[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 96 (Thursday, May 16, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24837-24839]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12336]
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POSTAL SERVICE
Privacy Act of 1974, System of Records
AGENCY: Postal Service.
ACTION: Notice of new system of records.
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SUMMARY: This document publishes notice of a new Privacy Act system of
records, USPS 050.050, Finance Records--International Money Transfer
Transaction and Inquiry Records. The new system contains the names and
addresses of purchasers and payees of international money transfer
services and transaction information such as identifying numbers and
amounts.
DATES: Any interested party may submit written comments on the proposed
new system of records. This proposal will
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become effective without further notice on June 17, 1996, unless
comments received on or before that date result in a contrary
determination.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on this proposal should be mailed or
delivered to Payroll Accounting and Records, United States Postal
Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 8650, Washington, DC 20260-5243.
Copies of all written comments will be available at the above address
for public inspection and photocopying between 8 a.m. and 4:45 p.m.,
Monday through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Betty E. Sheriff, (202) 268-2608.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service enters into agreements
with some Foreign Postal Administrations to exchange postal money
orders. Money orders are transmitted under these reciprocal agreements
through payment lists, money order authorizations, or both, on behalf
of the purchaser in the country of origin. A list number and
international number are assigned to and used to track each money
order. Because those numbers are used for internal tracking, they are
generally not known by a customer (either the purchaser or the payee
inquiring about the status of a money order). However, by cross-
referencing a transaction dataset or reference number with a customer
name dataset, the Postal Service is able to retrieve status
information. For that reason, the Postal Service is establishing this
grouping of records as a system of records subject to the Privacy Act.
The Postal Service also maintains purchaser, payee, and transaction
information relating to international money transfers. The transfer is
completed through payment to the payee in the foreign country. As with
money order inquiries, information about a transaction may be retrieved
in response to a status inquiry. Consequently, the Postal Service deems
it appropriate to include money transfer records in this system of
records.
Maintenance of these records is not expected to have a significant
effect on individual privacy rights. Information kept is limited to the
name and address of the purchaser and/or payee and information about
the transaction, such as amount, money order serial number or other
identifying number, and payment status. The information will be kept in
a secured environment, with automated data processing (ADP) physical
and administrative security and technical software applied to
information on computer media. Computers and hard copy records are
maintained in a secured computer complex with access granted by guards.
Access to areas within the complex is restricted with card keys. Access
within the area is further restricted to authorized personnel with an
official need. To the extent information is exchanged with a foreign
administration or institution, it is exchanged under the terms of an
agreement that requires confidentiality and limitations on use.
Security controls are applied to information electronically
transmitted.
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 following proposed system has been sent to Congress and to the
Office of Management and Budget for their evaluation.
USPS 050.050
SYSTEM NAME:
Finance Records--International Money Transfer Transaction and
Inquiry Records, USPS 050.050.
SYSTEM LOCATIONS:
Accounting service centers.
CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
Purchasers and payees of postal money order and money transfer
services.
CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
Name and address of purchaser, name and address of money order/
money transfer payee, amount, country code, date of issue, place of
issue, and identifying numbers such as list number, authorization
number, serial number, and/or reference number.
AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
39 U.S.C. 401 and 404.
PURPOSE(S):
Information within this system is used to issue and track
international postal money order and money transfer transactions and to
respond to inquiries concerning the status of those transactions.
ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES
OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
General routine use statements a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, and j listed
in the prefatory statement at the beginning of the Postal Service's
published system notices apply to this system. Other routine uses
follow:
1. Information from this system may be disclosed to a Foreign
Postal Administration or postal or financial institution which has
entered into a reciprocal agreement with the Postal Service to exchange
postal money orders.
2. Information from this system may be disclosed to a foreign
entity under agreement with the Postal Service to distribute money
order and transfer funds.
3. Information from this system may be disclosed to the purchaser
or payee of a money order or money transfer in order to respond to an
inquiry concerning the transaction.
Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining,
and disposing of records in the system:
Storage:
Paper and computer storage media.
Retrievability:
Name of purchaser, name of payee, authorization number, money order
serial number, and reference number.
Safeguards:
Hard copy records and computers containing information within this
system of records are located in a building with controlled access. To
gain access to the building and access to controlled areas within the
building, individuals must have authorized badges and/or card keys.
Computer systems are protected with an installed security software
package, the use of computer log-on IDs, and operating system controls.
Access is limited by those means to persons whose duties require such
access.
Retention and disposal:
a. Money Order Inquiry Records. Cut off this file each calendar
year and destroy three years from date of cutoff.
b. Money Transfer Transaction Records. Maintain for three years.
Destroy by shredding (paper) or degaussing or electronic erasure
(computer).
System manager(s) and addresses:
Vice President, Controller United States Postal Service 475
L'Enfant Plaza SW., Washington DC 20260-5200.
Notification procedure:
Individuals wanting to know whether information about them is
maintained in this system of records must address inquiries in writing
to the system manager. Inquiries must contain the authorization number
for money orders and the reference number for money transfers.
Record access procedures:
Requests for access must be made in accordance with the
Notification Procedure above and the Postal Service
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Privacy Act regulations regarding access to records and verification of
identity under 39 CFR 266.6.
Contesting record procedures:
See Notification Procedure and Record Access Procedures above.
Record source categories:
Purchasers and payees of money order and money transfer
transactions and Foreign Postal Administrations and entities.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 96-12336 Filed 5-15-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P
