95-8336. Privacy Act of 1974; Revisions to Systems of Records  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 68 (Monday, April 10, 1995)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 18149-18151]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-8336]
    
    
    
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    NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION
    
    
    Privacy Act of 1974; Revisions to Systems of Records
    
    AGENCY: National Credit Union Administration.
    
    ACTION: Notification of a revised system of records.
    
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    SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the 
    National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is issuing public notice of 
    its intent to modify the system of records maintained by the Office of 
    Inspector General (OIG), NCUA-20, currently titled, ``Investigation 
    Files, NCUA'', formerly located in the NCUA Office of Internal Auditor. 
    The Office of Internal Auditor preceded the Office of Inspector 
    General, which was created by action of the NCUA Board on March 23, 
    1989, in response to the Inspector General Act amendments of 1988. The 
    proposed modifications will: (1) Rename the system, ``Office of 
    Inspector General (OIG) Investigative Records--NCUA;'' (2) drop one 
    routine use; (3) add two new routine uses, and (4) add certain Privacy 
    Act exemptions. In addition, we are making other technical and 
    editorial revisions to the system to make it more accurate.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: The revised system of records will become effective 
    without further notice on May 10, 1995, unless comments postmarked or 
    posted on the NCUA Electronic Bulletin Board on or before that date 
    cause a contrary decision. If, based on NCUA's review of comments 
    received, changes are made, NCUA will publish a new final notice. NCUA 
    will not withhold records under the (j)(2) or (k)(2) exemptions until 
    adoption of the final rule amending 12 CFR 792.34 to add the Privacy 
    Act (j)(2) and (k)(2) exemptions to this system of records.
    
    ADDRESSES: Send comments to Becky Baker, Secretary of the Board, 
    National Credit Union Administration, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 
    22314. Comments may also be posted on the NCUA Electronic Bulletin 
    Board at 800 876-1684 or 703 518-6480. Copies of comments may be 
    examined in the Office of Inspector General, 5th floor, at 1775 Duke 
    Street, Alexandria, VA.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexandra B. Keith, Counsel to the 
    Inspector General, Office of Inspector General, National Credit Union 
    Administration, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, telephone (703) 
    518-6352.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NCUA/OIG performs its duties in 
    accordance with the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended by the 
    Inspector General Act Amendments of 1988 (Pub. L. 95-452, as amended, 5 
    U.S.C. App. 3)(IG Act). The OIG is an independent unit within the NCUA 
    and was established to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness 
    in the administration of NCUA programs and operations, and to detect 
    and prevent fraud, waste and abuse in such programs and operations.
        The NCUA is republishing system of records NCUA-20, currently 
    titled, ``Investigation Files--NCUA,'' to: (1) Rename the system; (2) 
    drop one routine use; (3) add two new routine uses; (4) add the (j)(2) 
    and (k)(2) exemptions; and (5) update other information in the 
    previously published notice in this system of records.
        NCUA is renaming NCUA-20, currently titled, ``Investigation Files--
    NCUA'', to ``Office of Inspector General--Investigative Records.'' This 
    is because the former publication referred to the investigative files 
    of the NCUA Office of Internal Auditor, the predecessor office of the 
    OIG. The system will consist of files and records compiled by the OIG 
    on NCUA employees or other persons involved with the NCUA's programs or 
    operations who have been or are under investigation for criminal or 
    civil fraud, abuse, and other civil and criminal wrongdoing related to 
    the NCUA's programs and operations. The NCUA/OIG has the authority to 
    conduct such investigations under the IG Act.
        NCUA is omitting one routine use, number (1) ``Information gathered 
    is used for intra-agency purposes,'' because this routine use 
    duplicates an exception in the Privacy Act, at 5 USC 552a, Section 
    (b)(1).
        NCUA is adding two new routine uses to NCUA-20: (1) To authorize 
    the use of OIG investigative records for obtaining information from 
    other sources; and (2) to permit the disclosure of records to the 
    Department of Justice to obtain legal advice. These new routine uses 
    are identified as routine uses numbered 1 and 2 in the system notice. 
    Routine use numbered 3 is a reference to Appendix A, the agency's 
    standard routine uses. The new routine uses are compatible with the 
    purpose for which the OIG's [[Page 18150]] records were collected in 
    that they provide for disclosure to assist the NCUA /OIG to collect 
    information in the conduct of its investigations, and to obtain legal 
    advice from the government's attorneys on the pursuit of such 
    investigations.
        Other information in the system is being updated to reflect changes 
    in the way information is retrieved, stored, and safeguarded and to 
    describe accurately the categories of individuals covered and the 
    categories of records being maintained.
        In a separate notice published in the proposed rule section of 
    today's issue of the Federal Register, the NCUA is giving public notice 
    of a proposed rule to amend 12 CFR 792.34 to exempt this system of 
    records from certain provisions of 5 USC 552a under subsections (j)(2) 
    and (k)(2).
        The NCUA proposes to exempt certain files within the new system of 
    records from disclosure to individuals who are the subject of a record 
    in the system. The exemptions would cover investigative material 
    compiled for law enforcement purposes. The information in this new 
    system is proposed to be exempt pursuant to 5 USC 552a(j)(2) insofar as 
    these records are maintained by a component of the OIG, the Office of 
    the Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, which performs as 
    its principal function any activity pertaining to the enforcement of 
    criminal laws, and which consists of:
        (1) Information compiled for the purpose of identifying individual 
    criminal offenders and alleged offenders;
        (2) Information compiled for the purpose of a criminal 
    investigation, including reports of informants and investigators, and 
    associated with an identifiable individual; or
        (3) Reports identifiable to an individual compiled at any stage of 
    the process of enforcement of the criminal laws from arrest or 
    indictment through release from supervision.
        The NCUA is also proposing to exempt NCUA-20 from certain 
    provisions of the Privacy Act under 5 USC 552a(k)(2), to the extent 
    that the system contains investigative material compiled for law 
    enforcement purposes, other than material within the scope of 
    subsection (j)(2): Provided however, That if any individual is denied 
    any right, privilege, or benefit that he would otherwise be entitled to 
    by Federal law, or for which he would otherwise be eligible, as a 
    result of the maintenance of such material, such material shall be 
    provided to such individual, except to the extent that the disclosure 
    of such material would reveal the identity of a source who furnished 
    information to the government under an express promise that the 
    identity of the source would be held in confidence, or, prior to the 
    effective date of this section (9-27-75), under an implied promise that 
    the identity of the source would be held in confidence.
        Accordingly, the NCUA proposes to revise NCUA-20 as follows:
    NCUA-20
        Office of Inspector General (OIG) Investigative Records--NCUA.
        Office of Inspector General, NCUA, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 
    22314-3428.
        Subjects of investigation, complainants, and witnesses referred to 
    in complaints or actual investigative cases, reports, accompanying 
    documents, and correspondence prepared by, compiled by, or referred to 
    the OIG.
        The system is comprised of paper files of all OIG and some 
    predecessor Office of Internal Auditor reports, correspondence, cases, 
    matters, cross-indices, memorandums, materials, legal papers, evidence, 
    exhibits, data, and workpapers pertaining to all closed and pending 
    investigations and inspections.
        The Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, 5 USC App.3; 12 USC 
    1766.
        The National Credit Union Administration Office of Inspector 
    General (NCUA/OIG) may disclose information contained in a record in 
    this system of records without the consent of the individual if the 
    disclosure is compatible with the purpose for which the record was 
    collected, under the following routine uses:
        1. NCUA/OIG may disclose information from this system of records as 
    a routine use to any public or private source, including a federal, 
    state, or local agency maintaining civil, criminal, or other relevant 
    enforcement information or other pertinent information, but only to the 
    extent necessary for the OIG to obtain information from those sources 
    relevant to an OIG investigation, audit, inspection, or other inquiry.
        2. NCUA/OIG may disclose information from this system of records as 
    a routine use to the Department of Justice to the extent necessary to 
    obtain its legal advice on any matter relevant to an OIG investigation, 
    audit, inspection, or other inquiry related to the responsibilities of 
    the OIG.
        3. NCUA/OIG may disclose information from this system of records 
    for the purposes set forth in Appendix A of the agency's system of 
    records notice, published at 53 FR No.186, page 37373 (September 26, 
    1988.)
        Information contained in this system is stored manually in files.
        Information is retrieved in files by case number, general subject 
    matter, or name of the subject of investigation.
        Case reports and workpapers are maintained in approved security 
    containers and locked filing cabinets in a locked room. Associated 
    paper records are stored in locked metal filing cabinets, safes, or 
    similar secure facilities.
        Investigative Case Files
        1. Case files are normally destroyed when they are 5 years old.
        2. Significant cases (those that result in national media 
    attention, congressional investigation, or substantive changes in 
    agency policy or procedures)--To be determined by the National Archives 
    and Records Administration on a case-by-case basis.
        Inspector General, National Credit Union Administration, 1775 Duke 
    Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.
        This System of Records is generally exempt from the notice, access, 
    and amendment requirements of the Privacy Act. However, the NCUA will 
    entertain written requests to the systems manager on a case by case 
    basis for notification regarding whether this system of records 
    contains information about an individual. Requests should be marked 
    ``Privacy Act request,'' state the name and address of the requester, 
    and provide a notarized statement, or other documentation, e.g., copy 
    of a driver's license, attesting to the individual's identity. Requests 
    submitted on behalf of other persons must include their 
    [[Page 18151]] written, notarized authorizations. Such requests in the 
    form prescribed may also be presented in person at the Office of 
    Inspector General, Room 5041, National Credit Union Administration, 
    1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Simultaneously with requesting 
    notification of inclusion in this system of records, the individual may 
    request record access as described in the following section on ``Record 
    Access Procedures.''
        Same as ``Notification procedure.''
        Same as ``Notification procedure.''
        The OIG collects information from many sources, including the 
    subject individuals, employees of the NCUA, other government employees, 
    and witnesses and informants, and non-governmental sources.
        Pursuant to 5 USC 552a(j)(2), this system of records is exempt from 
    subsections (c)(3) and (4), (d), (e)(1), (e)(2), (e)(3), (e)(4)(G), 
    (e)(4)(H), (e)(4)(I), (e)(5), (e)(8), (f) and (g) of the Act. This 
    exemption applies to information in the system that relates to criminal 
    law enforcement and meets the criteria of the (j)(2) exemption. 
    Pursuant to 5 USC 552(k)(2), to the extent that the system contains 
    investigative material compiled for law enforcement purposes, other 
    than material within the scope of subsection (j)(2), this system of 
    records is exempt from 5 USC 552a(c)(3), (d), (e)(1), (e)(4)(G), (H), 
    and (I), and (f). The exemption rule is contained in 12 CFR 792.34 of 
    the NCUA regulations.
    
        Dated at Alexandria, VA, this 30th day of March 1995.
    
        By the National Credit Union Administration Board.
    Becky Baker,
    Secretary of the Board.
    [FR Doc. 95-8336 Filed 4-7-95; 8:45 am]
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