This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

committee meetings, agency decisions and

rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

19307 

Vol. 76, No. 67 

Thursday, April 7, 2011 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Office of the Secretary 

Privacy Act of 1974; Amendment of 

Privacy Act System of Records 

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture. 

ACTION: Notice of revised system of 

records; request for comment. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the 

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

is amending an existing Forest Service 

Privacy Act system of records, USDA/ 

FS–3, Uniform Allowance System. 

DATES: Comments must be received in 

writing, on or before May 9, 2011. The 

System of Records USDA/FS–3 Uniform 

Allowance is amended, without further 

notice, on June 6, 2011, unless modified 

to respond to comments received from 

the public and published in a 

subsequent notice. 

ADDRESSES: Questions can be addressed 

to the Forest Service Privacy Act 

Officer, USDA Forest Service, 1400 

Independence Avenue, SW., Mail Stop 

1143, Washington, DC 20250–1143. 

Comments may also be sent via e-mail 

to wo_foia@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to 

(202) 260–3245. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Karren Y. Alexander, Director, USDA 

Forest Service, Financial Management 

Systems, 1400 Independence Avenue, 

SW., Mailstop 1149, Washington, DC 

20250–1149, kalexander@fs.fed.us, 

(703) 605–5199. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Established in 1905, the Forest Service 

is an agency of the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture. The mission of the Forest 

Service is to sustain the health, 

diversity, and productivity of the 

Nation’s forests and grasslands that 

encompass 193 million acres of land, to 

meet the needs of present and future 

generations. The purpose of this system 

is to allow the Forest Service to 

maintain records that identify 

individuals who apply for and are 

approved to purchase and wear the 

Forest Service uniform. 

Pursuant to the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 

552a), the Forest Service has amended 

the system of records to include new 

system location, new system manager, 

new storage type, new routine uses; and 

new policies and practices for storing, 

retrieving, accessing, retaining, and 

disposing of records in the system. This 

system of records provides information 

for internal processing purposes to track 

uniform allowances and expenditures 

for authorized individuals. 

A report of the amended system of 

records, required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(r) as 

implemented by Office of Management 

and Budget (OMB) Circular A–130, was 

sent to the Chairman, Committee on 

Homeland Security and Governmental 

Affairs, United States Senate; the 

Chairman, Committee on Oversight and 

Government Reform, U.S. House of 

Representatives; and the Administrator, 

Office of Information and Regulatory 

Affairs, OMB. 

Thomas J. Vilsack, 

Secretary. 

SYSTEM NAME: 

Uniform Allowance System (UNAW), 

USDA/FS–3. 

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: 

None. 

SYSTEM LOCATION: 

The records in this system are 

collected in a web-based system located 

on servers maintained by a Federal 

contractor in St. Louis, Missouri, and in 

Omaha, Nebraska. The addresses for the 

Contractor may be obtained by writing 

to the Director of Financial Management 

Systems, USDA Forest Service, 1400 

Independence Avenue, SW., Mailstop 

1149, Washington, DC 20250–1149. 

Paper records for use with the uniform 

system are maintained at Forest Services 

offices nationwide. The addresses for 

the Regions, Stations, International 

Institute for Tropical Forestry, and 

Forests are listed in 36 CFR Part 200, 

Subpart A; and the addresses for 

Districts are in the telephone directory 

of the applicable locality under the 

heading, United States Government, 

Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service. 

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE

SYSTEM: 

Individuals who are authorized a 

monetary allowance to purchase and 

wear a Forest Service uniform while 

performing official duties. 

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM: 

The system of records consists of 

completed Forest Service form FS– 

6100–36 (Uniform Authorization) and 

information on uniform allowances and 

expenditures for authorized individuals. 

Information includes the individual’s 

name, social security number, employee 

location, allowance category, job code, 

and current status (active or 

terminated). The purpose of collecting 

social security numbers is to administer 

the uniform allowance program and 

ensure proper approval, and payment of 

the individual’s uniform allowance. 

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM: 

5 U.S.C. 5901–5903. 

PURPOSE(S): 

Information in this system is used for 

internal processing purposes to track 

uniform allowances and expenditures 

for authorized individuals. 

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE

SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OF USERS AND

THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES: 

(1) When a record on its face, or in 

conjunction with other records, 

indicates a violation or potential 

violation of law, whether civil, criminal, 

or regulatory in nature, and whether 

arising by general statute or particular 

program statute, or by regulation, rule, 

or order issued pursuant thereto, 

disclosure may be made to the 

appropriate agency, whether Federal, 

foreign, State, local, or Tribal, or other 

public authority responsible for 

enforcing, investigating, or prosecuting 

such violation or charged with enforcing 

or implementing the statute, or rule, 

regulation, or order issued pursuant 

thereto, if the information disclosed is 

relevant to any enforcement, regulatory, 

investigative, or prosecutive 

responsibility of the receiving entity. 

(2) To the Department of Justice 

when: (a) The agency or any component 

thereof; or (b) any employee of the 

agency in his or her official capacity 

where the Department of Justice has 

agreed to represent the employee; or (c) 

the United States Government, is a party 

to litigation or has an interest in such 

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19308 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 67 / Thursday, April 7, 2011 / Notices 

litigation, and by careful review, the 

agency determines that the records are 

both relevant and necessary to the 

litigation and the use of such records by 

the Department of Justice is therefore 

deemed by the agency to be for a 

purpose that is compatible with the 

purpose for which the agency collected 

the records. 

(3) To a court or adjudicative body in 

a proceeding when: (a) The agency or 

any component thereof; or (b) any 

employee of the agency in his or her 

official capacity; or (c) any employee of 

the agency in his or her individual 

capacity where the agency has agreed to 

represent the employee; or (d) the 

United States Government, is a party to 

litigation or has an interest in such 

litigation, and by careful review, the 

agency determines that the records are 

both relevant and necessary to the 

litigation and the use of such records is 

therefore deemed by the agency to be for 

a purpose that is compatible with the 

purpose for which the agency collected 

the records. 

(4) To a Member of Congress or to a 

Congressional staff member in response 

to an inquiry of the Congressional office 

made at the written request of the 

constituent about whom the record is 

maintained. 

(5) Records from this system of 

records may be disclosed to the National 

Archives and Records Administration or 

to the General Services Administration 

for records management inspections 

conducted under 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 

2906. 

(6) To agency contractors, grantees, 

experts, consultants, or volunteers who 

have been engaged by the agency to 

assist in the performance of a service 

related to this system of records and 

who need to have access to the records 

in order to perform the activity. 

Recipients shall be required to comply 

with the requirements of the Privacy Act 

of 1974, as amended, pursuant to 5 

U.S.C. 552a(m). 

(7) To appropriate agencies, entities, 

and persons when: (a) The Forest 

Service suspects or has confirmed that 

the security or confidentiality of 

information in the system of records has 

been compromised; (b) the Department 

has determined that as a result of the 

suspected or confirmed compromise 

there is a risk of harm to economic or 

property interests, identity theft or 

fraud, or harm to the security or 

integrity of this system or other systems 

or programs (whether maintained by the 

Department or another agency or entity) 

that rely upon the compromised 

information; and (c) the disclosure made 

to such agencies, entities, and persons is 

reasonably necessary to assist in 

connection with the Department’s 

efforts to respond to the suspected or 

confirmed compromise and prevent, 

minimize, or remedy such harm. 

DISCLOSURE TO CONSUMER REPORTING

AGENCIES: 

None. 

Policies and practices for storing, 

retrieving, accessing, retaining, and 

disposing of records in the system: 

Records are maintained in electronic 

format pursuant to Forest Service file 

code 6500. Only those specifically 

authorized individuals can access the 

information. 

STORAGE: 

All electronic information is 

maintained in a web-based database and 

stored on secured servers at St. Louis, 

Missouri, and on backup copies at 

Omaha, Nebraska. Hard copy records 

are maintained, retrievable by 

employee’s name, in locked file cabinets 

in secured office buildings. 

RETRIEVABILITY: 

Records are indexed and retrieved 

electronically using multiple queries 

including name, social security number, 

allowance, home unit, or other criteria. 

SAFEGUARDS: 

All records containing personal 

information are maintained 

electronically in secured computer 

rooms. Access to the database and all 

electronic folders with personal 

information are password protected and 

stored on secure servers. Computer 

access to information provided by 

applicants is limited to the individual 

employee, contractor, and the system 

manager. The review of records once 

retrieved is limited to the employee, 

supervisor, contractor, and system 

manager. 

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL: 

Records are maintained in electronic 

format under Forest Service file code 

6500 established for General Finance 

and Accounting information. Access to 

the information is restricted to the 

individual employee, the contractor, 

and the system manager. 

SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS: 

Director, USDA, Forest Service, 

Financial Management Systems, 1400 

Independence Avenue, SW., Mailstop 

1149, Washington, DC 20250–1149. 

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE: 

Individuals may request information 

regarding this system of records, or 

information as to whether the system 

contains records pertaining to them 

from the System Manager (address 

above). A request for information should 

contain name, address, and particulars 

involved (for example, the date of action 

giving rise to the inquiry or complaint). 

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES: 

Individuals who wish to gain access 

to or amend records pertaining to them 

should submit a written request to the 

System Manager (address above). The 

envelope should be marked ‘‘Privacy Act 

Request.’’ 

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES: 

Same as record access procedures. 

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES: 

Information in this system is collected 

voluntarily from individuals, who are 

authorized Forest Service uniform 

allowances, and from the individual’s 

supervisor. 

EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED FOR THE SYSTEM: 

None. 

U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Privacy Act System of Records 

Uniform Allowance System (UNAW) USDA/ 

FS–3 

Narrative Statement 

The purpose of this system is to provide 

the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 

Forest Service (FS) to maintain records that 

identify individuals who apply for and are 

approved to purchase and wear the Forest 

Service uniform. The Uniform Allowance 

System (UNAW) is managed by the Financial 

Management Systems Staff (FIN). FIN is a 

staff under the Office of the Chief Financial 

Officer. 

The authority for maintaining this system 

of records is 5 U.S.C. 5901–5903. 

The information gathered is voluntarily 

submitted by individuals who are authorized 

to purchase and wear a Forest Service 

uniform while performing official duties. The 

system of records consists of completed 

Forest Service form FS–6100–36 (Uniform 

Authorization), and information on uniform 

allowances and expenditures for authorized 

individuals. Information collected includes 

the individual’s name, social security 

number, employee location, allowance 

category, job code, and current status (active 

or terminated). 

The system provides for the following 

routine use disclosures that are necessary 

and proper for the agency’s administration of 

its duties in connection with operating the 

program: disclosures in connection with 

litigation; for law enforcement purposes; for 

responses to Congressional inquiries; to the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration and the General Services 

Administration for records inspections; 

limited disclosure to entities engaged by the 

agency in the performance of a service; and 

for disclosure in connection with information 

security breaches in order to protect the 

interests of the individuals covered by the 

system. While these routine uses allow 

disclosures outside USDA, and so have some 

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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 67 / Thursday, April 7, 2011 / Notices 19309 

1To learn more about the President’s Performance 

Agenda, visit http://www.performance.gov/. 

2APHIS will continue to conduct 

environmenanalyses and prepare environmental 

documents for regulated entities that are unable or 

choose not to participate in the pilot project. 

impact on privacy of individuals, they are 

either necessary for carrying out the agency 

mission and minimizing waste, fraud, and 

abuse, are required by law, or benefit the 

subjects of the records. On balance, the needs 

of the agency and the benefits to the 

individuals of these disclosures justify the 

minimal impact on privacy. 

All hard copy records are maintained in 

secured locked file cabinets in agency offices 

which are locked during non-duty hours. All 

electronic information is maintained in a 

web-based database and stored and backedup on secured servers. Computer access to 

information on individuals in the system is 

limited to the individual, contractor, and the 

system manager. The review of records 

retrieved is limited to the individual, 

supervisor, approved contractors, and system 

manager. 

A copy of the form, used to collect the 

information from individuals, is attached to 

this report. The system of records is not 

exempt from any provisions of the Privacy 

Act. 

[FR Doc. 2011–7722 Filed 4–6–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service 

[Docket No. APHIS–2010–0117] 

Solicitation of Letters of Interest To 

Participate in National Environmental 

Policy Act Pilot Project 

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service is soliciting letters of 

interest from entities subject to the 

regulations governing the introduction 

of genetically engineered (GE) 

organisms in 7 CFR part 340 to 

participate in a National Environmental 

Policy Act (NEPA) Pilot Project. The 

NEPA Pilot Project will test new 

approaches to developing 

environmental analyses and documents 

required under NEPA to determine the 

extent to which these approaches 

improve the quality, timeliness, and 

cost effectiveness of such analyses and 

documents. The pilot project will focus 

only on NEPA analyses and documents 

associated with petitions for 

nonregulated status for GE organisms. 

DATES: Letters of interest may be 

submitted through April 8, 2013 to the 

person listed under FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

David Reinhold, Assistant Director, 

Environmental Risk Analysis Programs, 

BRS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 146, 

Riverdale, MD 20737–1238; (301) 734– 

0660; e-mail: 

david.reinhold@aphis.usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The regulations in 7 CFR part 340, 

‘‘Introduction of Organisms and 

Products Altered or Produced Through 

Genetic Engineering Which Are Plant 

Pests or Which There Is Reason to 

Believe Are Plant Pests,’’ regulate, 

among other things, the introduction 

(importation, interstate movement, or 

release into the environment) of 

organisms and products altered or 

produced through genetic engineering 

that are plant pests or that there is 

reason to believe are plant pests. Such 

genetically engineered organisms and 

products are considered ‘‘regulated 

articles.’’ The regulations in § 340.6(a) 

provide that any person may submit a 

petition to the Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service (APHIS) seeking a 

determination that an article should not 

be regulated under 7 CFR part 340, also 

referred to as a request to grant 

nonregulated status or to deregulate an 

article. 

Before APHIS determines whether an 

article can be deregulated, APHIS 

prepares a plant pest risk assessment 

(PPRA) to assess the plant pest risk of 

the article. In accordance with The 

National Environmental Policy Act of 

1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 

4321 et seq.), APHIS also prepares an 

environmental assessment (EA) or an 

environmental impact statement (EIS) to 

examine potential environmental 

impacts that may result from an Agency 

determination of nonregulated status. 

The regulations in § 340.6(c)(1) 

through (c)(5) require the petitioner to 

submit specific information to meet 

regulatory requirements and inform 

APHIS’ evaluation of the petition. While 

petitioners may submit much of the 

necessary information, APHIS retains 

primary responsibility for researching 

and analyzing all the data necessary to 

prepare the environmental documents. 

APHIS also evaluates all comments 

received on the environmental 

documents. APHIS has, on occasion, 

used consultants and contractors to 

perform some of these functions under 

APHIS guidance and oversight. In 

APHIS’ experience, the cost of a draft 

EA generally ranges from $60,000– 

$80,000, and the cost of a complete EIS 

can exceed $1,000,000. 

To explore ways to enhance APHIS’ 

NEPA compliance, APHIS is 

implementing a NEPA Pilot Project that 

will involve working with petitioners 

and outside experts to develop highquality environmental analyses and 

documents in a timelier manner. This 

pilot project is part of a larger effort to 

improve the petition evaluation process 

and is one of the strategies identified in 

USDA’s High Priority Performance Goal 

for biotechnology regulation in the 

President’s Performance Agenda.1

The pilot project will explore two 

voluntary mechanisms: (1) A petitionersubmitted environmental report based 

upon which APHIS would develop an 

EA or an EIS; and (2) an EA or EIS 

prepared by a contractor, funded by a 

cooperative services agreement between 

the petitioner and APHIS.2 This project 

is consistent with the Council on 

Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) 

regulations for implementing NEPA (40 

CFR parts 1500–1508), which allow 

Federal agencies to obtain relevant 

information from applicants for the 

purpose of conducting a NEPA analysis 

and to contract for services by an 

independent contractor (chosen and 

directed by the Agency) to prepare 

environmental analyses and documents 

that are paid for by the petitioners. 

The petitioner-submitted 

environmental reports should contain 

information necessary to develop a draft 

EA or EIS, including, for example, a 

description of the geographic area that 

will be affected and potential impacts 

on the environment, such as effects on 

water quality and sensitive wildlife 

species. 

Under the contractor-prepared EA or 

EIS alternative, petitioners will provide 

funds for the environmental analyses 

and documents, while APHIS will select 

and direct the contractor. In addition, 

with this alternative, analyses and 

documents may be prepared for the 

entire NEPA process or only part of the 

process, i.e., for the draft EA or EIS, for 

the evaluation of comments, and/or for 

the final EA or EIS. 

APHIS will independently evaluate 

all information and references in the 

environmental documents, supplement 

the information and analysis in the 

environmental reports as necessary, and 

make its own evaluation of the 

environmental issues and the adequacy 

of the analyses of those issues to ensure 

that the scope and content of the 

environmental analyses meet all 

requirements of CEQ’s regulations and 

APHIS’ NEPA implementing regulations 

(7 CFR part 372). 

NEPA compliance is an important 

Agency responsibility, and the pilot 

project is designed and intended to 

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