[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 34 (Thursday, February 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7825-7826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4107]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Financial Management Service


Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program

AGENCY: Financial Management Service, Treasury.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a, the Privacy Act of 1974, as 
amended, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines on 
the Conduct of Matching Programs dated June 19, 1989, notice is hereby 
given of the conduct of a Financial Management Service (FMS) matching 
activity.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 24, 1997.
 ADDRESS: Comments or inquiries may be submitted to the Debt Management 
Services, Financial Management Service, 401 14th Street, SW, Room 151, 
Washington, DC 20227.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gerry Isenberg, Financial Program 
Specialist, Debt Management Services, (202) 874-6660.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FMS is the central disbursing source for the 
Federal Government and currently receives recurring and non-recurring 
payment certification records from departments and agencies of the 
Government. FMS has a ``system of records'' (as defined in the Privacy 
Act of 1974) for nonrecurring payments entitled ``Payment Records for 
Other than Regular Recurring Benefit Payments'' identified as Treasury/
FMS .016.
    FMS is also the lead agency in the Federal Government for debt 
collection, and collects non-tax debts owed to the Federal Government. 
FMS has a ``system of records'' for debt collection

[[Page 7826]]

entitled ``Debt Collection Operations System'' identified as Treasury/
FMS .014.
    The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (``DCIA'') amended the 
administrative offset statute, 31 U.S.C. 3716, by statutorily providing 
for centralized administrative offset by disbursing officials of the 
United States. This statutory provision takes advantage of FMS' role as 
the primary disbursing agency for the Federal Government. This match of 
records contained in the two systems of records identified above is 
intended to help implement disbursing official offset within the 
Department of the Treasury. As a match of two Treasury systems of 
records, the intended match may be an internal match which is not 
subject to the requirements of the Computer Matching and Privacy 
Protection Act of 1988 (see 5 U.S.C. 552a(a)(8)(B)(v)(II)). The 
preparation of this Notice and any other documents which would be 
required for a matching program is intended to assure compliance with 
the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988, if judicial 
interpretation would deem this computerized comparison a ``matching 
program.'' This notice should not be construed as a determination or 
admission by the agency that this match is a ``matching program.''
    The DCIA provides authority for Treasury to waive subsections (o) 
and (p) of 5 U.S.C. 552a (relating to computer matching agreements, and 
post-offset notification and verification) upon written certification 
by the head of a State or an executive, judicial, or legislative agency 
seeking to collect the claim that the requirements of subsection (a) of 
31 U.S.C. 3716 have been met. Such waiver will be in effect prior to 
the commencement of the computer matching program. Interested parties 
may obtain documents concerning the waiver from the contact listed 
above.

Name of Source Agency:
    Financial Management Service

 Name of Recipient Agency:
    Financial Management Service

Beginning and Completion Dates:
    This program of computer matches will commence not earlier than the 
thirtieth day after this notice appears in the Federal Register. The 
matching activity will continue indefinitely.

Purpose:
    The purpose of this program of computer matches is to identify 
payments made to individuals who owe delinquent debts to the Federal 
Government, and to offset such payments where appropriate to satisfy 
those debts.

Authority:
    Authority for this program of computer matches is granted under 31 
U.S.C. 3716.

Categories of Individuals Covered:
    Individuals receiving payments, which are not recurring benefit 
payments, from the Federal Government which are disbursed by the 
Financial Management Service; and individuals who are indebted to the 
United States and whose debts may be collected by offset in accordance 
with 31 U.S.C. 3716.

Categories of Records Covered:
    Included in this program of computer matches is information 
concerning the debtor contained in the Debt Collection Operations 
System (Treasury/FMS .014) including name, taxpayer identification 
number, the amount of the indebtedness, the name and address of the 
agency who is principally responsible for collecting the debt, and the 
name, phone number and address of an agency contact. Information 
contained in Payment Records for Other than Regular Recurring Benefit 
Payments (Treasury/FMS .016) which shall be included in this program of 
computer matches shall include name, taxpayer identification number, 
mailing address, and the amount of payment.

    Dated: February 10, 1997.

Alex Rodriguez,
Deputy Assistant Secretary (Administration).

[FR Doc. 97-4107 Filed 2-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE: 4810-35-F