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###### Department of Defense

###### Office of the Secretary

          - 32 CFR Part 310
          - [Docket ID: DoD-2024-OS-0112]
          - RIN 0790-AL45

# AGENCY:

Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense (DoD).

# ACTION:

Proposed rule.

# SUMMARY:

                        The Department of Defense (Department or DoD) is giving concurrent notice of a new system of                               ( print page 85893)                            records pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 for the DoD-0024, “Catch a Serial Offender (CATCH) Program Records,” system of records and this proposed rulemaking. In this proposed rulemaking, the Department proposes to exempt portions of this system of records from certain provisions of the Privacy Act to avoid interference during the conduct of criminal, civil, or administrative actions or investigations; and to protect the identity of confidential sources incident involving adult sexual assault allegations.                    

# DATES:

Send comments on or before December 30, 2024.

# ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods.

                        *                         *Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.*                         Follow the instructions for submitting comments.                    

                        *                         *Mail:*                         Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Privacy, Civil Liberties, and Transparency, Regulatory Directorate, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Attn: Mailbox 24, Suite 05F16, Alexandria, VA 22350-1700.                    

*Instructions:*                         All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number or Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) for this                         **Federal Register**                         document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the internet at                         *https://www.regulations.gov*                         as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.                    

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Ms. Rahwa Keleta,                         *OSD.DPCLTD@mail.mil,*                         (703) 256-1408.                    

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

## I. Background

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the DoD is establishing a new system of records titled “Catch a Serial Offender (CATCH) Program Records,” DoD-0024. This system of records covers DoD's maintenance of records used to collect and compare sexual assault reports for the purpose of identifying alleged serial sexual assault offenders. These records will consist of information voluntarily submitted into the CATCH system by eligible victims who elect to participate in the CATCH program and provide information about an alleged adult sexual assault incident, without identifying such victims, through established CATCH processes.

## II. Privacy Act Exemption

The Privacy Act allows Federal agencies to exempt eligible records in a system of records from certain provisions of the Act, including those that provide individuals with a right to request access to and amendment of their own records. If an agency intends to exempt a particular system of records, it must first go through the rulemaking process to provide public notice and an opportunity to comment on the proposed exemption. This proposed rule explains why an exemption is being claimed for this system of records and invites public comment, which DoD will consider before the issuance of a final rule implementing the exemption.

The DoD proposes to modify 32 CFR part 310 to add a new Privacy Act exemption rule for the DoD-0024, “Catch a Serial Offender (CATCH) Program Records,” system of records. The DoD proposes to exempt this system of records because these records support the conduct of criminal law enforcement activities, and certain requirements of the Privacy Act may interfere with the effective execution of these activities. The Privacy Act, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(j)(2), authorizes agencies with a principal law enforcement function pertaining to the enforcement of criminal laws (including activities of prosecutors, courts, etc.) to claim an exemption for systems of records that contain information identifying criminal offenders and alleged offenders, information compiled for the purpose of criminal investigation, or reports compiled during criminal law enforcement proceedings. The DoD is proposing to claim exemptions from several provisions of the Privacy Act, including various access, amendment, disclosure accounting, and notice requirements, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(j)(2) to prevent the harms articulated in this rule from occurring.

                    A notice of a new system of records for DoD-0024, “Catch a Serial Offender (CATCH) Program Records,” is published elsewhere in this issue of the                     **Federal Register**                    .                

## Regulatory Analysis

## Executive Order 12866, “Regulatory Planning and Review,” as Amended by Executive Order 14094, “Modernizing Regulatory Review,” and Executive Order 13563, “Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review”

Executive Orders 12866 (as amended by Executive Order 14094) and 13563 direct agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety effects, distribute impacts, and equity). Executive Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. It has been determined that this rule is not a significant regulatory action.

## Section 202, Public Law 104-4, “Unfunded Mandates Reform Act”

Section 202(a) of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1532(a)) requires agencies to assess anticipated costs and benefits before issuing any rule whose mandates may result in the expenditure by State, local, and Tribal governments in the aggregate, or by the private sector, in any one year of $100 million in 1995 dollars, updated annually for inflation. This rule will not mandate any requirements for State, local, or Tribal governments, nor will it affect private sector costs.

## Public Law 96-354, “Regulatory Flexibility Act” (5 U.S.C. Chapter 6)

                    The Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Privacy, Civil Liberties, and Transparency has certified that this proposed rule is not subject to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601*et seq.*) because it would not, if promulgated, have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. This proposed rule is concerned only with the administration of Privacy Act systems of records within the DoD. Therefore, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, as amended, does not require DoD to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis.                

## Public Law 96-511, “Paperwork Reduction Act” (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35)

                    The Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501*et seq.*) was enacted to minimize the paperwork burden for individuals; small businesses; educational and nonprofit institutions; Federal contractors; State, local, and Tribal governments; and other persons resulting from the collection of information by or for the Federal Government. The Act requires agencies obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget before using identical questions to collect information from ten or more persons. This proposed rule does not impose reporting or recordkeeping requirements on the public.                          ( print page 85894)    

## Executive Order 13132, “Federalism”

Executive Order 13132 establishes certain requirements that an agency must meet when it promulgates a proposed rule that has federalism implications, imposes substantial direct compliance costs on State and local governments, and is not required by statute, or has federalism implications and preempts state law. This proposed rule will not have a substantial effect on State and local governments.

## Executive Order 13175, “Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments”

Executive Order 13175 establishes certain requirements that an agency must meet when it promulgates a proposed rule (and subsequent final rule) that imposes substantial direct compliance costs on one or more Indian Tribes, preempts Tribal law, or affects the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian Tribes. This proposed rule will not have a substantial effect on Indian Tribal governments.

# List of Subjects in 32 CFR Part 310

      - Privacy

Accordingly, 32 CFR part 310 is proposed to be amended as follows:

# PART 310—PROTECTION OF PRIVACY AND ACCESS TO AND AMENDMENT OF INDIVIDUAL RECORDS UNDER THE PRIVACY ACT OF 1974

1. The authority citation for 32 CFR part 310 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552a.

2. Amend § 310.13 by adding paragraph (e)(15) to read as follows: 

§ 310.13 

* * * * *

(e) * * *

                        (15)                         *System identifier and name.*                         DoD-0024, “Catch a Serial Offender (CATCH) Program Records.”                    

                        (i)                         *Exemptions.*                         This system of records is exempt from 5 U.S.C. 552a (c)(3) and (4); (d)(1), (2), (3), and (4); (e)(1); (e)(2); (e)(3); (e)(4)(G), (H), and (I); (e)(5); (e)(8); (f) and (g).                    

                        (ii)                         *Authority.*5 U.S.C. 552a (j)(2).                    

                        (iii)                         *Exemption from the particular subsections.*                         Exemption from the particular subsections is justified pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(j)(2) for the following reasons:                    

                        (A)                         *Subsection (c)(3), (d)(1), and (d)(2).*                         Records in this system of records may contain investigatory material compiled for criminal law enforcement purposes to include information identifying criminal offenders and alleged offenders, information compiled for the purpose of criminal investigation, or reports compiled during criminal law enforcement proceedings. Application of exemption (j)(2) may be necessary as access to, amendment of, or release of the accounting of disclosures of such records could inform a record subject of an investigation of the existence, nature, or scope of an actual or potential law enforcement or disciplinary investigation, and thereby seriously impede law enforcement or prosecutorial efforts by permitting the record subject and other persons to whom he might disclose the records to avoid criminal penalties or disciplinary measures; access to, amendment of, or release of the accounting of disclosures could also reveal confidential sources who might not have otherwise come forward to assist in an investigation and thereby hinder DoD's ability to obtain information from future confidential sources and result in an unwarranted invasion of the privacy of others.                    

                        (B)                         *Subsection (c)(4), (d)(3) and (4).*                         These subsections are inapplicable to the extent that an exemption is being claimed from subsections (d)(1) and (2).                    

                        (C)                         *Subsection (e)(1).*                         In the collection of information for investigatory or law enforcement purposes, it is not always possible to conclusively determine the relevance and necessity of particular information in the early stages of the investigation or adjudication. In some instances, it will be only after the collected information is evaluated in light of other information that its relevance and necessity for effective investigation and adjudication can be assessed. Collection of such information permits more informed decision-making by the Department when making required disciplinary and prosecutorial determinations.                    

                        (D)                         *Subsection (e)(2).*                         To collect information from the subject individual could serve notice that he or she is the subject of a criminal investigation and thereby present a serious impediment to such investigations. Collection of information only from the individual accused of criminal activity or misconduct could also subvert discovery of relevant evidence and subvert the course of justice. Accordingly, application of exemption (j)(2) may be necessary.                    

                        (E)                         *Subsection (e)(3).*                         To inform individuals as required by this subsection could reveal the existence of a criminal investigation and compromise investigative efforts. Accordingly, application of exemption (j)(2) may be necessary.                    

                        (F)                         *Subsection (e)(4)(G) and (H).*                         These subsections are inapplicable to the extent exemption is claimed from subsections (d)(1) and (2).                    

                        (G)                         *Subsection (e)(4)(I).*                         To the extent that this provision is construed to require more detailed disclosure about record sources than the broad, generic information currently published in the system notice, an exemption from this provision is necessary to protect the confidentiality of sources of information and to protect privacy and physical safety of witnesses and informants. Accordingly, application of exemption (j)(2) may be necessary.                    

                        (H)                         *Subsection (e)(5).*                         It is often impossible to determine in advance if investigatory records contained in this system are accurate, relevant, timely and complete, but, in the interests of effective law enforcement, it is necessary to retain this information to maintain an accurate record of the investigatory activity to preserve the integrity of the investigation and satisfy various Constitutional and evidentiary requirements, such as mandatory disclosure of potentially exculpatory information in the investigative file to a defendant. It is also necessary to retain this information to aid in establishing patterns of activity and provide investigative leads. With the passage of time, seemingly irrelevant or untimely information may acquire new significance as further investigation brings new details to light and the accuracy of such information can only be determined through judicial processes. Accordingly, application of exemption (j)(2) may be necessary.                    

                        (I)                         *Subsection (e)(8).*                         To serve notice could give persons sufficient warning to evade investigative efforts. Accordingly, application of exemption (j)(2) may be necessary.                    

                        (J)                         *Subsection (f).*                         To the extent that portions of the system are exempt from the provisions of the Privacy Act concerning individual access and amendment of records, DoD is not required to establish rules concerning procedures and requirements relating to such provisions. Accordingly, application of exemptions (j)(2) may be necessary.                    

                        (K)                         *Subsection (g).*                         This subsection is inapplicable to the extent that the system is exempt from other specific subsections of the Privacy Act to which the civil remedies provisions pertain.                    

                        (iv)                         *Exempt records from other systems.*                         In the course of carrying out the overall purpose for this system, exempt records from other systems of records may in turn become part of the                               ( print page 85895)                            records maintained in this system. To the extent that copies of exempt records from those other systems of records are maintained in this system, the DoD claims the same exemptions for the records from those other systems that are entered into this system, as claimed for the prior system(s) of which they are a part, provided the reason for the exemption remains valid and necessary.                    

Dated: October 23, 2024.

Aaron T. Siegel,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

[FR Doc. 2024-25035 Filed 10-28-24; 8:45 am]

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