Individual Customers, Users, Participants and Applicants.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES 
OF USERS AND PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
    Standard routine uses 1. through 7., 10., and 11. apply.

[[Page 71297]]

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORAGE OF RECORDS:
    Automated databases, computer storage media, and paper.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETRIEVAL OF RECORDS:
    By customer name, customer ID(s), distinguished name, certificate 
serial number, receipt number, transaction date, and email addresses.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETENTION AND DISPOSAL OF RECORDS:
    1. Records related to Pending Public Key Certificate Application 
Files are added as received to an electronic database, moved to the 
authorized certificate file when they are updated with the required 
data, and records not updated within 90 days from the date of receipt 
are destroyed.
    2. Records related to the Public Key Certificate Directory are 
retained in an electronic database, are consistently updated, and 
records are destroyed as they are superseded or deleted.
    3. Records related to the Authorized Public Key Certificate Master 
File are retained in an electronic database for the life of the 
authorized certificate.
    4. When the certificate is revoked, it is moved to the certificate 
revocation file.
    5. The Public Key Certificate Revocation List is cut off at the end 
of each calendar year and records are retained 30 years from the date 
of cutoff. Records may be retained longer with customer consent or 
request.
    6. Other records in this system are retained 7 years, unless 
retained longer by request of the customer.
    7. Records related to electronic signatures are retained in an 
electronic database for 3 years.
    8. Other categories of records are retained for a period of up to 
30 days.
    9. Driver's License data will be retained for 5 years.
    10. COA and Hold Mail transactional data will be retained for 5 
years.
    11. Records related to Phone Verification/One-Time Passcode and 
Device Reputation assessment will be retained for 7 years.
    12. Records collected for Identity Proofing at the Identity 
Assurance Level 2 (IAL-2), including ID document images, Identity 
Verification Attributes, and associated data will be retained up to 5 
years, or as stipulated within Interagency Agreements (IAAs) with 
partnering Federal Agencies. Records existing on paper are destroyed by 
burning, pulping, or shredding. Records existing on computer storage 
media are destroyed according to the applicable USPS media sanitization 
practice.

ADMINISTRATIVE, TECHNICAL, AND PHYSICAL SAFEGUARDS:
    Paper records, computers, and computer storage media are located in 
controlled-access areas under supervision of program personnel. Access 
to these areas is limited to authorized personnel, who must be 
identified with a badge.
    Access to records is limited to individuals who need the 
information to perform their job and whose official duties require such 
access.
    Contractors and licensees are subject to contract controls and 
unannounced on-site audits and inspections.
    Computers are protected by mechanical locks, card key systems, or 
other physical access control methods. The use of computer systems is 
regulated with installed security software, computer logon 
identifications, and operating system controls including access 
controls, terminal and transaction logging, and file management 
software.
    Key pairs are protected against cryptanalysis by encrypting the 
private key and by using a shared secret algorithm to protect the 
encryption key, and the certificate authority key is stored in a 
separate, tamperproof, hardware device. Activities are audited, and 
archived information is protected from corruption, deletion, and 
modification.
    For authentication services and electronic postmark, electronic 
data is transmitted via secure socket layer (SSL) encryption to a 
secured data center. Computer media are stored within a secured, locked 
room within the facility. Access to the database is limited to the 
system administrator, database administrator, and designated support 
personnel. Paper forms are stored within a secured area within locked 
cabinets.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
    Requests for access must be made in accordance with the 
Notification Procedure above and USPS Privacy Act regulations regarding 
access to records and verification of identity under 39 CFR 266.5.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
    See Notification Procedure and Record Access Procedures above.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES:
    Customers wanting to know if other information about them is 
maintained in this system of records must address inquiries in writing 
to the system manager. Inquiries must contain name, address, email, and 
other identifying information.

EXEMPTIONS PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM:
    None.

HISTORY:
    March 16, 2020, 85 FR 14982; December 13, 2018, 83 FR 64164; 
December 22, 2017, 82 FR 60776; August 29, 2014, 79 FR 51627; October 
24, 2011, 76 FR 65756; April 29, 2005, 70 FR 22516.

Joshua J. Hofer,
Attorney, Ethics & Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2021-27113 Filed 12-14-21; 8:45 am]
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