Privacy Act of 1974; Report of Modified or Altered System of Records

AGENCY:

Office of Workforce and Career Development (OWCD), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

ACTION:

Notification of Proposed Altered System of Records.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Health and Human Services proposes to alter System of Records, 09-20-0138, “Epidemic Intelligence Service Officers Files, HHS/CDC/OWCD.” HHS is proposing to add the following Breach Response Routine Use Language to comply with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memoranda (M) 07-16, Safeguarding Against and responding to the Breach of Personally Identifiable Information:

To appropriate Federal agencies and Department contractors that have a need to know the information for the purpose of assisting the Department's efforts to respond to a suspected or confirmed breach of the security or confidentiality of information disclosed is relevant and necessary for that assistance.

These records will be maintained by the Office of Workforce and Career Development (OWCD).

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before February 24, 2011. The proposed altered System of Records will be effective 40 days from the date submitted to the OMB, unless OWCD receives comments that would result in a contrary determination.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by the Privacy Act System of Record Number 09-20-0138:

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OWCD proposes to alter System of Records, No. 09-20-0138, “Epidemic Intelligence Service Officers Files, HHS/CDC/OWCD.”

The system is designed to process individual applications for the Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer program, and to assess a candidate's suitability for a position in the program.

This System of Record Notice is being altered to add the Breach Response Routine Use Language to comply with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memorandum dated May 22, 2007.

The following notice is written in the present tense, rather than the future tense, in order to avoid the unnecessary expenditure of public funds to republish the notice after the System has become effective.

Editorial Note:

This document was received at the Office of the Federal Register on December 27, 2010.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Office of Workforce and Career Development (OWCD)

Epidemic Intelligence Service Officers Files—Report of Modified or Altered System of Records

Narrative Statement

I. Background and Purpose of the System

A. Background

The Department of Health and Human Services proposes to alter System of Records, No. 09-20-0138 “Epidemic Intelligence Service officers Files, HHS/CDC/OWCD.” HHS is proposing to add the following Breach Response Routine Use Language to comply with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memoranda (M) 07-16, Safeguarding Against and responding to the Breach of Personally Identifiable Information:

To appropriate Federal agencies and Department contractors that have a need to know the information for the purpose of assisting the Department's efforts to respond to a suspected or confirmed breach of the security or confidentiality of information disclosed is relevant and necessary for that assistance.

B. Purpose

The system is designed to process individual applications for the Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer program, and to assess a candidate's suitability for a position in the program.

II. Authority for Maintenance of the System

Public Health Service Act, Section 203, “Commissioned Corps” and Section 207, “Appointment of Personnel” (42 U.S.C. 204, 209).

III. Proposed Routine Use Disclosures of Data in the System

Disclosure may be made to a congressional office from the record of an individual in response to a verified inquiry from the congressional office made at the written request of that individual.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may disclose information from this system of records to the Department of Justice, or to a court or other tribunal, when: (a) HHS, or any component thereof; or (b) any HHS employee in his or her official capacity; or (c) any HHS employee in his or her individual capacity where the Department of Justice (or HHS, where it is authorized to do so) has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States or any agency thereof where HHS determines that the litigation is likely to affect HHS or any of its components, is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and HHS determines that the use of such records by the Department of Justice, the court or other tribunal is relevant and necessary to the litigation and would help in the effective representation of the governmental party, provided, however, that in each case, HHS determines that such disclosure is compatible with the purpose for which the records were collected.

Records may be disclosed to appropriate federal agencies and Department contractors that have a need to know the information for the purpose of assisting the Department's efforts to respond to a suspected or confirmed breach of the security or confidentiality of information disclosed is relevant and necessary for that assistance.

IV. Effects of the Proposed System of Records on Individual Rights

The first routine use permits an individual may learn if a record exists about himself or herself by contacting the system manager at the address above. Requesters in person must provide driver's license or other positive identification. Individuals who do not appear in person must either: (1) submit a notarized request to verify their identity; or (2) certify that they are the individuals they claim to be and that they understand that the knowing and willful request for or acquisition of a record pertaining to an individual under false pretenses is a criminal offense under the Privacy Act subject to a $5,000 fine.

Same as notification procedures. Requesters should also reasonably specify the record contents being sought. An accounting of disclosures that have been made of the record, if any, may be requested.

V. Safeguards

The records in this System are stored in the file folders, computer tapes/disks, and CD-ROMs. The records are retrieved by name.

The records in this System have the following safeguards in place to maintain and protect the information as it relates to Authorized users, physical and procedural safeguards:

Authorized users—Access is granted to only a limited number of physicians, scientists, statisticians, and designated support staff of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as authorized by the system manager to accomplish the stated purposes for which the data in this system have been collected.

Physical Safeguards—Hardcopy records are kept in locked cabinets in locked rooms, security guard service in buildings, personnel screening of visitors, copies of files stored in a separate secure off-site location.

Procedural Safeguards—The OWCD Local Area Network (LAN) uses security packages to control unauthorized access to the system. Attempts to gain access by unauthorized individuals are automatically recorded and reviewed on a daily basis. Protection for computerized records both on the mainframe and the OWCD LAN include programmed verification of valid user identification code and password prior to logging on to the system, mandatory password changes, limited log-ins, virus protection, and user rights/file attribute restrictions. Password protection imposes user name and password log-in requirements to prevent unauthorized access. Each user name is assigned limited access rights to files and directories at varying levels to control file sharing. There are routine daily backup procedures and secure off-site storage is available for backup tapes. CDC employees who maintain records are instructed to check with the system manager prior to making disclosures of data.

Implementation Guidelines: The safeguards outlined above are in accordance with the HHS Information Security Program Policy and FIPS Pub 200, “Minimum Security Requirements for Federal Information and Information Systems.” Data maintained on CDC's Mainframe and the OWCD LAN are in compliance with OMB Circular A-130, Appendix III. Security is provided for information collection, processing, transmission, storage, and dissemination in general support systems and major applications.

VI. OMB Control Numbers, Expiration Dates, and Titles of Information Collection

A. Full Title: “Epidemic Intelligence Service officers Files, HHS/CDC/OWCD.”

OMB Control Number: 09-20-0138.

Expiration Date: TBD.

VII. Supporting Documentation

A. Preamble and Proposed Notice of System for publication in the Federal Register.

B. Agency Rules: None.

C. Exemption Requested: None.

D. Computer Matching Report: The new system does not require a matching report in accordance with the computer matching provisions of the Privacy Act.