Notice2021-27303
Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 17, 2021
Effective
January 18, 2022
Issuing agencies
Postal Service
Abstract
The United States Postal Service (USPS\TM\) is proposing to revise a General Privacy Act System of Records to support an initiative sponsored by the United States Postal Inspection Service to conduct link analysis for investigative purposes.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 240 (Friday, December 17, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 240 (Friday, December 17, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71679-71680]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27303]
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POSTAL SERVICE
Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
AGENCY: Postal Service\TM\.
ACTION: Notice of a revised system of records.
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SUMMARY: The United States Postal Service (USPS\TM\) is proposing to
revise a General Privacy Act System of Records to support an initiative
sponsored by the United States Postal Inspection Service to conduct
link analysis for investigative purposes.
DATES: These revisions will become effective without further notice on
January 18, 2022, unless 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
(<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2454564d5245475d64515754570a434b52"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4b3b39223d2a28320b3e383b38652c243d">[email protected]</span></a>). Arrangements to view copies of any written comments
received, to facilitate public inspection, 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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1a6a68736c7b79635a6f696a69347d756c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0e7e7c67786f6d774e7b7d7e7d20696178">[email protected]</span></a>.
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 is proposing revisions to an existing system of records (SOR)
to support the implementation of a link analysis to be conducted by the
United States Postal Inspection Service through the introduction of new
investigative software.
I. Background
The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) is focused on
continuous improvement in the effort to stay one-step ahead of bad
actors and to preserve the sanctity of the mail. To further this
objective, USPIS is implementing a process to conduct a link analysis
across multiple disparate Postal systems to aggregate data and increase
efficiency. This process will automate the analysis process in part,
reducing manual effort by Postal Inspectors and Inspection Service
analysts.
Disclosure of relevant information or records derived from general
and customer systems is authorized by the Privacy Act under USPS
Routine Use number two, Disclosure for Law Enforcement Purposes.
II. Rationale for Changes to USPS Privacy Act Systems of Records
The Postal Service is proposing to modify USPS SOR 700.000,
Inspection Service Investigative File System, to accommodate the
process proposed by USPIS. USPIS will collect and aggregate eight data
elements--Name, Address, 11-Digit Delivery Point ZIP Code (ZIP 11),
Phone Number, Email Address, Tracking Number, IP Address, and Moniker--
from the following four data sources: Customer Registration, Inspection
Service Investigative File System, Click-n-Ship, and National Meter
Accounting and Tracking System (NMATS).
To effect this change, one new purpose has been added to the
existing SOR to reflect the usage of these data elements to conduct the
link analysis. Further, the eight enumerated data elements have been
added as a new Category of Records.
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 has been sent to Congress and to the Office of
Management and Budget for their evaluations. The Postal Service does
not expect this amended system of records to have any adverse effect on
individual privacy rights. The notice for USPS 700.000, Inspection
Service Investigative File System, provided below in its entirety, is
as follows:
SYSTEM NAME AND NUMBER:
USPS 700.000, Inspection Service Investigative File System.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
None.
SYSTEM LOCATION:
Office of the Chief Postal Inspector, USPS Headquarters; Inspection
Service Human Resources Service Center, Security Investigation Service
Center, and Criminal Investigation Service Center; Inspectors-in-
Charge.
SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS:
Chief Postal Inspector, Inspection Service, United States Postal
Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20260.
AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
39 U.S.C. 401 and 404; and 18 U.S.C. 3061.
PURPOSE(S) OF THE SYSTEM:
1. To support investigations of criminal, civil, or administrative
matters, including applicant, employee, and contractor background
investigations.
2. To conduct link analysis from disparate data sources in support
of criminal investigations.
CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
1. Subjects of investigations; complainants, informants, witnesses,
and other individuals in investigations.
2. Applicants, current and former USPS employees, contractors, and
other individuals providing information related to employment
suitability checks.
3. Applicants for and appointees to sensitive positions in USPS,
and individuals providing information related to security clearance
checks on those individuals.
CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
1. Records related to investigations, including person name(s),
Social Security Number(s), case number, addresses, reports of postal
inspectors and third parties; physical identifying characteristics
(including fingerprints, voiceprints, handwriting samples, polygraph
tests, photographs, or other biometrics); and employment and payroll
information maintained by USPS.
2. Records related to investigative data source link analysis,
including Name, Address, 11-Digit Delivery Point ZIP Code (ZIP 11),
Phone Number, Email Address, Tracking Number, IP Address, and Moniker.
RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
Subjects, applicants, applicant references, employees,
complainants, witnesses, other systems of records, other government
agencies, and external public or private sources.
[[Page 71680]]
ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES
OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
Standard routine uses 1. through 9. apply. In addition:
a. A record from this system may be disclosed to the public, news
media, trade associations, or organized groups to provide information
of interest to the public about the activities and the accomplishments
of USPS or its employees.
b. A record relating to a person held in custody pending or during
arraignment, trial, sentence, or extradition proceedings or after
conviction may be disseminated to a federal, state, local, or foreign
prison, probation, parole, or pardon authority or to any other agency
or individual involved with the maintenance, transportation, or release
of such a person.
c. A record relating to a case or matter may be disseminated to a
foreign country, through the United States Department of State or
directly to the representative of such country, under an international
treaty, convention, or executive agreement; or to the extent necessary
to assist such country in apprehending or returning a fugitive to a
jurisdiction that seeks that individual's return.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORAGE OF RECORDS:
Automated database, computer storage media, and paper.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETRIEVAL OF RECORDS:
By name or other personal identifier, subject category, or assigned
case number.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETENTION AND DISPOSAL OF RECORDS:
Records are retained up to 15 years. Exceptions may be granted for
longer retention in specific instances. 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
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.
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 PROCEDURE:
Individuals wanting to know if information about them is maintained
in this system of records must address inquiries to the system manager
and include full name, address, and information sufficient to ascertain
the investigation and the individual's involvement.
EXEMPTION(S) PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM:
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(j) and (k), USPS has established
regulations at 39 CFR 266.9 that exempt records in this system
depending on their purpose.
HISTORY:
April 29, 2005, 70 FR 22516.
* * * * *
Ruth Stevenson,
Chief Counsel, Ethics & Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2021-27303 Filed 12-16-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 17, 2021.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.