[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 174 (Monday, September 11, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62359-62360]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-19483]


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FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM


Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

AGENCY: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

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 given that the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System 
(Board) proposes to modify an existing system of records, entitled 
BGFRS-26, ``FRB--Employee Relations Records.'' BGFRS-26 includes 
written communications and related documents involved in adjusting 
work-related problems, including records such as interpersonal and 
organizational conflicts and related documentation.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 11, 2023. This 
new system of records will become effective October 11, 2023, without 
further notice, unless comments dictate otherwise.
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which has oversight 
responsibility under the Privacy Act, requires a 30-day period prior to 
publication in the Federal Register in which to review the system and 
to provide any comments to the agency. The public is then given a 30-
day period in which to comment, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4) 
and (11).

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by BGFRS-26 ``FRB--
Employee Relations Records,'' by any of the following methods:
     Agency Website: https://www.federalreserve.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments at https://www.federalreserve.gov/apps/foia/proposedregs.aspx.
     Email: [email protected]. Include SORN name 
and number in the subject line of the message.
     Fax: (202) 452-3819 or (202) 452-3102.
     Mail: Ann E. Misback, Secretary, Board of Governors of the 
Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20551.
    In general, all public comments will be made available on the 
Board's website at https://www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm as submitted, and will not be modified to remove 
confidential, contact or any identifiable information. Public comments 
may also be viewed electronically or in paper in Room M-4365A, 2001 C 
St. NW, Washington, DC 20551, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. during 
federal business weekdays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David B. Husband, Senior Counsel, 
(202) 530-6270, or [email protected]; Legal Division, Board of 
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution 
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20551. For users of telephone systems via 
text telephone (TTY) or any TTY-based Telecommunications Relay 
Services, please call 711 from any telephone anywhere in the United 
States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board is modifying this system of 
records to reflect internal changes in Board employment programs and 
processes, changes to the Board's job classifications, and to include 
``common law employees'' as a type of employee covered by the system. 
To reflect these changes, the Board has updated the system manager, the 
categories of individuals covered by the system, the categories of 
records in the system, and the record source categories. The Board is 
incorporating a link to the Board's general routine uses and is not 
amending or establishing any new routine uses.
    The Board is also making technical changes to BGFRS-26 consistent 
with the template laid out in OMB Circular No. A-108. Accordingly, the 
Board has made technical corrections and non-substantive language 
revisions to the following categories: ``Policies and Practices for 
Storage of Records,'' ``Policies and Practices for Retrieval of 
Records,'' ``Policies and Practices for Retention and Disposal of 
Records,'' ``Administrative, Technical and Physical Safeguards,'' 
``Record Access Procedures,'' ``Contesting Record Procedures,'' and 
``Notification Procedures.'' The Board has also created the following 
new fields: ``Security Classification'' and ``History.''

SYSTEM NAME AND NUMBER:
    BGFRS-26 ``FRB--Employee Relations Records''.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
    Unclassified.

SYSTEM LOCATION:
    Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and 
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20551.

SYSTEM MANAGER(S):
    Kevin May, Manager--Employee Relations, People, Strategy, and 
Operations, Division of Management, Board of Governors of the Federal 
Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20551, (202) 973-7339, or [email protected].

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
    Sections 10 and 11 of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 244 and 
248).

PURPOSE(S) OF THE SYSTEM:
    These records are collected and maintained to assist the Board in 
administering its personnel functions, and to assist employees in 
resolving work-related issues.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
    Past and present Board employees with work-related issues that 
involve the Employee Relations function. Employee means all full-time 
and part-time employees, student aides, office assistants, student 
interns, co-op employees, common-law employees, and those serving in 
term-limited positions.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
    This system contains written communications and related documents 
involved in addressing issues and complaints brought to the Employee 
Relations function. Such documents include, but are not limited to, 
employee complaints about management practices, requests for conflict 
resolution services or trainings and related documentation, informal 
performance counseling, summaries of findings in EEO, OIG, and related 
matters, and related resolution/outcome documentation of general 
employee relations cases.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
    Information is provided by the individual to whom the record 
pertains; individuals pertinent to the

[[Page 62360]]

investigation/resolution/outcome of the matter (including witnesses); 
the individual's managers and officers; the Office of Diversity & 
Inclusion and the Office of Inspector General (report of findings); and 
employees and officers in the People, Strategy, and Operations function 
of the Board.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES 
OF USERS AND PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
    General routine uses A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and J apply to this 
system. These general routine uses are located at https://www.federalreserve.gov/files/SORN-page-general-routine-uses-of-board-systems-of-records.pdf and are published in the Federal Register at 83 
FR 43872 at 43873-74 (August 28, 2018). Records may also be used to 
disclose information to any source from which additional information is 
requested (to the extent necessary to identify the individual, inform 
the source of the purpose(s) of the request, and to identify the type 
of information requested), when necessary to obtain information 
relevant to a Board decision to hire or retain an employee, issue a 
security clearance, conduct a security or suitability investigation of 
an individual, classify jobs, let a contract, or issue a license, 
grant, or other benefits.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORAGE OF RECORDS:
    Paper records in this system are stored in a secure room accessible 
only with a Board ID badge and access is limited to staff with a need 
to know. Electronic records are stored on a secure server with access 
limited to staff with a need to know.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETRIEVAL OF RECORDS:
    Records can be retrieved by the names of the individuals on whom 
they are maintained or by employee identification number.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETENTION AND DISPOSAL OF RECORDS:
    Employee relations case files are retained for seven years after 
the case is closed or final settlement on appeal, as appropriate.

ADMINISTRATIVE, TECHNICAL, AND PHYSICAL SAFEGUARDS:
    Paper records are stored in a secure room accessible only with a 
Board ID badge and access is limited to staff with a need to know. 
Electronic files are stored on secure servers that have the ability to 
track individual user actions within the systems. The audit and 
accountability controls are based on NIST and Board standards which, in 
turn, are based on applicable laws and regulations. The controls assist 
in detecting security violations and performance or other issues in the 
system. Access to the system is restricted to authorized users within 
the Board who require access for official business purposes. Users are 
classified into different roles and common access and usage rights are 
established for each role. User roles are used to delineate between the 
different types of access requirements such that users are restricted 
to data that is required in the performance of their duties. Periodic 
assessments and reviews are conducted to determine whether users still 
require access, have the appropriate role, and whether there have been 
any unauthorized changes.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
    The Privacy Act allows individuals the right to access records 
maintained about them in a Board system of records. Your request for 
access must: (1) contain a statement that the request is made pursuant 
to the Privacy Act of 1974; (2) provide either the name of the Board 
system of records expected to contain the record requested or a concise 
description of the system of records; (3) provide the information 
necessary to verify your identity; and (4) provide any other 
information that may assist in the rapid identification of the record 
you seek.
    Current or former Board employees may make a request for access by 
contacting the Board office that maintains the record. The Board 
handles all Privacy Act requests as both a Privacy Act request and as a 
Freedom of Information Act request. The Board does not charge fees to a 
requestor seeking to access or amend his/her Privacy Act records.
    You may submit your Privacy Act request to the--Secretary of the 
Board, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th Street 
and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20551.
    You may also submit your Privacy Act request electronically by 
filling out the required information at: https://foia.federalreserve.gov/.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
    The Privacy Act allows individuals to seek amendment of information 
that is erroneous, irrelevant, untimely, or incomplete and is 
maintained in a system of records that pertains to them. To request an 
amendment to your record, you should clearly mark the request as a 
``Privacy Act Amendment Request.'' You have the burden of proof for 
demonstrating the appropriateness of the requested amendment and you 
must provide relevant and convincing evidence in support of your 
request.
    Your request for amendment must: (1) provide the name of the 
specific Board system of records containing the record you seek to 
amend; (2) identify the specific portion of the record you seek to 
amend; (3) describe the nature of and reasons for each requested 
amendment; (4) explain why you believe the record is not accurate, 
relevant, timely, or complete; and (5) unless you have already done so 
in a related Privacy Act request for access or amendment, provide the 
necessary information to verify your identity.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES:
    Same as ``Access procedures'' above. You may also follow this 
procedure in order to request an accounting of previous disclosures of 
records pertaining to you as provided for by 5 U.S.C. 552a(c).

EXEMPTIONS PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM:
    None.

HISTORY:
    This SORN was previously published in the Federal Register at 73 FR 
24984 at (May 6, 2008). The SORN was also amended to incorporate two 
new routine uses required by OMB at 83 FR 43872 (August 28, 2018).

    Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
Ann Misback,
Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. 2023-19483 Filed 9-8-23; 8:45 am]
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