Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 9 / Tuesday, January 16, 2007 / Notices 1755 

laboratory inspection processes. Other Canadian 

laboratories wishing to be considered for the NLCP 

may apply directly to the NLCP contractor just as 

U.S. laboratories do. 

Upon finding a Canadian laboratory to be 

qualified, HHS will recommend that DOT certify 

the laboratory (Federal Register, July 16, 1996) as 

meeting the minimum standards of the Mandatory 

Guidelines published in the Federal Register on 

April 13, 2004 (69 FR 19644). After receiving DOT 

certification, the laboratory will be included in the 

monthly list of HHS-certified laboratories and 

participate in the NLCP certification maintenance 

program. 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

Private Sector Office, Office of Policy; 

Submission for Review; Disaster 

Recovery Survey for Businesses 

AGENCY: Office of the Private Sector, 

Office of Policy, DHS. 

ACTION: Notice; 30-day notice of 

information collections under review: 

various contract related forms, PostContract Award Information, Regulation 

on Agency Protests, and Solicitation of 

Proposal Information for Award of 

Public Contracts. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland 

Security (DHS) has submitted the 

following proposed information 

collection request (ICR) to the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) for 

review and clearance in accordance 

with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 

1995: 1601–NEW. This notice and 

request for comments is required by the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. 

DATES: Comments are encouraged and 

will be accepted until February 15, 

2007. This process is conduced in 

accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 

invited to submit written comments on 

the proposed information collection to 

the Office of Information and Regulatory 

Affairs, Office of Management and 

Budget. Comments should be addressed 

to Nathan Lesser, Desk Officer, 

Department of Homeland Security, 

Private Sector Office, and sent via 

electronic mail to 

oira_submission@omb.eop.gov or faxed 

to (202) 395–6974. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary 

Becker, Office of the Private Sector, 

Department of Homeland Security, 

Washington, DC 20528; telephone (202) 

282–9013 (this is not a toll free number). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DHS 

previously published this information 

collection request (ICR) in the Federal 

Register on August 16, 2006, at 71 FR 

47237, for a 60-day public comment 

period. The ICR addressed a written 

survey developed by the Office of 

Policy, Private Sector Office for DHS for 

distribution to business owners and 

managers impacted by a natural or manmade disaster. The survey contains 

general questions about losses incurred 

by reporting businesses as a result of the 

disaster, as well as progress made 

during initial recovery. All information 

will be compiled for analysis by DHS 

and reported only at the aggregate level. 

Results of the analysis will be used by 

DHS to gauge the economic impact of 

the disaster as well as the effectiveness 

of recovery efforts. Participation in the 

survey will be voluntary and also 

provides an opportunity for the private 

sector to inform DHS about major issues 

and concerns with the recovery process 

following a disaster. The survey is being 

developed as a generic survey that can 

be used following any form of disaster; 

including natural disasters, terrorist 

events, and pandemic influenza. 

DHS received three comments during 

the 60-day public comment period for 

this ICR. The purpose of this notice is 

to allow an additional 30 days for public 

comments. This notice and request for 

comment is required by the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13, 

44 U.S.C. chapter 35). 

DHS invites the general public to 

comment on the ICR. A copy of the 

survey can be obtained by contacting 

Gary Becker of the Private Sector Office 

(contact information provided in 

previous section). 

DHS is particularly interested in 

comments which: 

(1) Evaluate whether the proposed 

collection of information is necessary 

for the proper performance of the 

functions of the agency, including 

whether the information will have 

practical utility; 

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the 

agency’s estimate of the burden of the 

proposed collection of information, 

including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions used; 

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected; and 

(4) Minimize the burden of the 

collection of information on those who 

are to respond, including through the 

use of appropriate automated, 

electronic, mechanical, or other 

technological collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology, 

e.g., permitting electronic submissions 

of responses. 

Analysis 

Agency: Department of Homeland 

Security, Office of Policy, Private Sector 

Office. 

Title: Disaster Recovery Survey for 

Businesses. 

OMB No.: 1601–NEW. 

Frequency: On occasion. 

Affected Public: Employer and Nonemployer Businesses. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

2,000 respondents. 

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 18 

minutes (15 minutes per written 

response with 30% chance for 10 

minute telephone follow-up). 

Total Burden Hours: 600. 

Total Burden Cost: (capital/startup): 

None. 

Total Burden Cost: (operating/ 

maintaining): None. 

Scott Charbo, 

Chief Information Officer. 

[FR Doc. E7–387 Filed 1–12–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4410–10–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

Office of the Secretary 

[Docket No. DHS–2006–0081] 

Privacy Act; Alien File (A-File) and 

Central Index System (CIS) Systems of 

Records 

AGENCY: Department of Homeland 

Security (DHS). 

ACTION: System of records notice. 

SUMMARY: As part of its ongoing effort to 

review and update legacy system of 

records notices, the Department of 

Homeland Security is publishing a 

revision to the previously established 

Privacy Act system of records notice 

published by the former Immigration 

and Naturalization Service for hardcopy 

and digitized A-Files; and the Central 

Index System. The Department of 

Homeland Security is also updating the 

routine uses that were previously 

published for this system of records. 

DATES: Written comments must be 

submitted on or before February 15, 

2007. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, 

identified by Docket Number DHS–

2006–0081 by one of the following 

methods: 

• Federal e-Rulemaking portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments 

via docket number DHS 2006–0081. 

• Fax: (202–572–8727) (not a toll-free 

number). 

• Mail: Hugo Teufel III, DHS Chief 

Privacy Officer, Department of 

Homeland Security, Washington, DC 

20528. 

Instructions: All submissions received 

must include the agency name and 

docket number for this rulemaking. All 

comments received will be posted 


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without change to http:// 

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information provided. 

Docket: For access to the docket to 

read background documents or 

comments received go to http:// 

www.regulations.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

general questions, please contact: 

Elizabeth Gaffin, 20 Massachusetts 

Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20529, 

by telephone (202) 272–1400. For 

privacy issues, please contact: Hugo 

Teufel III (571–227–3813), Chief Privacy 

Officer, Privacy Office, U.S. Department 

of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 

20528. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Department of Homeland Security 

(DHS), implements United States 

immigration law and policy through the 

United States Citizenship and 

Immigration Services’ (USCIS) 

processing and adjudication of 

applications and petitions submitted for 

citizenship, asylum, and other 

immigration benefits. USCIS also 

supports national security by preventing 

individuals from fraudulently obtaining 

immigration benefits and by denying 

applications from individuals who pose 

national security or public safety 

threats. United States Immigration 

policy and law is also implemented 

through Immigration and Customs 

Enforcement’s (ICE) law enforcement 

activities and Customs and Border 

Protection’s (CBP) inspection process 

and protection of our borders. 

The A-File is the record that contains 

copies of information regarding all 

transactions involving an individual as 

he/she passes through the U.S. 

immigration and inspection process. 

Previously, legacy Immigration and 

Naturalization Services (INS) handled 

all of these transactions. Since the 

formation of DHS, however, these 

responsibilities have been divided 

among USCIS, ICE, and CBP. While 

USCIS is the custodian of the A-File, all 

three components create and use AFiles. 

DHS, in its ongoing effort to update its 

legacy systems, is issuing the A-File and 

CIS system of records notice, DHS–

USCIS 001. A notice detailing this 

system of records was last published in 

the Federal Register on September 7, 

2001, as the INS Alien File (A-File) and 

Central Index System (CIS), JUSTICE/ 

INS–001A (66 FR 46812). Until now, 

pursuant to the savings clause in the 

Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public 

Law 107–296, sec. 1512, 116 Stat. 2310 

(Nov. 25, 2002) (6 U.S.C. 552), the 

USCIS has been relying on legacy 

Privacy Act systems. 

Digitization of the A-File 

To support current immigration 

operations, USCIS, ICE and CBP 

assemble paper-based A-Files that 

contain official record documents and 

attachments pertaining to individuals. 

These hardcopy A-Files are routed to 

authorized DHS employees who need 

access to them for immigration benefits 

processing, law enforcement, and 

protection of national security. USCIS is 

embarking on an enterprise-wide 

‘‘Transformation Program’’ that will 

transition the agency from a fragmented, 

paper-based operational environment to 

a centralized and consolidated 

electronic environment. The new 

operational environment will employ 

the types of online customer accounts 

used in the private sector. This ‘‘personcentric’’ model will link information 

related to an individual in a single 

account in order to facilitate customer 

friendly transactions, track activities, 

and reduce identity fraud. 

USCIS, as custodian of the A-File and 

part of the Transformation Program, has 

developed the Integrated Digitization 

Document Management Program 

(IDDMP) to provide electronic creation 

of, and access to, A-Files. The IDDMP 

manages the scanning of hard copy AFiles, the storage of the digitized AFiles, and electronic access to digitized 

A-Files. 

Scanning is performed at a contractor 

owned and operated facility called the 

Records Digitization Facility (RDF). The 

digitized A-Files produced by the RDF 

are sent to USCIS’ Quality Assurance 

(QA) system. After QA is performed, 

they are stored centrally, and images 

within the A-File are accessed and 

updated using the Electronic Data 

Management System (EDMS). For the 

purpose of this document, the RDF, QA 

system, and EDMS will be collectively 

referred to as the IDDMP. Access to the 

digitized A-Files is provided to DHS 

and other Federal, state, tribal, local or 

foreign government agencies responsible 

for providing benefits, investigating or 

prosecuting violations of civil or 

criminal laws, or protecting our national 

security. 

The Privacy Act embodies Fair 

Information principles in a statutory 

framework governing the means by 

which the United States Government 

collects, maintains, uses, and 

disseminates personally identifiable 

information. The Privacy Act applies to 

information that is maintained in a 

‘‘system of records.’’ A ‘‘system of 

records’’ is a group of any records under 

the control of an agency from which 

information is retrieved by the name of 

an individual or by some identifying 

number, symbol, or other identifying 

particular assigned to the individual. 

Individuals may request their own 

records that are maintained in a system 

of records in the possession or under the 

control of DHS by complying with DHS 

Privacy Act regulations, 6 CFR 5.21. 

The Privacy Act requires that each 

agency publish in the Federal Register 

a description denoting the type and 

character of each system of records in 

order to make agency recordkeeping 

practices transparent, to notify 

individuals about the use to which 

personally identifiable information is 

put, and to assist the individual to more 

easily find files within the agency. 

In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552a(r), 

DHS has provided a report of this 

revised system of records to the Office 

of Management and Budget and to the 

Congress. 

DHS–USCIS–001 

SYSTEM NAME: 

The Department of Homeland 

Security (DHS), Alien File (A-File—

hardcopy or digitized copy) and Central 

Index System (CIS) 

SYSTEM LOCATION: 

The database housing the digitized AFiles is located within USCIS’ data 

center in the Washington, DC 

metropolitan area. Hard copies are 

located at Headquarters, Regional, 

District, and other USCIS file control 

offices in the United States and foreign 

countries as detailed on the agency’s 

Web site, http://www.USCIS.gov. 

Authorized USCIS, ICE, and CBP 

personnel may request and view the 

paper A-File. Paper A-Files are sent and 

received by file control offices. USCIS 

will directly access digitized A-Files 

using the IDDMP. ICE and CBP access 

to the digitized A-File via the IDDMP 

will be provided through the Law 

Enforcement Service Center (LESC). CIS 

is available in USCIS offices. Remote 

access terminals for CIS will also be 

located in other components of the DHS 

on a limited basis. 

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE

SYSTEM: 

A. Individuals covered by provisions 

of the Immigration and Nationality Act 

of the United States. 

B. Individuals who are under 

investigation (including those who are 

possible national security threats or 

threats to the public safety), or who 

were investigated by the DHS in the 

past, or who are suspected of violating 

immigration-related criminal or civil 

provisions of treaties, statutes, 

regulations, Executive Orders, and 

Presidential proclamations administered 


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by DHS, and witnesses and informants 

having knowledge of such violations. 

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM: 

A. The hardcopy paper A-File (which, 

prior to 1940, was called Citizenship 

File (C-File) contains all the individual’s 

official record material such as: 

naturalization certificates; various forms 

and attachments (e.g., photographs); 

applications and petitions for benefits 

under the immigration and nationality 

laws; reports of investigations; 

statements; reports; correspondence; 

and memoranda on each individual for 

whom DHS has created a record under 

the Immigration and Nationality Act. 

Subsets of information may be used to 

determine eligibility for citizenship 

under Section 320 of the Immigration 

and Nationality Act. 

B. The electronic copy of the A-File 

provided by IDDMP’s digital repository 

contains scanned images of the paper AFile searchable using identical index 

fields as CIS. 

C. CIS contains personal 

identification data such as A-File 

number, date and place of birth, date 

and port of entry, as well as the location 

of each official hardcopy paper A-File. 

AUTHORITY OF MAINTENANCE FOR THE SYSTEM: 

Sections 103 and 290 of the 

Immigration and Nationality Act, as 

amended (8 U.S.C. 1103 and 1360), and 

the regulations issued pursuant thereto; 

and section 451 of the Homeland 

Security Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107–296). 

PURPOSE(S): 

A-File data is collected on individuals 

covered by provisions of the 

Immigration and Nationality Act of the 

United States and individuals who are 

under investigation, who were 

investigated by the DHS in the past, 

who are suspected of violating the 

immigration-related laws administered 

by DHS, or are witnesses and informants 

having knowledge of such violations. 

The A-File is the record that contains all 

transactions involving an individual as 

he/she passes through the U.S. 

immigration and inspection process, 

and chronicles interactions with the 

U.S. Government. Previously, legacy 

INS performed all of these functions. 

Since the formation of DHS, these 

immigration-related functions have been 

divided among the following three 

components: (1) CBP, which performs 

the border and inspection processes; (2) 

USCIS, which performs the immigration 

benefit adjudication process; and (3) 

ICE, which performs the investigatory, 

deportation, and immigration court 

functions. Although USCIS is the 

custodian of the A-File, all three 

components create and use A-Files. 

Once the A-File is digitized, information 

will be accessed by USCIS, ICE, and 

CBP so that they may perform their 

mission requirements. Information 

contained within the A-File may also be 

shared with other components within 

DHS responsible for law enforcement 

and national security intelligence 

activities. 

The CIS system is used primarily by 

DHS employees for immigration benefits 

processing, protection of national 

security, and to administer and enforce 

immigration and nationality laws, and 

related statutes. These uses include: 

Assisting the Department with 

processing applications for benefits 

under applicable immigration laws; 

detecting violations of these laws; the 

referral of such violations for 

prosecution; law enforcement; the 

inspection process; and protection of 

our borders. 

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE

SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OF USERS AND

THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES: 

In addition to those disclosures 

generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 

552a(b) of the Privacy Act, all or a 

portion of the records or information 

contained in this system may be 

disclosed to authorized entities, as is 

determined to be relevant and 

necessary, outside DHS as a routine use 

pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as 

follows: 

A. To clerks and judges of courts 

exercising naturalization jurisdiction for 

the purpose of filing petitions for 

naturalization and to enable such courts 

to determine eligibility for 

naturalization or grounds for revocation 

of naturalization. 

B. To the Department of State in the 

processing of petitions or applications 

for benefits under the Immigration and 

Nationality Act, and all other 

immigration and nationality laws 

including treaties and reciprocal 

agreements. 

C. To appropriate Federal, state, 

tribal, and local government law 

enforcement and regulatory agencies, 

foreign governments, and international 

organizations, for example: the 

Department of Defense; the Department 

of State; the Department of the Treasury; 

the Central Intelligence Agency; the 

Selective Service System; the United 

Nations; and INTERPOL; as well as to 

other individuals and organizations 

during the course of an investigation by 

DHS or the processing of a matter under 

DHS’ jurisdiction, or during a 

proceeding within the purview of the 

immigration and nationality laws, when 

DHS deems that such disclosure is 

necessary to carry out its functions and 

statutory mandates to elicit information 

required by DHS to carry out its 

functions and statutory mandates. 

D. To an appropriate Federal, state, 

tribal, local, or foreign government 

agency or organization, or international 

organization, lawfully engaged in 

collecting law enforcement intelligence, 

whether civil or criminal, or charged 

with investigating, prosecuting, 

enforcing or implementing civil or 

criminal laws, related rules, regulations 

or orders, to enable these entities to 

carry out their law enforcement 

responsibilities, including the collection 

of law enforcement intelligence and the 

disclosure is appropriate to the proper 

performance of the official duties of the 

person receiving the disclosure. 

E. To the United States Department of 

Justice (DOJ) (including United States 

Attorneys’ offices) or other Federal 

agency conducting litigation or in 

proceedings before any court, 

adjudicative or administrative body, or 

to the court or administrative body, 

when it is necessary to the litigation and 

one of the following is a party to the 

litigation or has an interest in such 

litigation: (1) Any employee of DHS in 

his/her official capacity; (2) any 

employee of DHS in his/her individual 

capacity where DOJ or DHS has agreed 

to represent said employee; or (3) the 

United States or any agency thereof. 

F. To an appropriate Federal, state, 

local, tribal, territorial, foreign, or 

international agency, if the information 

is relevant and necessary to a requesting 

agency’s decision concerning the hiring 

or retention of an individual, or 

issuance of a security clearance, license, 

contract, grant, or other benefit, or if the 

information is relevant and necessary to 

a DHS decision concerning the hiring or 

retention of an employee, the issuance 

of a security clearance, the reporting of 

an investigation of an employee, the 

letting of a contract, or the issuance of 

a license, grant or other benefit and 

when disclosure is appropriate to the 

proper performance of the official duties 

of the person making the request. 

G. To the Office of Management and 

Budget in connection with the review of 

private relief legislation as set forth in 

OMB Circular No. A–19 at any stage of 

the legislative coordination and 

clearance process as set forth in the 

Circular. 

H. To an attorney or representative (as 

defined in 8 CFR 1.1(j)) who is acting on 

behalf of an individual covered by this 

system of records in connection with 

any proceeding before USCIS or the 

Executive Office for Immigration 

Review. 


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I. To a Federal, state, tribal, or local 

government agency to assist such 

agencies in collecting the repayment of 

loans, or fraudulently or erroneously 

secured benefits, grants, or other debts 

owed to them or to the United States 

Government, or to obtain information 

that may assist USCIS in collecting 

debts owed to the United States 

Government; to a foreign government to 

assist such government in collecting the 

repayment of loans, or fraudulently or 

erroneously secured benefits, grants, or 

other debts owed to it provided that the 

foreign government in question: 

(1) Provides sufficient documentation 

to establish the validity of the stated 

purpose of its request; and 

(2) Provides similar information to the 

United States upon request. 

J. To student volunteers whose 

services are accepted pursuant to 5 

U.S.C. 3111 or to students enrolled in a 

college work-study program pursuant to 

42 U.S.C. 2751 et seq. 

K. To a Congressional office from the 

record of an individual in response to 

an inquiry from that Congressional 

office made at the request of that 

individual. 

L. To the National Archives and 

Records Administration or other Federal 

government agencies pursuant to 

records management inspections being 

conducted under the authority of 44 

U.S.C. 2904 and 2906. 

M. To an obligor who has posted a 

bond with USCIS for the subject. USCIS 

may provide only such information as 

either may: 

(1) Aid the obligor in locating the 

subject to insure his or her presence 

when required by DHS; or 

(2) Assist the obligor in evaluating the 

propriety of the following actions by 

DHS: either the issuance of an 

appearance demand or notice of a 

breach of bond—i.e., notice to the 

obligor that the subject of the bond has 

failed to appear which would render the 

full amount of the bond due and 

payable. 

N. To a coroner for purposes of 

affirmatively identifying a deceased 

individual (whether or not such 

individual is deceased as a result of a 

crime). 

O. Consistent with the requirements 

of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 

to the Department of Health and Human 

Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention (CDC), or to any 

state or local health authorities, to: 

(1) Provide proper medical oversight 

of DHS-designated civil surgeons who 

perform medical examinations of both 

arriving aliens and of those requesting 

status as a lawful permanent resident; 

and 

(2) To ensure that all health issues 

potentially affecting public health and 

safety in the United States are being or 

have been, adequately addressed. 

P. To a Federal, state or local 

government agency seeking to verify or 

ascertain the citizenship or immigration 

status of any individual within the 

jurisdiction of the agency for any 

purpose authorized by law. 

Q. To contractors and their agents, 

grantees, experts, consultants, and 

others performing or working on a 

contract, service, grant, cooperative 

agreement, or other assignment for DHS, 

when necessary to accomplish an 

agency function related to this system of 

records. Those provided information 

under this routine use are subject to the 

same Privacy Act limitations as are 

applicable to DHS officers and 

employees. 

R. To the appropriate Federal, state, 

local, tribal, territorial, or foreign, or 

international agency responsible for 

investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or 

implementing a statute, rule, regulation, 

or order, where DHS becomes aware of, 

or in conjunction with other 

information determines, that a violation 

or potential violation of civil or criminal 

law has occurred. 

S. To the Social Security 

Administration (SSA) for the purpose of 

issuing a Social Security number and 

card to an alien who has made a request 

for a Social Security number as part of 

the immigration process and in 

accordance with any related agreements 

in effect between the SSA, DHS and the 

Department of State entered into 

pursuant to 20 CFR 422.103(b)(3); 

422.103(c); and 422.106(a), or other 

relevant laws and regulations. 

T. To a former employee of DHS, in 

accordance with applicable regulations, 

for purposes of: responding to an official 

inquiry by a Federal, state, or local 

government entity or professional 

licensing authority; or facilitating 

communications with a former 

employee that may be necessary for 

personnel-related or other official 

purposes where the Department requires 

information or consultation assistance 

from the former employee regarding a 

matter within that person’s former area 

of responsibility. 

U. To an individual’s prospective or 

current employer to the extent necessary 

to determine employment eligibility. 

V. To Federal and foreign government 

intelligence or counterterrorism 

agencies or components where DHS 

becomes aware of an indication of a 

threat or potential threat to national or 

international security, or where such 

use is to assist in anti-terrorism efforts 

and disclosure is appropriate to the 

proper performance of the official duties 

of the person making the disclosure; 

W. To appropriate agencies, entities, 

and persons when: 

(1) It is suspected or confirmed that 

the security or confidentiality of 

information in the system of records has 

been compromised; 

(2) It is 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 

DHS or another agency or entity) that 

rely upon the compromised 

information; and 

(3) The disclosure is made to such 

agencies, entities, and persons when 

reasonably necessary to assist in 

connection with efforts to respond to 

the suspected or confirmed compromise 

and prevent, minimize, or remedy such 

harm. 

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, 

RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING AND

DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM: 

STORAGE: 

Paper A-File and C-File records are 

stored in file folders. The digitized AFiles are stored in an electronic 

repository housed in USCIS’ data center. 

CIS data is also stored in USCIS data 

center. 

RETRIEVABILITY: 

The location of paper A-Files can be 

searched in CIS on the following 

metadata: A-Number; C-File number; 

name; and date of birth. Digitized AFiles can be searched and retrieved by 

metadata, which at a minimum 

includes: primary A-Number; first 

name; last name; date of birth; and 

country of birth. Full-text searches can 

also be performed on the digitized AFiles. 

SAFEGUARDS: 

USCIS offices are located in buildings 

under security guard or authorized 

contractors for the Federal government, 

and access to premises is by official 

identification. Information in this 

system is also safeguarded in 

accordance with applicable laws, rules 

and policies including the DHS 

Information Technology Security 

Programs Handbook. All records are 

protected from unauthorized access 

through appropriate administrative, 

physical, and technical safeguards 

including restricting access to 

authorized personnel who require 

information in the records for the 

performance of their official authorized 

duties, using locks, and password 


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protection identification features. The 

system will not have classified 

information. 

Outside agencies will not have direct 

access to the IDDMP. They will follow 

the current practice for accessing 

physical A-Files, which is to appear in 

person at the local USCIS office. They 

are required per the USCIS Records 

Operations Handbook, to work with 

their local USCIS office to view A-File 

information. After showing proper 

credentials and demonstrating a need to 

know the specific information requested 

in the performance of their official 

duties, the representative will work 

directly with USCIS records personnel 

to view the relevant portions of the AFile. 

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL: 

The A-File records are retained for 75 

years from the date the file is retired to 

the Federal Records Center or date of 

last action (whichever is earlier) and 

then destroyed. C-File records are to be 

destroyed 100 years from March 31, 

1956. Automated master index records 

are permanent and are scheduled to be 

transferred to NARA in 2006. When a 

paper A-File is digitized, the digitized 

A-File becomes the official record and 

maintains the same retention schedule 

as the original paper A-File. Options for 

disposition of paper A-Files that have 

been digitized are currently under 

review. 

SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS: 

The Service-wide system manager is 

the Director, Office of Records Services, 

Department of Homeland Security, 111 

Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Second 

Floor, Washington, DC 20529. 

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE: 

To determine whether this system 

contains records relating to you, provide 

a written request containing the 

following information: 

1. Identification of the record system; 

2. Identification of the category and 

types of records sought; and 

3. The requesting individual’s 

signature and verification of identity 

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1746, which 

permits statements to be made under 

penalty of perjury. Alternatively, a 

notarized statement may be provided. 

Address inquiries to the system 

manager at: Director, Office of Records 

Services, Department of Homeland 

Security, 111 Massachusetts Avenue, 

NW, Second Floor, Washington, DC 

20529 or to the Freedom of Information/ 

Privacy Act Office at: Freedom of 

Information/Privacy Act Office, USCIS, 

National Records Center, P.O. Box 

648010, Lee Summit, MO 64064–8010. 

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES: 

All requests for access must be made 

in writing and addressed to the Freedom 

of Information Act/Privacy Act (FOIA/ 

PA) officer at USCIS. Requesters are 

directed to clearly mark the envelope 

and letter ‘‘Privacy Act Request.’’

Within the text of the request, provide 

the A-File number and/or the full name, 

date and place of birth, and either a 

notarized signature of the individual 

who is the subject of the record or a 

statement requesting individual’s 

signature and verification of identity 

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1746, which 

permits statements to be made under 

penalty of perjury, and any other 

information which may assist in 

identifying and locating the record, and 

a return address. For convenience, Form 

G–639, FOIA/PA Request, may be 

obtained from the nearest DHS office or 

online at http://www.uscis.gov and used 

to submit a request for access. The 

procedures for making a request for 

access to one’s records can also be 

found on the USCIS Web site, located at 

http://www.uscis.gov. 

CONTESTING RECORDS PROCEDURES: 

Redress procedures are established 

and operated by the program through 

which the data was originally collected. 

In the case of redress requests pertaining 

to records held by DHS organizations, 

an individual who is not satisfied with 

the response can appeal his or her case 

to the DHS Chief Privacy Officer, who 

will conduct a review and provide final 

adjudication on the matter. 

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES: 

Basic information contained in DHS 

records is supplied by individuals on 

Department of State and DHS 

applications and forms. Other 

information comes from inquiries or 

complaints from members of the general 

public and members of Congress; 

referrals of inquiries or complaints 

directed to the President or Secretary of 

Homeland Security; USCIS reports to 

investigations, sworn statements, 

correspondence, official reports, 

memoranda, and written referrals from 

other entities, including federal, state, 

and local governments, various courts 

and regulatory agencies, foreign 

government agencies and international 

organizations. 

EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED FOR THE SYSTEM: 

Pursuant to 6 CFR Appendix C to Part 

5, pertaining to the Immigration and 

Naturalization Service (INS) Alien File 

(A-File) and Central Index System (CIS), 

JUSTICE/INS–001A (66 FR 46812) 

system of records notice, the records 

and information in this system are 

exempt from 5 U.S.C. 552a (c) (3) and 

(4), (d), (e) (1), (2), and (3), (e)(4) (G) and 

(H), (e) (5) and (8), and (g) of the Privacy 

Act. These exemptions apply only to the 

extent that records in the system are 

subject to exemption pursuant to 5 

U.S.C. 552a (j)(2) and (k)(2). DHS 

intends to review these exemptions and, 

if warranted, issue a new set of 

exemptions within ninety (90) days of 

this publication. 

Dated: January 5, 2007. 

Hugo Teufel III, 

Chief Privacy Officer. 

[FR Doc. E7–375 Filed 1–12–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4410–10–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND 

URBAN DEVELOPMENT 

[Docket No. FR–5117–N–01] 

Notice of Submission of Proposed 

Information Collection to OMB; Rent 

Schedule-Low Rent Housing 

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information 

Officer, HUD. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The proposed information 

collection requirement described below 

has been submitted to the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) for 

review, as required by the Paperwork 

Reduction Act. The Department is 

soliciting public comments on the 

subject proposal. 

HUD requires project owners to 

submit information when requesting 

adjustments to established rents and 

utility allowances. HUD uses the 

information to ensure that rent charges 

are in accordance with HUD regulatory 

and administrative policy. 

DATES: Comments Due Date: February 

15, 2007. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 

invited to submit comments regarding 

this proposal. Comments should refer to 

the proposal by name and/or OMB 

approval Number (2502–0012) and 

should be sent to: HUD Desk Officer, 

Office of Management and Budget, New 

Executive Office Building, Washington, 

DC 20503; fax: 202–395–6974. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Lillian Deitzer, Departmental Reports 

Management Officer, QDAM, 

Department of Housing and Urban 

Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW., 

Washington, DC 20410; e-mail 

Lillian_L._Deitzer@HUD.gov or 

telephone (202) 708–2374. This is not a 

toll-free number. Copies of available 

documents submitted to OMB may be 

obtained from Ms. Deitzer or from 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES