[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13809-13812]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03710]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

AGENCY: National Cemetery Administration (NCA), Department of Veterans 
Affairs (VA).

ACTION: Notice of a modified system of records.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974, notice is hereby given 
that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is updating the system of 
records in its inventory entitled, ``Veterans and Dependents National 
Cemetery Gravesite Reservation Records-VA'' (41VA41). This system 
contains information related to Veterans and their dependents who have 
made gravesite reservations with the National Cemetery Administration 
(NCA). VA is updating the contact and location information. VA is 
republishing the system notice in its entirety.

DATES: Comments on this modified system of records must be received no 
later than 30 days after date of publication in the Federal Register. 
If no public comment is received during the period allowed for comment 
or unless otherwise published in the Federal Register by VA, the 
modified system of records will become effective a minimum of 30 days 
after date of publication in the Federal Register. If VA receives 
public comments, VA shall review the comments to determine whether any 
changes to the notice are necessary.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted through www.Regulations.gov or 
mailed to VA Privacy Service, 810

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Vermont Avenue NW, (005R1A), Washington, DC 20420. Comments should 
indicate that they are submitted in response to ``Veterans and 
Dependents National Cemetery Gravesite Reservation Records-VA'', 
(41VA41). Comments received will be available at regulations.gov for 
public viewing, inspection or copies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Merritt, National Cemetery 
Administration (NCA) Privacy Officer (43E), Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420, 
[email protected], telephone (321) 200-7477 (this is not a toll-free 
number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The System Location and System Manager were 
incorrectly listed in the System Location and System Manager sections 
of the January 27, 2023, publication. Those sections are being 
modified.
    The System Location is being amended to reflect ``Records are 
maintained at the National Cemetery Administration (41), VA Central 
Office, Washington DC 20420.''
    The System Manager is being amended to reflect ``Lisa Pozzebon, 
Executive Director of Cemetery Operations (41A), National Cemetery 
Administration, VA Central Office, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, 
DC 20420, telephone (202) 461-0265, [email protected].''

Signing Authority

    The Senior Agency Official for Privacy, or designee, approved this 
document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document 
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as 
an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Kurt D. 
DelBene, Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology and Chief 
Information Officer, approved this document on January 18, 2024 for 
publication.

    Dated: February 20, 2024.
Amy L. Rose,
Government Information Specialist, VA Privacy Service, Office of 
Compliance, Risk and Remediation, Office of Information and Technology, 
Department of Veterans Affairs.

SYSTEM NAME AND NUMBER:
    Veterans and Dependents National Cemetery Gravesite Reservation 
Records-VA (41VA41).

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
    Unclassified.

SYSTEM LOCATION:
    Records are maintained at the National Cemetery Administration 
(41), VA Central Office, Washington, DC 20420.

SYSTEM MANAGER(S):
    Lisa Pozzebon, Executive Director of Cemetery Operations (41A), 
National Cemetery Administration, VA Central Office, 810 Vermont Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20420, telephone (202) 461-0265, [email protected].

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
    38 U.S.C. 2402.

PURPOSE(S) OF THE SYSTEM:
    The purpose for which the records are used will include, but will 
not be limited to, the: provision of VA burial and memorial benefits; 
provision of information about VA burial and memorial benefits, 
including specific claims; determination of eligibility for burial in a 
VA national cemetery; disclosure of military service information upon 
request from VA-funded State and Tribal Veterans cemeteries; 
coordination of committal services and interment upon request of 
families, funeral homes, and others of eligible decedents at VA 
national cemeteries; investigation of potential bars to benefits for an 
otherwise eligible individual.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
    The records contain information on: Veterans, dependents and family 
members of Veterans; Members of the Armed Forces (Service members), 
family members of Service members, Reservists and Retirees (Active 
Duty; Reserves; or National Guard); other VA customers (e.g., 
attorneys, agents, Veterans Service Organizations, funeral directors, 
coroners, Missing in America Project (MIAP) volunteers, State and local 
governmental administrators; and VA authorized users permitted by VA to 
access VA IT systems (e.g., VA employees, VA contractors, VA registered 
volunteers).

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
    Records may include information submitted to VA by means of paper 
or online forms that respondents can mail or electronically transmit by 
fax or email for storage and retrieval in VA's secure filing and 
information technology systems. Records may contain information, such 
as demographics and personal identifiers (e.g., names, mailing 
addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers, VA 
claim numbers and military service numbers, date of birth, place of 
birth, date of death, gender, marital records, health records, health 
related information); socioeconomic characteristics (e.g., education 
and training, military employment information); military service 
information (e.g., dates of active duty, dates of active duty for 
training, military service numbers, branch of service including 
Reserves or National Guard service, locations of service for National 
Guard, dates of entry, enlistment, or discharge, type and character of 
discharge, rank, awards, decorations, and other military history and 
information).
    Records may also include supporting documentation submitted to 
identify individuals submitting pre-need applications on behalf of 
claimants. Supporting documentation may include, but is not limited to 
the following items: VA Form 21-22 (Appointment of Veterans Service 
Organization as Claimant's Representative), VA Form 21-22a (Appointment 
of Individual as Claimant's Representative) for an Authorized Attorney, 
or Agent; proof of prior written authorization, such as a durable power 
of attorney, or an affidavit establishing a caregiver relationship to 
the claimant (spousal, parent, other relative); and documentation 
showing the individual as the court-appointed representative authorized 
to act on behalf of as the claimant.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
    Information in this system of records is provided by Veterans; 
Veteran beneficiaries; Veteran dependents; members of the Armed Forces 
of the United States, including Reserves and National Guard and their 
beneficiaries; other individuals (such as funeral home directors, 
coroners, medical examiners) submitting eligibility determinations on 
behalf of claimants; VA employees; other VA authorized users (e.g., 
Department of Defense, State and Tribal government employees); other VA 
information technology systems and databases; VA claims records; and 
official military records information technology systems.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES 
OF USERS AND PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
    1. Congress: To a Member of Congress or staff acting upon the 
Member's behalf when the Member or staff requests the information on 
behalf of, and at the request of, the individual who is the subject of 
the record.
    2. Data Breach Response and Remediation for VA: To appropriate 
agencies, entities, and persons when (1) VA suspects or has confirmed 
that there has been a breach of the system of records; (2) VA has 
determined that as

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a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm 
to individuals, VA (including its information systems, programs, and 
operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (3) the 
disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably 
necessary to assist in connection with VA's efforts to respond to the 
suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such 
harm.
    3. Data Breach Response and Remediation for Another Federal Agency: 
To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when VA determines that 
information from this system of records is reasonably necessary to 
assist the recipient agency or entity in (1) responding to a suspected 
or confirmed breach or (2) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the 
risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including 
its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal 
Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or 
confirmed breach.
    4. Law Enforcement: To a Federal, state, local, territorial, 
tribal, or foreign law enforcement authority or other appropriate 
entity charged with the responsibility of investigating or prosecuting 
such violation or charged with enforcing or implementing such law, 
provided that the disclosure is limited to information that, either 
alone or in conjunction with other information, indicates a violation 
or potential violation of law, whether civil, criminal, or regulatory 
in nature. The disclosure of the names and addresses of veterans and 
their dependents from VA records under this routine use must also 
comply with the provisions of 38 U.S.C. 5701.
    5. DoJ, Litigation, Administrative Proceeding: To the Department of 
Justice (DoJ), or in a proceeding before a court, adjudicative body, or 
other administrative body before which VA is authorized to appear, 
when:
    (a) VA or any component thereof;
    (b) Any VA employee in his or her official capacity;
    (c) Any VA employee in his or her individual capacity where DoJ has 
agreed to represent the employee; or
    (d) The United States, where VA determines that litigation is 
likely to affect the agency or any of its components is a party to such 
proceedings or has an interest in such proceedings, and VA determines 
that use of such records is relevant and necessary to the proceedings.
    6. Contractors: To contractors, grantees, experts, consultants, 
students, and others performing or working on a contract, service, 
grant, cooperative agreement, or other assignment for VA, when 
reasonably necessary to accomplish an agency function related to the 
records.
    7. OPM: To the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in connection 
with the application or effect of civil service laws, rules, 
regulations, or OPM guidelines in particular situations.
    8. EEOC: To the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 
connection with investigations of alleged or possible discriminatory 
practices, examination of Federal affirmative employment programs, or 
other functions of the Commission as authorized by law.
    9. FLRA: To the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) in 
connection with the investigation and resolution of allegations of 
unfair labor practices, the resolution of exceptions to arbitration 
awards when a question of material fact is raised, matters before the 
Federal Service Impasses Panel, and the investigation of representation 
petitions and the conduct or supervision of representation elections.
    10. MSPB: To the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) in 
connection with appeals, special studies of the civil service and other 
merit systems, review of rules and regulations, investigation of 
alleged or possible prohibited personnel practices, and such other 
functions promulgated in 5 U.S.C. 1205 and 1206, or as authorized by 
law.
    11. NARA: To the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA) in records management inspections conducted under 44 U.S.C. 2904 
and 2906, or other functions authorized by laws and policies governing 
NARA operations and VA records management responsibilities.
    12. Funeral Homes, for Arrangements: To funeral directors or 
representatives of funeral homes in order for them to make necessary 
arrangements prior to and in anticipation of a veteran's impending 
death.
    13. Federal Agencies, for Research: To a Federal agency for the 
purpose of conducting research and data analysis to perform a statutory 
purpose of that Federal agency upon the written request of that agency.
    14. Federal Agencies, for Computer Matches: To other federal 
agencies for the purpose of conducting computer matches to obtain 
information to determine or verify eligibility of veterans receiving VA 
benefits or medical care under title 38.
    15. Federal Agencies, Courts, Litigants, for Litigation or 
Administrative Proceedings: To another federal agency, court, or party 
in litigation before a court or in an administrative proceeding 
conducted by a Federal agency, when the government is a party to the 
judicial or administrative proceeding.
    16. Former Employee or Contractor, Representative, for EEOC: To a 
former VA employee or contractor, as well as the authorized 
representative of a current or former employee or contractor of VA, in 
connection with investigations by the Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission pertaining to alleged or possible discrimination practices, 
examinations of Federal affirmative employment programs, or other 
functions of the Commission as authorized by law or regulation.
    17. Former Employee or Contractor, Representative, for MSPB, OSC: 
To a former VA employee or contractor, as well as the authorized 
representative of a current or former employee or contractor of VA, in 
proceedings before the Merit Systems Protection Board or the Office of 
the Special Counsel in connection with appeals, special studies of the 
civil service and other merit systems, review of rules and regulations, 
investigation of alleged or possible prohibited personnel practices, 
and such other functions promulgated in 5 U.S.C. 1205 and 1206, or as 
otherwise authorized by law.
    18. Governmental Agencies, Health Organizations, for Claimants' 
Benefits: VA To Federal, state, and local government agencies and 
national health organizations as reasonably necessary to assist in the 
development of programs that will be beneficial to claimants, to 
protect their rights under law, and assure that they are receiving all 
benefits to which they are entitled.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORAGE OF RECORDS:
    Records in this system are maintained in paper and electronic 
formats in IT systems and on electronic storage media including 
magnetic tape, disk, microfilm, and laser optical media.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETRIEVAL OF RECORDS:
    Records are retrieved by name only; name and one or more numbers 
(military service or social security); name and one or more criteria 
(e.g., date of birth or dates of service); VA claim number; or other VA 
or NCA assigned identifier.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETENTION AND DISPOSAL OF RECORDS:
    Records in this system are retained in accordance with records 
retention standards approved by the Archivist of the United States, 
National Cemetery Records, NC1-015-85-14. Permanent

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records are electronically stored and retained in VA IT systems.

ADMINISTRATIVE, TECHNICAL, AND PHYSICAL SAFEGUARDS:
    Information in the system is protected from unauthorized access 
through administrative, physical, and technical safeguards. Access to 
the hard copy and computerized information is restricted to authorized 
VA employees and VA contractors by means of PIV card and PIN, and/or 
passwords. Information security officers and system data stewards 
review and authorize data access requests. VA regulates data access 
with security software that authenticates users and requires 
individually unique codes and passwords. VA requires information 
security training for all staff and instructs staff on the 
responsibility each person has for safeguarding data confidentiality. 
Hard copy records are maintained in offices or designated storage areas 
and locked after duty hours.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
    Individuals seeking information on the existence and content of 
records in this system pertaining to them should contact the system 
manager in writing as indicated above. A request for access to records 
must contain the requester's full name, address, telephone number, be 
signed by the requester, and describe the records sought in sufficient 
detail to enable VA personnel to locate them with a reasonable amount 
of effort.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
    Individuals seeking to contest or amend records in this system 
pertaining to them should contact the system manager in writing as 
indicated above. A request to contest or amend records must state 
clearly and concisely what record is being contested, the reasons for 
contesting it, and the proposed amendment to the record.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES:
    Generalized notice is provided by the publication of this notice. 
For specific notice, see Record Access Procedure, above.

EXEMPTIONS PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM:
    None.

HISTORY:
    88 FR 5435 (Jan. 27, 2023).

[FR Doc. 2024-03710 Filed 2-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P