Federal Register: October 19, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 200)
DOCID: fr19oc09-118 FR Doc E9-25039
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Veterans Affairs Department
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCID: fr19oc09-118
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of Amendment to Systems of Records.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
DATES: Comments on the amendment of this system of records must be received no later than November 18, 2009. If no public comment is received, the amended system will become effective November 18, 2009.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
As required by the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a(e), notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending four existing systems of records 07VA138, ``Department of Medicine and Surgery Engineering Employee Management Information RecordsVA''; 20VA138, ``Motor Vehicle Operator Accident RecordsVA''; 28VA119, ``Personnel Registration Under Controlled Substance ActVA and 33VA113, ``National Prosthetics Patient DatabaseVA'' to: Add a routine use related to the release of information from VA to the Department of Justice (DoJ); add a routine use related to releasing information to entities with whom VA has a contract or subcontract; add a routine use related to releasing information to agencies in the event of fraud or abuse; add a routine use related to disclosing information when there is a risk of embarrassment or harm to the reputations of the record subjects; add a routine use when a violation of law is suspected; and add a routine use related to releasing information for litigation. In 20VA138 existing routine use number three will be replaced with a new routine use which discloses information related to suspected or reasonably imminent violation of the law. In addition, routine uses four through seven will be renumbered as three through six.
SUMMARY:
Privacy Act; Systems of Records
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
VA provides health care services to many of America's Veterans through the Veterans Health Administration. During the course of providing health care, VHA collects medical and health information on Veterans. In order to protect Veteran's medical or health information VHA is adding six routine uses to four existing systems of records (07VA138, 20VA138, 28VA119 and 33VA113). Additional Routine Uses
The first routine use added to 07VA138, 20VA138, 28VA119 and
33VA113 would permit VA to disclose information from these system of
records to the Department of Justice (DoJ), either on VA's initiative
or in response to DoJ's request for the information, after either VA or DoJ determines that such information is relevant to DoJ's
representation of the United States or any of its components in legal
proceedings before a court or adjudicative body, provided that, in each
case, the agency also determines prior to disclosure that release of
the records to the DoJ is a use of the information contained in the
records that is compatible with the purpose for which VA collected the
records. VA, on its own initiative, may also disclose records in this
system of records in legal proceedings before a court or administrative
body after determining that the disclosure of the records to the court
or administrative body is a use of the information contained in the
records that is compatible with the purpose for which VA collected the records.
According to VA leadership this mandatory new routine use is added to comply to new Federal policy and guidelines.
The second routine use added to 07VA138, 20VA138, 28VA119 and 33VA113 allows VA to disclosure relevant information made to individuals, organizations, private or public agencies, or other entities with whom VA has a contract or agreement or where there is a subcontract to perform such services as VA may deem practicable for the purposes of laws administered by VA, in order for the contractor or subcontractor to perform the services of the contract or agreement.
According to VA leadership this mandatory new routine use is added to comply to new Federal policy and guidelines.
The third routine use added to 07VA138, 20VA138, 28VA119 and 33VA113 allows VA to disclosure to other Federal agencies may be made to assist such agencies in preventing and detecting possible fraud or abuse by individuals in their operations and programs.
The routine use added to these four systems of records would permit VA to disclose information in its files in the event of fraud or abuse.
The fourth routine use added to 07VA138, 20VA138, 28VA119 and
33VA113 allows VA, on its own initiative, to disclose any information
or records to appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when (1) VA
suspects or has confirmed that the integrity or confidentiality of
information in the system of records has been compromised; (2) the
Department has determined that as a result of the suspected or
confirmed compromise, there is a risk of embarrassment or harm to the
reputations of the record subjects, harm to economic or property
interests, identity theft or fraud, or harm to the security,
confidentiality, or integrity of this system or other systems or
programs (whether maintained by the Department or another agency or
disclosure is to agencies, entities, or persons whom VA determines are [[Page 53586]]
reasonably necessary to assist or carry out the Department's efforts to
respond to the suspected or confirmed compromise and prevent, minimize,
or remedy such harm. This routine use permits disclosures by the
Department to respond to a suspected or confirmed data breach,
including the conduct of any risk analysis or provision of credit
protection services as provided in 38 U.S.C. 5724, as the terms are defined in 38 U.S.C. 5727.
The fifth routine use added to 07VA138, 20VA138, and 28VA119 allows VA to disclose on its own initiative any information in the system, except the names and home addresses of veterans and their dependents, that is relevant to a suspected or reasonably imminent violation of the law whether civil, criminal, or regulatory in nature and whether arising by general or program statute or by regulation, rule, or order issued pursuant thereto, to a Federal, state, local, tribal, or foreign agency charged with the responsibility of investigating or prosecuting such violation, or charged with enforcing or implementing the statute, regulation, rule, or order. VA may also disclose on its own initiative the names and addresses of veterans and their dependents to a Federal agency charged with the responsibility of investigating or prosecuting civil, criminal, or regulatory violations of law, or charged with enforcing or implementing the statute, regulation, or order issued pursuant thereto.
According to VA leadership this mandatory new routine use is added to comply to new Federal policy and guidelines.
The sixth routine use added to 07VA138, 20VA138, 28VA119 and 33VA113 allows VA to disclose information to another federal agency, court, or party in litigation before a court or other administrative proceedings conduced by an agency, if VA is a party to the proceeding and needs to disclose the information to protect its interests.
The routine use added to these four system of records would allow VA to disclose information in discovery during litigation.
The Report of Intent to Amend a System on Records Notice and an advance copy of the system notice have been sent to the appropriate Congressional committees and to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(r) (Privacy Act) and guidelines issued by OMB (65 FR 77677), December 12, 2000.
Approved: September 25, 2009.
John R. Gingrich,
Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs.
Notice of Amendment of Systems of Records
1. In the system identified as 07VA138, ``Department of Medicine
and Surgery Engineering Employee Management Information RecordsVA'',
as set forth in the Privacy Act Issuances, 1980 Compilation, Volume V
and last amended in the 21 Appendix B6 (Oct. 17, 1984). Six new routine uses are added as follows:
07VA138
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Privacy Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420; telephone (704) 2452492.