98-14009. Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records  

  • [Federal Register Volume 63, Number 102 (Thursday, May 28, 1998)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 29188-29190]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 98-14009]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
    
    Office of the Secretary
    
    
    Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
    
    AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DoD.
    ACTION: Notice to alter a system of records.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Office of the Secretary proposes to alter a system of 
    records notice in its existing inventory of record systems subject to 
    the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended. The alteration 
    consists of adding three routine uses to DGC 18, entitled `DoD Roster 
    of Mediators' to enable the release of information outside of the 
    Department of Defense.
    DATES: This proposed action will be effective without further notice on 
    June 23, 1998, unless comments are received which result in a contrary 
    determination.
    ADDRESSES: Send comments to OSD Privacy Act Coordinator, Records 
    Section, Directives and Records Division, Washington Headquarter 
    Services, Correspondence and Directives, 1155 Defense Pentagon, 
    Washington, DC 20301-1155.
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Bosworth at (703) 695-0970 
    or DSN 225-0970.
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of the Secretary systems of 
    records notices subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as 
    amended, have been published in the Federal Register and are available 
    from the address above.
        The proposed system report, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(r) of the 
    Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, was submitted on May 14, 1998, to the 
    House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, the Senate 
    Committee on Governmental Affairs, and the Office of Management and 
    Budget (OMB) pursuant to paragraph 4c of Appendix I to OMB Circular No. 
    A-130, `Federal Agency Responsibilities for Maintaining Records About 
    Individuals,' dated February 8, 1996 (February 20, 1996, 61 FR 6427).
        Dated: May 21, 1998.
    
    L.M. Bynum,
    Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
    DGC 18
    
    System name:
        DoD Roster of Mediators (August 25, 1995, 60 FR 44324).
    
    Changes
    * * * * *
    
    System name:
        Delete entry and replace with 'DoD Roster of Neutrals.'
    
    Categories of individuals covered by the system:
        Delete entry and replace with `DoD employees who have agreed to 
    serve as neutrals as described in 5 U.S.C. 573. These individuals are 
    trained and experienced in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and may 
    serve as a conciliator, facilitator, mediator, or in other neutral 
    roles in the dispute resolution process.'
    
    Categories of records in the system:
        Delete entry and replace with `Background information including 
    experiences and training of persons who wish to be and/or are 
    registered in the DoD Roster of Neutrals. Information includes 
    Alternate Dispute Resolution education or certification status and 
    notes or any other information pertaining to a neutral, including 
    recertification, removal, and investigatory or disciplinary actions 
    taken against an individual. The investigator's files that may be used 
    to determine those actions are not contained in this system of records.
        Files of neutrals assigned to Alternate Dispute Resolution 
    proceedings generally contain evaluations contributed by the parties to 
    the dispute commenting on the effectiveness of the neutral.
        Other records consist of ADR case files, which include requests 
    for, and agreements to engage in, an ADR proceeding, settlement 
    agreements and other correspondence relating to a case; case file logs; 
    and case file databases.'
    * * * * *
    
    Purpose(s):
        Delete entry and replace with `The primary purpose of the system is 
    to maintain the Roster of Neutrals for use by parties in dispute to 
    review training, experience and other qualifications information about 
    neutrals. Secondary purposes are to manage application, investigative, 
    certification,
    
    [[Page 29189]]
    
    decertification, recertification, and disciplinary information about 
    neutrals and apply this to their status on The Roster; and to manage 
    ADR case files and supporting ADR administrative logs and databases.'
    
    Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories 
    of users and the purposes of such uses:
        Delete the second paragraph and add three new paragraphs `To 
    parties to a dispute and/or their personal representatives when these 
    individuals are not affiliated with the Department of Defense for 
    review of training, experience and other qualification information 
    contained in the DoD Roster of Neutrals in connection with the 
    appointment of a specific neutral.
        To administrative personnel who are not affiliated with the 
    Department of Defense who use information in the system to arrange or 
    manage ADR proceedings.
        To non-DoD persons who use information in the system in connection 
    with investigations or disciplinary actions concerning a neutral, 
    including, but not limited to, violations of ethical standards of 
    conduct and/or breaches of state, Federal or local laws or 
    regulations.'
    * * * * *
    
    Retention and disposal:
        Delete entry and replace with `Files of active neutrals: Retain 
    until neutral separates from Roster. Cutoff file on separation and 
    destroy 1 year later.
        Rejected neutral applications, correspondence, biographical data 
    including education, training and experience. Cutoff file and destroy 2 
    years later.
        Files of active neutrals who are decertified or removed: Cutoff 
    from active file upon notification of decertification or removal. 
    Destroy 3 years later.
        Files of active neutrals who become unavailable due to retirement 
    or death: Cutoff from active file upon notification of retirement or 
    death. Destroy 1 year later.
        Alternative Dispute Resolution Case files: Destroy when 10 years 
    old.
        Logs and databases tracking ADR cases: Destroy when no longer 
    needed.'
    * * * * *
    
    Record source categories:
        Delete entry and replace with `Neutral qualification and experience 
    information; information provided for certification purposes; 
    evaluations by parties to a dispute of the effectiveness of relevant 
    ADR efforts; ADR case files; and logs and databases of ADR 
    proceedings.'
    * * * * *
    DGC 18
    
    System name:
        DoD Roster of Neutrals.
    
    System location:
        Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Defense Legal Services 
    Agency, Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, 
    Suite 300, Ballston Tower III, Arlington, VA 22203-1995.
    
    Categories of individuals covered by the system:
        DoD employees who have agreed to serve as neutrals as described in 
    5 U.S.C. 573. These individuals are trained and experienced in 
    Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and may serve as a conciliator, 
    facilitator, mediator, or in other neutral roles in the dispute 
    resolution process.
    
    Categories of records in the system:
        Background information including experiences and training of 
    persons who wish to be and/or are registered in the DoD Roster of 
    Neutrals. Information includes Alternative Dispute Resolution education 
    or certification status and notes or any other information pertaining 
    to a neutral, including recertification, removal, and investigatory or 
    disciplinary actions taken against an individual. The investigator's 
    files that may be used to determine those actions are not contained in 
    this system of records.
        Files of neutrals assigned to Alternative Dispute Resolution 
    proceedings generally contain evaluations contributed by the parties to 
    the dispute commenting on the effectiveness of the neutral.
        Other records consist of Alternative Dispute Resolution case files, 
    which include requests for and agreements to engage in an ADR 
    proceeding, settlement agreements and other correspondence relating to 
    a case; case file logs; and case file databases.'
    
    Authority for maintenance of the system:
        5 U.S.C. 573, Neutrals; 10 U.S.C. 140, General Counsel of the 
    Department of Defense; and DoD Directive 5145, Alternative Dispute 
    Resolution (ADR).
    
    Purpose(s):
        The primary purpose of the system is to maintain the Roster of 
    Neutrals for use by parties in dispute to review training, experience 
    and other qualifications information about neutrals. Secondary purposes 
    are to manage application, investigative, certification, 
    decertification, recertification, and disciplinary information about 
    neutrals and apply this to their status on The Roster; and to manage 
    ADR case files and supporting ADR administrative logs and databases.
    
    Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories 
    of users and the purpose of such uses:
        In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 
    552a(b) of the Privacy Act, these records or information contained 
    therein may specifically be disclosed outside the DoD as a routine use 
    pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows:
        To parties to a dispute and/or their personal representatives when 
    these individuals are not affiliated with the Department of Defense for 
    review of training, experience and other qualification information 
    contained in the DoD Roster of Neutrals in connection with the 
    appointment of a specific neutral.
        To administrative personnel who are not affiliated with the 
    Department of Defense who use information in the system to arrange or 
    manage ADR proceedings.
        To non-DoD persons who use information in the system in connection 
    with investigations or disciplinary actions concerning a neutral, 
    including, but not limited to, violations of ethical standards of 
    conduct and/or breaches of state, Federal or local laws or regulations.
        The `Blanket Routine Uses' set forth at the beginning of OSD's 
    compilation of systems of records notices apply to this system.
    
    Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining 
    and disposing of records in the system:
    Storage:
        Hard copy files are maintained in file cabinets and computer files 
    on magnetic or optical media. All are stored in a secure area.
    
    Retrievability:
        Files are retrieved by the last name of the neutral, by geographic 
    availability of a neutral, and by experience and type of subject matter 
    expertise of a neutral. Case files for Alternative Dispute Resolution 
    proceedings are retrieved by case file number and not by any personal 
    identifier.
    
    Safeguards:
        Files are maintained in a secure area under the direct control of 
    Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution
    
    [[Page 29190]]
    
    personnel during duty hours. Office is locked and building employs 
    Security guards during non-duty hours. Access is restricted to those 
    personnel maintaining the files and to potential users of the 
    information. Access to the electronic portion of the system is 
    controlled by user passwords that are periodically changed.
    
    Retention and disposal:
        Delete entry and replace with `Files of active neutrals are 
    retained until neutral separates from Roster: Cutoff file on separation 
    and destroy 1 year later.
        Rejected neutral applications, correspondence, biographical data 
    including education, training and experience: Cutoff file and destroy 2 
    years later.
        Files of active neutrals who are decertified or removed: Cutoff 
    from active file upon notification of decertification or removal. 
    Destroy 3 years later.
        Files of active neutrals who become unavailable due to retirement 
    or death: Cutoff from active file upon notification of retirement or 
    death. Destroy 1 year later.
        Alternative Dispute Resolution Case files: Destroy when 10 years 
    old.
        Logs and databases tracking ADR cases: Destroy when no longer 
    needed.
    
    System manager(s) and address:
        Chief, Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Defense Legal 
    Services Agency, Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals, Post Office 
    Box 3656, Arlington, VA 22203-1995.
    
    Notification procedures:
        Individuals seeking to determine whether information about 
    themselves as neutrals is contained in this system should address 
    written inquiries to Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Defense 
    Legal Services Agency, Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals, Post 
    Office Box 3656, Arlington, VA 22203-1995.
    
    Record access procedures:
        Individuals seeking access to information about themselves as 
    neutrals in this system should address written inquiries to: Office of 
    Alternative Dispute Resolution, Defense Legal Services Agency, Defense 
    Office of Hearings and Appeals, Post Office Box 3656, Arlington, VA 
    22203-1995.
    
    Contesting records and procedures:
        The OSD rules for accessing records, for contesting contents and 
    appealing initial agency determinations are published in OSD 
    Administrative Instruction 81; 32 CFR part 311; or may be obtained from 
    the system manager.
    
    Record source categories:
        Neutral qualification and experience information; information 
    provided for certification purposes; evaluations by parties to a 
    dispute of the effectiveness of relevant ADR efforts; ADR case files; 
    and logs and databases of ADR proceedings.
    
    Exemptions claimed for the system:
        None.
    [FR Doc. 98-14009 Filed 5-27-98; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 5000-04-F
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
6/23/1998
Published:
05/28/1998
Department:
Defense Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice to alter a system of records.
Document Number:
98-14009
Dates:
This proposed action will be effective without further notice on June 23, 1998, unless comments are received which result in a contrary determination.
Pages:
29188-29190 (3 pages)
PDF File:
98-14009.pdf