[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 51123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20951]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended
AGENCY: Financial Management Service, Treasury.
ACTION: Notice of amendment to system of records.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the
Financial Management Service gives notice of a proposed alteration to
the Privacy Act system of records entitled ``Treasury/FMS .008--Mailing
List Records.''
DATES: Comments must be received no later than September 16, 2011. The
altered system of records will become effective September 16, 2011
unless comments are received which would result in a contrary
determination.
ADDRESSES: You should send your comments to Peter Genova, Deputy Chief
Information Officer, Financial Management Service, 401 14th Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20227. Comments received will be available for
inspection at the same address between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Monday through Friday. You may send your comments by electronic mail to
[email protected] or http://regulations.gov. All comments,
including attachments and other supporting materials, received are
subject to public disclosure. You should submit only information that
you wish to make available publicly.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Genova, Deputy Chief Information
Officer, (202) 874-1736.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 16, 2010, the Financial
Management Service (FMS), a bureau within the U.S. Department of the
Treasury (Treasury), established a new system of records entitled
``Mailing List Records--Treasury/FMS .008'' by publishing a new system
of records notice at 75 FR 78802, pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974,
as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a. FMS proposes to amend that system of records
by adding to the ``categories of individuals covered by the system,''
and the ``categories of records in the system.''
Under the existing system of records, FMS may obtain and maintain
identifying information (names and addresses) of low-to-moderate income
individuals who are more likely to be unbanked or underbanked, who
could potentially receive Federal tax refund payments, and whose names
and addresses are included on mailing lists purchased from commercial
providers. These records are maintained in order for the bureau to send
letters to these individuals to inform them of the benefits of
electronic payments and Treasury-recommended account options for
receiving payments electronically. The information may also be used to
study the effectiveness of offering account options to individuals to
receive Federal payments. To study program efficacy, FMS may use the
mailing list records to collect aggregate statistical information on
the success and benefits of direct mail and the use of commercial
database providers.
FMS proposes to broaden the ``categories of records in the system''
to include demographic information about these individuals, in addition
to identifying information. Further, FMS proposes to expand the
``categories of individuals covered by the system'' to include not only
individuals whose records were purchased from commercial providers, but
also those individuals whose information was obtained from other
sources, such as people who have previously been mailed a paper check
by FMS. The proposed amendments to the system would allow FMS to obtain
and use information such as income range, likelihood of being unbanked,
and gender in determining what types of account options best meet the
needs of low- to moderate-income individuals for the purpose of
receiving their Federal payments. The addition of these data elements
to the system will give FMS access to information which will allow the
bureau to better understand the needs of the specific population that
could benefit from electronic payment of tax refunds. In this way, FMS
will be able to more effectively serve the public.
The altered system of records report, as required by 5 U.S.C.
552a(r) of the Privacy Act, has been submitted to the Committee on
Government Reform of the House of Representatives, the Committee on
Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Office of Management and
Budget, pursuant to Appendix I to OMB Circular A-130, ``Federal Agency
Responsibilities for Maintaining Records About Individuals,'' dated
November 30, 2000. For the reasons described in the preamble, FMS
proposes to alter its system of records Treasury/FMS .008--Mailing List
Records, as set forth below.
Treasury/FMS .008
System name:
Mailing List Records--Treasury/Financial Management Service.
* * * * *
Categories of individuals covered by the system:
Description of change: At the end of the first sentence following
the word ``providers'' add the phrase ``or acquired from other
sources.'' The paragraph is revised to read: ``Low- to moderate-income
individuals who are more likely to be unbanked or underbanked, who
could potentially receive Federal tax refund payments, and whose names
and addresses are included on mailing lists purchased from commercial
providers or acquired from other sources.''
Categories of records in the system:
Description of change: At the end of the sentence following the
word ``address'' add the phrase ``as well as demographic data, such as
income range, gender or other characteristics.'' The paragraph is
revised to read:
``The records may contain identifying information, such as an
individual's name(s) and address, as well as demographic data, such as
income range, gender or other characteristics.''
* * * * *
Dated: August 8, 2011.
Veronica Marco,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Privacy, Transparency, and
Records.
[FR Doc. 2011-20951 Filed 8-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-35-P