[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 232 (Friday, December 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75320-75321]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-30583]


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POSTAL SERVICE

Office of Inspector General


Privacy Act of 1974; Computer-Matching Program

AGENCY: Office of Inspector General, Postal Service.

ACTION: Notice of computer-matching program.

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SUMMARY: Subsection (e)(12) of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 
U.S.C. 552a), requires agencies to publish advance notice of any 
proposed or revised computer-matching program for comment. The United 
States Postal Service (Postal Service), Office of Inspector General 
(OIG) is issuing notice of its intent to conduct a computer-matching 
program with the United States Department of Labor Office of Workers' 
Compensation Programs. The primary purpose of this matching agreement 
is to determine whether the current Postal Service automated and manual 
procedures for monitoring Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) 
benefits payments made to employees returning to work are operating 
effectively. A secondary purpose of this matching agreement is to 
identify those Postal Service employees who may have received dual 
benefits in violation of section 81161(a) of the FECA. Except as 
otherwise provided by law, the Department of Labor Office of Workers' 
Compensation Programs has the exclusive authority to administer, 
interpret, and enforce the provisions of the FECA.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than January 2, 2001. Unless 
comments are received that result in a contrary determination, the 
matching program covered by this notice will begin as stated in the 
paragraph ``Dates of the Matching Program'' in the Supplementary 
Information section of this notice.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the Director, Legal Services, 
United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, 1735 N. Lynn 
Street, Arlington, VA, 22209-2020; or delivered to Room 10.006 at the 
above address between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. 
Comments received may also be inspected during the above hours in the 
10th floor reception area.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gladis Griffith, Director, Legal 
Services, at 703-248-2100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to subsection (o) of the Privacy 
Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a), the OIG and the Department of 
Labor Office of Workers' Compensation Programs will enter into an 
agreement to conduct a computer-matching program. The computer-matching 
program, described below, will be conducted in accordance with 
paragraph 4d of Appendix I to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
Circular No. A-130, Federal Agency Responsibilities for Maintaining 
Records About Individuals, February 8, 1996 (61 FR 6427).
    a. Participating Agencies: OIG (recipient agency) and Department of 
Labor Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
    b. Purpose of the Matching Program: The primary purpose of this 
matching agreement is to determine whether the current Postal Service 
automated and manual procedures for monitoring FECA benefits payments 
made to employees returning to work are operating effectively. A 
secondary purpose of this matching agreement is to identify those 
Postal Service employees who may have received dual benefits in 
violation of section 8116(a) of the FECA. The names and other 
identifying information of employees suspected of receiving dual 
benefits will be given to the Postal Service Injury Compensation 
Offices to determine whether appropriate action has in fact been taken 
regarding the propriety of the dual payments. If no action has been 
taken, appropriate steps will be followed to remedy the failure to act.
    c. Legal Authorities Authorizing Operation of the Match: 39 U.S.C. 
404 (Postal Reorganization Act); the Inspector General Act, as amended, 
5 U.S.C. Appendix 3; and the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 
552a.
    d. Categories of Individuals Matched and Identification of Records 
Used: (1) Postal Service employee data records within the Privacy Act 
system of records, United States Postal Service 050.020, Finance 
Records-Payroll System (57 FR 57515), and (2) Department of Labor 
Office of Workers' Compensation Programs system of records published as 
DOL/GOVT-1, entitled Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Federal 
Employees' Compensation File (58 FR 49548), as amended (59 FR 47361).
    e. Dates of the Matching Program: This matching program is expected 
to begin in December 2000 and to continue in effect for 18 months 
unless terminated earlier by either party. Matching activity under this 
program will begin no sooner than 40 days after the last of the 
following occurs: (1) Publication of this notice, (2) transmittal of 
this matching agreement to Congress,

[[Page 75321]]

or (3) report of the matching program to OMB and to Congress.

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 00-30583 Filed 11-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-U