[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 178 (Monday, September 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48278-48280]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24413]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5888-2]


Privacy Act of 1974; ORD Peer Review Panelist Information System 
(PRPIS) System of Records

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed new Privacy Act system of records.

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SUMMARY: The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is 
publishing a notice for public comment on a system of records subject 
to the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a. This system is entitled 
``ORD Peer Review Panelist Information System (PRPIS).'' Additional 
information on this system is described in the Supplementary 
Information section of this notice.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This proposed action will be effective, without further 
notice on October 27, 1997, unless comments are received which result 
in a contrary determination.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Director, National Center 
for Environmental Research and Quality Assurance (Mail Code 8701), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW. Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Robert E. Menzer, Senior Science 
Advisor, National Center for Environmental Research and Quality 
Assurance (Mail Code 8701), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M 
St., SW. Washington, DC 20460. Telephone: (202) 260-5779.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA uses the services of peer reviewers from 
the scientific community to assist in selecting the most meritorious 
applications from pools of applications or assessing the quality and 
performance of awarded grants, cooperative agreements, and fellowships. 
The purpose of this system of records is to assist EPA in conducting 
and documenting the review of applications through the use of

[[Page 48279]]

contracted peer reviewers. The system includes reviewer files and 
computer-generated records developed in connection with the review and 
decision process for awarding grants under the terms of the Federal 
Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977. Reviewer files are 
comprised of (1) personal data about potential reviewers, who are 
scientists and engineers in the academic and private sectors, (2) 
information about their educational background and expertise, (3) 
records of their employment, (4) records of their publications and 
other accomplishments, (5) conflict of interest and confidentially 
certifications, and (6) records of panel participation. Computer-
generated records include data regarding the administrative management 
of the peer review process. This system of records contains records 
retrieved by the names of the peer reviewers, universities, not-for-
profit research organizations, and other organizations. Only 
information retrievable by the names of individuals is covered by this 
Privacy Act notice.

    Dated: August 28, 1997.
Alvin M. Pesachowitz,
Acting Assistant Adminstrator for Administration and Resources 
Management and Chief Information Officer.
EPA-37

SYSTEM NAME:
    ORD Peer Review Panelist Information System (PRPIS) System of 
Records.

security classification:
    None.

SYSTEM LOCATION:
    National Center for Environmental Research and Quality Assurance, 
Office of Research and Development, Waterside Mall, 401 M St., SW. 
Washington, DC 20460.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
    Peer reviewers who evaluate grant, fellowship, and cooperative 
agreement applicants and their applications.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
    The names of the peer reviewers, supporting data about the academic 
institutions or other institutional affiliations of the peer reviewers, 
proposal evaluations from peer reviewers, review records, contract and 
financial data, committee or panel discussion summaries, and other 
agency records containing or reflecting comments on the applications or 
the applicants from peer reviewers.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
    44 U.S.C. 3101; Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act, 41 
U.S.C. 501 et seq.; the Clean Air Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1857 et 
seq.; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. 
1254 et seq.; the Public Health Service Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 241 
et seq.; the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource 
Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, 42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.; the 
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, as amended, 7 
U.S.C. 136 et seq.; and the Grant Act, 42 U.S.C. 1891 et seq.

PURPOSE(S):
    The purpose of this system of records is to assist EPA in 
conducting and documenting the review of applications for research 
grants, cooperative agreements, and fellowships through the use of peer 
reviewers from the scientific community.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES 
OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
    Disclosure of information from this system of records may be made 
as follows:
    1. To a Member of Congress or a congressional office from the 
record of an individual in response to an inquiry from that Member or 
office made at the request of the individual to whom the record 
pertains.
    2. To EPA contractors, grantees, volunteers, and other individuals 
who have been engaged to assist the Federal Government in the 
performance of a contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or other 
activity related to this system of records and who need to have access 
to the records in order to perform that activity.
    3. To a Federal agency which has requested information relevant to 
its decision in connection with the hiring or retention of an employee; 
the reporting of an investigation on an employee; the letting of a 
contract; or the issuance of a security clearance, license, grant, or 
other benefit.
    4. To a Federal, State, or local agency where necessary to enable 
EPA to obtain information relevant to an EPA decision concerning the 
hiring or retention of an employee; the letting of a contract; or the 
issuance of a security clearance, license, grant, or other benefit.
    5. To an appropriate Federal, State, local, or foreign agency 
responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing 
a statute, rule, regulation, or order, where there is an indication of 
a violation or potential violation of the statute, rule, regulation, or 
order and the information disclosed is relevant to the matter.
    6. To the Department of Justice to the extent that each disclosure 
is compatible with the purpose for which the record was collected and 
is relevant and necessary to litigation or anticipated litigation in 
which one of the following is a party or has an interest: (a) EPA or 
any of its components, (b) an EPA employee in his or her official 
capacity, (c) an EPA employee in his or her individual capacity where 
the Department of Justice is representing or considering representation 
of the employee, or (d) the United States where EPA determines that the 
litigation is likely to affect the agency.
    7. In a proceeding before a court, other adjudicative body or grand 
jury, or in an administrative or regulatory proceeding, to the extent 
that each disclosure is compatible with the purpose for which the 
record was collected and is relevant and necessary to the proceeding in 
which one of the following is a party or has an interest: (a) EPA or 
any of its components, (b) an EPA employee in his or her official 
capacity, (c) an EPA employee in his or her individual capacity where 
the Department of Justice is representing or considering representation 
of the employee, or (d) the United States where EPA determines that the 
litigation is likely to affect the agency. Such disclosures include, 
but are not limited to, those made in the course of presenting 
evidence, conducting settlement negotiations, and responding to 
subpoenas and requests for discovery.
    8. To representatives of the General Services Administration and 
the National Archives and Records Administration who are conducting 
records management inspections under the authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 
and 2906.
    9. To Federal government agencies with whom EPA cooperates in joint 
grant programs.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING, 
AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
STORAGE :
    Various parts of the system are maintained on computer and/or in 
hard copy files.

RETRIEVABILITY:
    Information is retrieved from hard copy and computer files by the 
names of peer reviewers. Computer records may also be retrieved by non-
personal data elements.

[[Page 48280]]

SAFEGUARDS:
    All records are maintained in secured areas with restricted access 
or are accessed by unique passwords or log-in procedures. Only EPA 
personnel and agency contractors with a need-to-know in order to 
perform their duties may access the information.

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:
    File is cumulative and is maintained indefinitely.

SYSTEM MANAGER(s) AND ADDRESS:
    Director, Peer Review Division, National Center for Environmental 
Research and Quality Assurance Mail (Code 8703), USEPA, 401 M St., SW, 
Washington, DC 20460.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
    Contact the system manager at the above address. You may be 
required to provide information to verify your identity.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURE:
    Same as ``Notification Procedure,'' above. In addition, please 
specify the record you wish to access.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
    Same as ``Notification Procedure,'' above. In addition, please 
specify the record you wish corrected, the requested correction, and 
justification for the correction.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
    Information is obtained from the individual reviewers and EPA and 
other Federal agency personnel.

SYSTEMS EXEMPTED FROM CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE ACT:
    None.

[FR Doc. 97-24413 Filed 9-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50P