Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

AGENCY:

Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION:

Notice to Alter a System of Records.

SUMMARY:

The Department of the Navy proposes to alter a system of records notice in its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended. The alteration adds a routine use to permit disclosure of information to the National Academy of Sciences, for the purposes of conducting personnel and/or health-related research.

DATES:

This action will be effective on November 13, 2000 unless comments are received that would result in a contrary determination.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments to the Department of the Navy, PA/FOIA Policy Branch, Chief of Naval Operations (N09B30), 2000 Navy Pentagon, Washington, DC 20350-2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mrs. Doris Lama at (202) 685-6545 or DSN 325-6545.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department of the Navy's record system notices for records systems 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 was submitted on September 25, 2000, to the House Committee on Government Reform, 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, (61 FR 6427, February 20, 1996).

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SYSTEM NAME:

Navy Personnel Records System (August 30, 2000, 65 FR 52718).

CHANGES:

Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories of users and the purposes of such uses: Add new paragraph to read “To Federal agencies, their contractors and grantees, and to private organizations, such as the National Academy of Sciences, for the purposes of conducting personnel and/or health-related research in the interest of the Federal government and the public. When not considered mandatory, the names and other identifying data will be eliminated from records used for such research studies.”

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SYSTEM NAME:

Navy Personnel Records System.

SYSTEM LOCATION:

PRIMARY LOCATIONS:

Navy Personnel Command, 5720 Integrity Drive, Millington, TN 38055-3130; Naval Reserve Personnel Center, 4400 Dauphine Street, New Orleans, LA 70149-7800; and local activity to which individual is assigned. Official mailing addresses are published as an appendix to the Navy's compilation of system of record notices.

SECONDARY LOCATIONS:

Department of the Navy Activities in the chain of command between the local activity and the headquarters level; Federal Records Storage Centers; National Archives. Official mailing addresses are published as an appendix to the Navy's compilation of system of record notices.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:

All Navy military personnel: officers, enlisted, active, inactive, reserve, fleet reserve, retired, midshipmen, officer candidates, and Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps personnel.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

Personnel service jackets and service records, correspondence and records in both automated and non-automated form concerning classification, assignment, distribution, promotion, advancement, performance, recruiting, retention, reenlistment, separation, training, education, morale, personal affairs, benefits, entitlements, discipline and administration of naval personnel.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:

5 U.S.C. 301, Departmental Regulations; 42 U.S.C. 10601 et seq., Victim's Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 as implemented by DoD Instruction 1030.2, Victim and Witness Assistance Procedures; and E.O. 9397 (SSN).

PURPOSE(S):

To assist officials and employees of the Navy in the management, supervision and administration of Navy personnel (officer and enlisted) and the operations of related personnel affairs and functions.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES 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 officials and employees of the National Research Council in Cooperative Studies of the National History of Disease, of Prognosis and of Epidemiology. Each study in which the records of members and former members of the naval service are used must be approved by the Chief of Naval Personnel.

To officials and employees of the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Veteran Affairs, and Selective Service Administration in the performance of their official duties related to eligibility, notification and assistance in obtaining benefits by members and former members of the Navy.

To officials and employees of the Department of Veteran Affairs in the performance of their duties relating to approved research projects.

To officials and employees of Navy Relief and the American Red Cross in the performance of their duties relating to the assistance of the members and their dependents and relatives, or related to assistance previously furnished such individuals, without regard to whether the individual assisted or his/her sponsor continues to be a member of the Navy.

To duly appointed Family Ombudsmen in the performance of their duties related to the assistance of the members and their families.

To state and local agencies in the performance of their official duties related to verification of status for determination of eligibility for Veterans Bonuses and other benefits and entitlements, including Department of Labor and state unemployment agencies for unemployment compensation for ex-service members.

To officials and employees of the Office of the Sergeant at Arms of the United States House of Representatives in the performance of their official duties related to the verification of the active duty naval service of Members of Congress. Information as to current military addresses and assignments may be provided to military banking facilities who provide banking services overseas and who are reimbursed by the Government for certain checking and loan losses. For personnel separated, discharged or retired from the Armed Forces information as to last known residential or home of record address may be provided to the military banking facility upon certification by a banking facility officer that the facility has a returned or dishonored check negotiated by the individual or the individual has defaulted on a loan and that if restitution is not made by the individual the United States Government will be liable for the losses the facility may incur.

To federal, state, local, and foreign (within Status of Forces agreements) law enforcement agencies or their authorized representatives in connection with litigation, law enforcement, or other matters under the jurisdiction of such agencies. Information relating to professional qualifications of chaplains may be provided to civilian certification boards and committees, including, but not limited to, state and federal licensing authorities and ecclesiastical endorsing organizations.

To governmental entities or private organizations under government contract to perform random analytical research into specific aspects of military personnel management and administrative procedures.

To victims and witnesses of a crime for purposes of providing information, consistent with the requirements of the Victim and Witness Assistance Program, regarding the investigation and disposition of an offense.

To Federal agencies, their contractors and grantees, and to private organizations, such as the National Academy of Sciences, for the purposes of conducting personnel and/or health-related research in the interest of the Federal government and the public. When not considered mandatory, the names and other identifying data will be eliminated from records used for such research studies.

The ‘Blanket Routine Uses’ that appear at the beginning of the Navy's compilation of system of record notices also apply to this system.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING, AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

STORAGE:

Automated records may be stored on magnetic tapes, disc, and drums. Manual records may be stored in paper file folders, microfiche or microfilm.

RETRIEVABILITY:

Automated records may be retrieved by name and Social Security Number. Manual records may be retrieved by name, Social Security Number, enlisted service number, or officer file number.

SAFEGUARDS:

Computer facilities and terminals are located in restricted areas accessible only to authorized persons that are properly screened, cleared and trained. Manual records and computer printouts are available only to authorized personnel having a need-to-know.

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:

Transfer to Naval Reserve Personnel Center, New Orleans, LA 70149 six months after discharge, retirement, or death of service member. Naval Reserve Personnel Center will forward to the National Personnel Records Center, (Military Personnel Records), 9700 Page Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63132-5000. Transfer to the National Archives and Records Administration 75 years after separation of service member. [Note: An exception is made for copies of officer fitness reports, enlisted evaluations, and officer and enlisted counseling forms which may be maintained by the member's commanding officer or command for a period not to exceed five years.]

SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS:

Commander, Navy Personnel Command, 5720 Integrity Drive, Millington, TN 38055-3130; Commanding Officers, Officers in Charge, and Heads of Department of the Navy activities. Official mailing addresses are published as an appendix to the Navy's compilation of system of record notices.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:

Individuals seeking to determine whether this system of records contains information about themselves should address written inquiries to the Commander, Navy Personnel Command, 5720 Integrity Drive, Millington, TN 38055-3130; or contact the personnel officer where assigned. Official mailing addresses are published as an appendix to the Navy's compilation of system of record notices.

The letter should contain full name, Social Security Number (and/or enlisted service number/officer file number), rank/rate, designator, military status, address, and signature of the requester.

The individual may visit the Navy Personnel Command, Records Review Room, Building 769, Room K615, Millington, TN for assistance with records located in that building; or the individual may visit the local activity to which attached for access to locally maintained records. Proof of identification will consist of Military Identification Card for persons having such cards, or other picture-bearing identification.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:

Individuals seeking access to records about themselves contained in this system of records should address written inquiries to the Commander, Navy Personnel Command, 5720 Integrity Drive, Millington, TN 38055-3130, or contact the personnel officer where assigned. Official mailing addresses are published as an appendix to the Navy's compilation of system of records notices.

The letter should contain full name, Social Security Number (and/or enlisted service number/officer file number), rank/rate, designator, military status, address, and signature of the requester.

The individual may visit the Navy Personnel Command, Records Review Room, Building 769, Room K615, Millington, TN for assistance with records located in that building; or the individual may visit the local activity to which attached for access to locally maintained records. Proof of identification will consist of Military Identification Card for persons having such cards, or other picture-bearing identification.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:

The Navy's rules for accessing records, and for contesting contents and appealing initial agency determinations are published in Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5211.5; 32 CFR part 701; or may be obtained from the system manager.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:

Correspondence; educational institutions; federal, state, and local court documents; civilian and military investigatory reports; general correspondence concerning the individual; official records of professional qualifications; Navy Relief and American Red Cross requests for verification of status.

EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED FOR THE SYSTEM:

None.