[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 216 (Monday, November 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60370-60371]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29904]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Geological Survey
Privacy Act of 1974; as Amended; Revisions to the Existing System
of Records
agency: Geological Survey, Department of the Interior.
action: Proposed revisions to an existing system of records.
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summary: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5
U.S.C. 552a), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is issuing public
notice of its intent to modify an existing Privacy Act system of
records notice, USGS-4, ``Employee Assistance Program Records.'' The
revisions will update the address of the System Manager(s).
effective date: 5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(11) requires that the public be
provided a 30-day period in which to comment on the intended use of the
information in the system of records. The Office of Management and
Budget, in its Circular A-130, requires an additional 10-day period
(for a total of 40 days) in which to make these comments. Any persons
interested in commenting on this revised system of records may do so by
submitting comments in writing to the U.S. Department of the Interior,
U.S. Geological Survey, USGS Privacy Act Officer, National Center, MS-
807, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Va 20192. Comments received
within 40 days of publication in the Federal Register (December 21,
1998), will be considered. The system will be effective as proposed at
the end of the comment period, unless comments are received which would
require a contrary determination.
addresses: Send written comments to U.S. Department of the Interior,
U.S. Geological Survey, USGS Privacy Act Officer, National Center, MS-
807, Reston, Virginia, 20192. Hand deliver comments to the same
address.
for further information contact: Chief, Branch of Employee/Labor
Management Relations, Office of Personnel, U.S. Geological Survey,
National Center, MS-601, Reston, Virginia, 20192.
supplementary information: The USGS is proposing to amend the system
notice for USGS-4, ``Employee Assistance Program Records,'' to more
accurately and clearly describe the address of the System Manager(s).
The revision reflects a change of address in the Reston, Virginia, and
the Atlanta, Georgia, System Managers locations.
Dated: October 28, 1998.
Paul R. Celluzzi,
Chief, Corporate Information Technology Branch, Office of Information
Services.
Accordingly, the USGS proposes to amend the ``Employee Assistance
Program Records,'' USGS-4 in its entirety to read as follows:
INTERIOR/USGS-4
System name:
Employee Assistance Program--Records, USGS-4.
System location:
This system of records is located with the contractor providing
counseling services.
Categories of individuals covered by the system:
U.S. Geological Survey employees and their families who seek, are
referred, and/or receive assistance through the Employee Assistance
Program (EAP).
Categories of records in the system:
Records in this system include documentation of visits to employee
counselors (Federal, State, local government, or private), the problem
assessment, the recommended plan of action to correct the major issue,
referral to community or private resource for assistance with personal
problems, referral to community or private resource for rehabilitation
or treatment, results of referral, and other notes or records of
discussions held with the employee made by the EAP counselor.
Additionally, records in this system may include documentation of
treatment by a therapist or at a Federal, State, local government, or
private institution.
AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
42 U.S.C. 290dd-1; 42 U.S.C. 290ee-1.
ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES
OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
These records are used by the Employee Assistance Program Counselor
to document the nature of an individual's problem and progress made to
correct the problem. The primary uses of these records are: (1) For the
EAP counselor to document the nature of individual's problem and
progress made to correct the problem, and, (2) record an individual's
participation in and the results of community or private referrals for
solution of problems, rehabilitation, or treatment programs. These
records and information may be used to disclose information to
qualified personnel for the purpose of conducting scientific research,
management audits, financial audits, or program evaluation, but such
personnel may not identify, directly or indirectly, any individual
patient in any report or otherwise disclose patient identities in any
manner (when such records are provided to qualified researchers
employed by the Department of the Interior all patient identifying
information will be removed).
Note: Disclosure of information pertaining to an individual with
a history of alcohol or drug abuse must be limited in compliance
with the restrictions of the confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug
Abuse Patient Records Regulations, 42 CFR part 2. Disclosure of
records pertaining to the physical and mental fitness of employees
are, as a matter of Department policy, afforded the same degree of
confidentiality.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING,
AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
STORAGE:
These records are maintained in file folders.
RETRIEVABILITY:
These records are retrieved by the name of the individual on whom
they are maintained.
SAFEGUARDS:
These records are maintained in locked file cabinets with access
strictly limited to those persons employed by the contractor(s) who are
directly involved in the alcohol and drug abuse prevention function of
the U.S. Geological Survey's Employee Assistance Program as that term
is defined in 42 CFR, part 2.
RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:
Retained and disposed of according to Bureau Records Disposition
Schedule, RCS/Item 405-04 a and b.
SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS:
Chief, Branch of Employee/Labor Management Relations, Office of
Personnel, U.S. Geological Survey, 601 National Center, Reston,
Virginia 20192; Atlanta Personnel Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 3850
Holcomb Bridge Rd., Norcross, Georgia 30092;
[[Page 60371]]
Rolla Personnel Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 1400 Independence
Road, Rolla, Missouri 65401; Chief, Employee Relations Section, Central
Region Personnel Branch, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center,
Denver, Colorado 80225; Western Region EAP Administrator, Employee
Relations and Development Section, Western Region Personnel Branch, 345
Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, California 94025.
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
Inquiries regarding the existence of records should be addressed to
the appropriate System Manager. Individuals must furnish their name and
date of birth for their records to be located and identified.
RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
Same as notification above. Any individual must also follow the
Department's Privacy Act Regulations regarding verification of identity
and access to records (see 43 CFR 2.62).
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
A petition for amendment shall be addressed to the appropriate
System Manager. An individual must follow the Department's Privacy Act
Regulations regarding and identity and amendment of records (see 43 CFR
2.71).
RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
Information in this system of records comes from the individual to
whom it applies, the supervisor of the individual if the individual was
referred by a supervisor, the Employer Assistance Program staff who
records the counseling session, and the therapists or institutions used
as referrals or providing treatment.
[FR Doc. 98-29904 Filed 11-6-98; 8:45 am]
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