Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program Between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States Postal Service

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program Between the

Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States Postal Service

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of computer matching program.

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Notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

and the United States Postal Service (USPS) propose to conduct a

computer matching program. The purpose of the program is to identify

and locate USPS employees who owe delinquent debts to the Federal

Government as a result of their participation in benefit programs

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administered by VA. Once identified and located, VA will pursue

collection of debts through voluntary payments. If such payments are

not forthcoming, VA may request USPS to offset up to 15 percent of the

employees' disposable pay as authorized under the provisions of the

Debt Collection Act of 1982.

The legal authority for undertaking this matching program is

contained in the Debt Collection Act of 1982 (Pub. L. 97-365), 31

U.S.C. Chapter 37, Subchapter I (General) and Subchapter II (Claims of

the United States Government), 31 U.S.C. 3711 (Collection and

Compromise) and 5 U.S.C. 5514 (Installment Deduction for Indebtedness).

These statutes authorize Federal agencies to offset a Federal

employee's salary as a means of satisfying delinquent debts owed the

United States. VA and USPS have concluded an agreement to conduct the

matching program pursuant to provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, as

amended (15 U.S.C. 552a(o)). USPS will act as recipient (i.e.,

matching) agency. VA will provide a tape extract to USPS that contains

the name and social security number (SSN) of each record subject. USPS

will compare the tape extract against its database of employee records,

establishing ``hits'' (i.e., individuals common to both tapes) on the

basis of matched SSN's. For each hit, USPS will disclose to VA the

following information: name, SSN, home address and employee type

(permanent or temporary).

Records To Be Matched: The systems of records maintained by the

respective agencies from which records will be disclosed for the

purpose of this computer match are as follows:

USPS: Finance Records--Payroll System (USPS 050.020) containing

records of approximately 800,000 employees. Disclosure will be made

under routine use of 24 of that system, a full description of which was

last published at 57 FR 57515 (December 4, 1992).

VA: Accounts Receivable Records--VA (88VA20A6) containing records

of approximately 300,000 debtors. Disclosure will be made under routine

use No. 7 of that system, a full description of which was last

published in 61 FR 60148 on November 26, 1996.

The matching program is expected to begin on or about September 19,

1997, and continue in effect for 18 months. The agreement governing the

matching program and, thus, the matching program, may be extended an

additional 12 months with the respective approval of VA's and USPS'

Data Integrity Boards. Such extension must occur within three months

prior to expiration of the 18-month period set forth above and under

the terms set forth in 5 U.S.C. 552a(o)(2)(D).

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments,

suggestions, or objections regarding the proposal to conduct the

matching program to the Director, Office of Regulations Management

(02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, room

1154, Washington, DC 20420. All relevant material received before

September 19, 1997, will be considered. All written comments received

will be available for public inspection in the Office of Regulations

Management, Room 1158, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420,

between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Fridays, except holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mark Gottsacker, Debt Management Center (389/00A), Department of

Veterans Affairs, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal

Drive, Ft. Snelling, Minnesota 55111, (612) 725-1844.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This information is required by the Privacy

Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(12)). A copy of this notice

has been provided to both Houses of Congress and OMB.

Approved: August 5, 1997.

Hershel Gober,

Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

[FR Doc. 97-22007 Filed 8-19-97; 8:45 am]

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