Privacy Act of 1974; Implementation, 45388-45389 [E7-15839]

Agencies

• Office of Special Counsel
• Special Counsel Office

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 14, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45388-45389]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-15839]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 156 / Tuesday, August 14, 2007 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 45388]]



OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL

5 CFR Part 1830


Privacy Act of 1974; Implementation

AGENCY: U.S. Office of Special Counsel.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) proposes to revise 
its regulations at 5 C.F.R. Part 1830, dealing with the agency's 
implementation of the Privacy Act, at 5 U.S.C. 552a. The regulation, as 
revised, would provide additional information about access to OSC 
records under the Privacy Act.

DATES: Comments on the proposed rule must be received by September 13, 
2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathryn Stackhouse, General Law 
Counsel, in writing at: U.S. Office of Special Counsel, Legal Counsel 
and Policy Division, 1730 M Street, N.W., Suite 218, Washington, DC 
20036-4505; by telephone at (202) 254-3690; or by facsimile at (202) 
653-5151.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OSC proposes to revise its regulations 
governing implementation of the Privacy Act, primarily by: (1) revising 
and updating contact information for requests and appeals to OSC, 
adding fax delivery as a means by which they may be sent, and 
specifying the OSC point of receipt for such matters; (2) modifying the 
description of information needed for effective processing of requests 
and appeals; (3) revising the description of proof of identity 
information needed by OSC (including by deletion of the requirement 
that all requests must include a date and place of birth and a Social 
Security number, while retaining the option for OSC to request some or 
all of that data if needed to confirm a requester's identity); (4) 
clarifying that Privacy Act requests for records may also be processed 
under the Freedom of Information Act; (5) extending the appeal period 
for requests and revising the description of the response time for 
appeals; (6) clarifying that exempt material in OSC case files includes 
all matters within OSC's jurisdiction (including alleged violations of 
the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act) and 
information included in background investigations conducted for OSC 
employees and others; (7) adding two new sections (on general 
provisions and other rights and services), moving updated information 
about fees to a new section, and revising section headings throughout 
the regulation.

Procedural Determinations

    Congressional Review Act (CRA): OSC has determined that these 
revisions are non-major under the Congressional Review Act, and will 
submit a report on this final rule to Congress and the Government 
Accountability Office pursuant to the act.
    Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) Certification (5 U.S.C. 605): I 
certify that this regulation will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The OSC primarily 
handles matters involving individuals who are current or former Federal 
government employees, applicants for federal employment, certain state 
or local government employees, and representatives of these 
individuals. These revised regulations affect only the implementation 
of the Privacy Act at OSC. These proposed revisions will not cause 
significant additional impact.
    Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA): This proposed revision does 
not impose any Federal mandates on State, local, or tribal governments, 
or on the private sector within the meaning of the UMRA.
    Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA): This revision does not impose any 
new recordkeeping, reporting or other information collection 
requirements on the public.
    Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review): While OSC 
is not required to do so, OSC has reviewed this revision under 
Executive Order 12866 and anticipates that the economic impact of this 
revision will be insignificant. Thus this proposed revision is not a 
significant regulatory action under Sec. 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, 
and does not require an assessment of potential costs and benefits 
under Sec.  6(a)(3) of the order.
    Executive Order 13132 (Federalism): This proposed revision does not 
have new federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. The Hatch 
Act, at title 5 of the U.S. Code, chapter 15, prohibits certain 
political activities of covered state and local government employees. 
OSC has jurisdiction to issue advisory opinions on political activity 
by those employees, and to bring an enforcement action before the Merit 
Systems Protection Board for prohibited activity by a covered state or 
local government employee. These revised regulations affect only the 
implementation of the Privacy Act at OSC and do not significantly 
change the rights of state and local government employees.
    Executive Order 12988 (Civil Justice Reform): This proposed rule 
meets applicable standards of Sec. Sec.  3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive 
Order 12988.

List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 1830

    Administrative practice and procedure, Government employees, 
Privacy.
    For the reasons stated in the preamble, OSC proposes to revise 5 
CFR Part 1830 to read as follows:

PART 1830--PRIVACY

    Sec.
    1830.1 General provisions.
    1830.2 Requirements for making Privacy Act requests.
    1830.3 Medical records.
    1830.4 Requirements for requesting amendment of records.
    1830.5 Appeals.
    1830.6 Exemptions.
    1830.7 Fees.
    1830.8 Other rights and services.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552a(f), 1212(e).


Sec.  1830.1  General provisions.

    This part contains rules and procedures followed by the Office of 
Special Counsel (OSC) in processing requests for records under the 
Privacy Act (PA), at 5 U.S.C. 552a. Further information about access to 
OSC records generally is available on the agency's web site (https://
www.osc.gov/foia.htm).


Sec.  1830.2  Requirements for making Privacy Act requests.

    (a) How made and addressed. A request for OSC records under the 
Privacy Act should be made by writing to the agency. The request should 
be sent by regular mail addressed to: Privacy Act Officer, U.S. Office 
of

[[Page 45389]]

Special Counsel, 1730 M Street, N.W. (Suite 218), Washington, DC 20036-
4505. Such requests may also be faxed to the Privacy Act Officer at the 
number provided on the FOIA/PA page of OSC's web site (see 1830.1). For 
the quickest handling, both the request letter and envelope or any fax 
cover sheet should be clearly marked ``Privacy Act Request.'' A Privacy 
Act request may also be delivered in person at OSC's headquarters 
office in Washington, DC. Whether sent by mail or by fax, or delivered 
in person, a Privacy Act request will not be considered to have been 
received by OSC until it reaches the Privacy Act Officer.
    (b) Description of records sought. Requesters must describe the 
records sought in enough detail for them to be located with a 
reasonable amount of effort. Whenever possible, requests should 
describe any particular record sought, such as the date, title or name, 
author, recipient, and subject matter.
    (c) Proof of identity. Requests received by mail, fax, or personal 
delivery should contain sufficient information to enable OSC to 
determine that the requester and the subject of the record are one and 
the same. To assist in this process, an individual should submit his or 
her name and home address, business title and address, and any other 
known identifying information such as an agency file number or 
identification number, a description of the circumstances under which 
the records were compiled, and any other information deemed necessary 
by OSC to properly process the request. An individual delivering a 
request in person may be required to present proof of identity, 
preferably a government-issued document bearing the individual's 
photograph.
    (d) Freedom of Information Act processing. OSC also processes all 
Privacy Act requests for access to records under the Freedom of 
Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, following the rules contained in part 
1820 of this chapter, which gives requesters the benefit of both 
statutes.


Sec.  1830.3  Medical records.

    When a request for access involves medical records that are not 
otherwise exempt from disclosure, the requesting individual may be 
advised, if it is deemed necessary by OSC, that the records will be 
provided only to a physician designated in writing by the individual. 
Upon receipt of the designation, the physician will be permitted to 
review the records or to receive copies by mail upon proper 
verification of identity.


Sec.  1830.4  Requirements for requesting amendment of records.

    (a) How made and addressed. Individuals may request amendment of 
records pertaining to them that are subject to amendment under the 
Privacy Act and this part. The request should be sent by regular mail 
addressed to: Privacy Act Officer, U.S. Office of Special Counsel, 1730 
M Street, N.W. (Suite 218), Washington, DC 20036-4505. Such requests 
may also be faxed to the Privacy Act Officer at the number provided on 
the FOIA/PA page of OSC's web site (see 1830.1). For the quickest 
handling, both the request letter and envelope or any fax cover sheet 
should be clearly marked ``Privacy Act Amendment Request.'' Whether 
sent by mail or by fax, a Privacy Act amendment request will not be 
considered to have been received by OSC until it reaches the Privacy 
Act Officer. A Privacy Act amendment request may also be delivered by 
person at OSC's headquarters office in Washington, DC.
    (b) Description of amendment sought. Requests for amendment should 
include identification of records together with a statement of the 
basis for the requested amendment and all available supporting 
documents and materials. Requesters must describe the amendment sought 
in enough detail for the request to be evaluated.
    (c) Proof of identity. Rules and procedures set forth in 1830.2(c) 
apply to requests made under this section.
    (d) Acknowledgement and response. Requests for amendment shall be 
acknowledged by OSC not later than 10 days (excluding Saturdays, 
Sundays, and legal holidays) after receipt by the Privacy Act Officer 
and a determination on the request shall be made promptly.


Sec.  1830.5  Appeals.

    (a) Appeals of adverse determinations. A requester may appeal a 
denial of a Privacy Act request for access to or amendment of records 
to the Legal Counsel and Policy Division, U.S. Office of Special 
Counsel, 1730 M Street, N.W. (Suite 218), Washington, DC 20036-4505. 
The appeal must be in writing, and sent by regular mail or by fax. The 
appeal must be received by the Legal Counsel and Policy Division within 
45 days of the date of the letter denying the request. For the quickest 
possible handling, the appeal letter and envelope or any fax cover 
sheet should be clearly marked ``Privacy Act Appeal.'' An appeal will 
not be considered to have been received by OSC until it reaches the 
Legal Counsel and Policy Division. The appeal letter may include as 
much or as little related information as the requester wishes, as long 
as it clearly identifies the OSC determination (including the assigned 
request number, if known) being appealed. An appeal ordinarily will not 
be acted on if the request becomes a matter of litigation.
    (b) Responses to appeals. The agency decision on an appeal will be 
made in writing. A final determination will be issued within 30 days 
(excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays), unless, for good 
cause shown, OSC extends the 30-day period.


Sec.  1830.6  Exemptions.

    OSC will claim exemptions from the provisions of the Privacy Act at 
subsections (c)(3) and (d) as permitted by subsection (k) for records 
subject to the act that fall within the category of investigatory 
material described in paragraphs (2) and (5) and testing or examination 
material described in paragraph (6) of that subsection. The exemptions 
for investigatory material are necessary to prevent frustration of 
inquiries into allegations in prohibited personnel practice, unlawful 
political activity, whistleblower disclosure, Uniformed Services 
Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, and other matters under OSC's 
jurisdiction, and to protect identities of confidential sources of 
information, including in background investigations of OSC employees, 
contractors, and other individuals conducted by or for OSC. The 
exemption for testing or examination material is necessary to prevent 
the disclosure of information which would potentially give an 
individual an unfair competitive advantage or diminish the utility of 
established examination procedures. OSC also reserves the right to 
assert exemptions for records received from another agency that could 
be properly claimed by that agency in responding to a request. OSC may 
also refuse access to any information compiled in reasonable 
anticipation of a civil action or proceeding.


Sec.  1830.7  Fees.

    Requests for copies of records shall be subject to duplication fees 
set forth in part 1820 of this chapter.


Sec.  1830.8  Other rights and services.

    Nothing in this part shall be construed to entitle any person, as 
of right, to any service or to the disclosure of any record to which 
such person is not entitled under the Privacy Act.

    Dated: August 8, 2007.
Scott J. Bloch,
Special Counsel.
[FR Doc. E7-15839 Filed 8-13-07; 8:45 am]
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