Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 204 / Friday, October 22, 2010 / Notices 65405 

and oral review of the research 

proposals and critiques. 

The purpose of the Board is to review 

rehabilitation research and development 

applications and advise the Director, 

Rehabilitation Research and 

Development Service, and the Chief 

Research and Development Officer on 

the scientific and technical merit, the 

mission relevance, and the protection of 

human and animal subjects. 

During the meeting, discussion and 

recommendations will include 

qualifications of the personnel 

conducting the studies (the disclosure of 

which would constitute a clearly 

unwarranted invasion of personal 

privacy), as well as research information 

(the premature disclosure of which 

would likely compromise significantly 

the implementation of proposed agency 

action regarding such research projects). 

As provided by subsection 10(d) of 

Public Law 92–463, as amended by 

Public Law 94–409, closing the meeting 

is in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 

552b(c)(6) and (9)(B). 

For further information, please 

contact Tiffany Asqueri, Designated 

Federal Officer, Rehabilitation Research 

and Development Service, Department 

of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont 

Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420, at 

(202) 461–1740 or 

tiffany.asqueri@va.gov. 

Dated: October 18, 2010. 

By Direction of the Secretary. 

Vivian Drake, 

Acting Committee Management Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2010–26556 Filed 10–21–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

Research Advisory Committee on Gulf 

War Veterans’ Illnesses; Notice of 

Meeting 

The Department of Veterans Affairs 

(VA) gives notice under Public Law 92– 

463 (Federal Advisory Committee Act) 

that the Research Advisory Committee 

on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses will 

meet on November 1–2, 2010, in the 

Boston University School of Public 

Health, Room 107, 670 Albany Street, 

Boston, MA. The sessions will convene 

at 8 a.m. each day and adjourn at 5:15 

p.m. on November 1 and at 1 p.m. on 

November 2. The meeting is open to the 

public. 

The purpose of the Committee is to 

provide advice and make 

recommendations to the Secretary of 

Veterans Affairs on proposed research 

studies, research plans and research 

strategies relating to the health 

consequences of military service in the 

Southwest Asia theater of operations 

during the Gulf War. 

The Committee will review VA 

program activities related to Gulf War 

veterans’ illnesses and updates on 

relevant scientific research published 

since the last Committee meeting. The 

session on November 1 will be devoted 

to presentations of ongoing research 

related to inflammation, mitochondrial 

damage, and pain. There will also be 

updates of the VA Gulf War research 

program and the VA-funded Gulf War 

Biorepository. The session on November 

2 will include presentations on 

toxicogenomics, cancer, and 

acupuncture as a potential treatment for 

ill Gulf War veterans. Additionally, 

there will be discussion of Committee 

business and activities. 

Public comments will be received at 

4:45 p.m. on November 1 and at 12:30 

p.m. on November 2. A sign-up sheet for 

five-minute comments will be available 

at the meeting. Individuals who speak 

are invited to submit a 1–2 page 

summary of their comments at the time 

of the meeting for inclusion in the 

official meeting record. Members of the 

public may also submit written 

statements for the Committee’s review 

to Dr. Roberta White, Chair, Department 

of Environmental Health, Boston 

University School of Public Health, 715 

Albany Street, T2E, Boston, MA 02118, 

or email at rwhite@bu.edu. 

Any member of the public seeking 

additional information should contact 

Dr. White, Scientific Director, at (617) 

278–4517 or Dr. William Goldberg, 

Designated Federal Officer, at (202) 

461–1667. 

Dated: October 18, 2010. 

By Direction of the Secretary. 

Vivian Drake, 

Acting Committee Management Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2010–26724 Filed 10–21–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

Privacy Act of 1974; System of 

Records 

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs. 

ACTION: Notice of amendment to and 

republication of System of Records. 

SUMMARY: As required by the Privacy 

Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4), notice 

is hereby given that the Department of 

Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to 

amend the three existing systems of 

records known as ‘‘Veterans and Armed 

Forces Personnel Programs of 

Government Life Insurance—VA’’ 

(36VA00) as last updated and set forth 

in the Federal Register at 59 FR 38035 

(July 26, 1994); ‘‘Veterans, Beneficiaries, 

and Attorneys United States 

Government Insurance Award 

Records—VA’’ (46VA00) as last updated 

and set forth in the Federal Register at 

50 FR 50033 (December 6, 1985); and 

‘‘Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance—VA’’ 

(53VA00) as last updated and set forth 

in the Federal Register at 59 FR 10455 

(March 4, 1994) into one system of 

records. When this notice is approved 

and published in the Federal Register, 

the three systems of records referenced 

above will be deleted. This amendment 

will consolidate the three current 

systems of records 36VA00, 46VA00, 

and 53VA00 into one system under the 

designation of ‘‘Veterans and Uniformed 

Services Personnel Programs of U.S. 

Government Life Insurance—VA’’ 

(36VA29). This amendment includes 

updates reflecting current terminology, 

records usage, policies, managing office 

location, and storage and retrieval 

technology. We proposed to combine 

these changes as an amended and 

consolidated system of records entitled 

‘‘Veterans and Uniformed Services 

Personnel Programs of U.S. Government 

Life Insurance—VA’’ (36VA29). VA is 

republishing this system of records in 

its entirety. 

DATES: Comments on routine uses must 

be received no later than 30 days after 

date of publication in the Federal 

Register, on or before November 22, 

2010. If no public comment is received 

during the period allowed for 

comments, the routine use will become 

effective November 22, 2010. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be 

submitted through http:// 

www.Regulations.gov; by mail or handdelivery to the Director, Regulations 

Management (02REG), Department of 

Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., 

NW., Room 1068, Washington, DC 

20420; or by fax to (202) 273–9026. 

Copies of comments received will be 

available for public inspection in the 

Office of Regulation Policy and 

Management, Room 1063B, between the 

hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday 

through Friday (except holidays). Please 

call (202) 461–4902 for an appointment. 

(This is not a toll-free number.) In 

addition, during the comment period, 

comments may be viewed online 

through the Federal Docket Management 

System (FDMS) at http:// 

www.Regulations.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Monica Keitt, Attorney-Advisor/Privacy 

Officer, VA Insurance Program 

Management Staff, Department of 

Veterans Affairs Regional Office and 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
65406 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 204 / Friday, October 22, 2010 / Notices 

Insurance Center, 5000 Wissahickon 

Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19144, (215) 

842–2000, Ext. 2905. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Department of Veterans Affairs notices 

for systems of records subject to the 

Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as 

amended, have been published in the 

Federal Register and are available from 

the address above. 

The VA Insurance Program has 

reviewed its records notices and 

determined that its three existing 

systems of records know as ‘‘Veterans 

and Armed Forces Personnel United 

States Government Life Insurance 

Records—VA’’ (36VA00); ‘‘Veterans, 

Beneficiaries, and Attorneys United 

States Government Insurance—VA’’ 

(46VA00); and ‘‘Veterans Mortgage Life 

Insurance—VA’’ (53VA00) should be 

consolidated into one system of records 

entitled ‘‘Veterans and Uniformed 

Services Personnel Programs of U.S. 

Government Life Insurance—VA’’ under 

a single number of 36VA29. When this 

notice is approved and published in the 

Federal Register, the three systems of 

records referenced above will be deleted 

and replaced by 36VA29. 

This amendment is designed to reflect 

the VA Insurance Program’s role and 

mission as the primary source of U.S. 

government life insurance for veterans 

and members of the uniformed services. 

The amendment also serves to reflect 

the evolving technology and current 

practices of the VA Insurance Program. 

The System Location is amended to 

reflect the various locations of both 

active and inactive insurance records, 

including back-up records. Addresses of 

the various records storage centers is 

provided in the attached Appendix I of 

the System of Records Notice (SORN). 

The Categories of Individuals covered 

by the system is modified to provide the 

individuals covered by the system and 

the specific chapters under title 38 

United States Code (U.S.C.) for each 

program of insurance under which these 

individuals are covered. 

The Categories of Records in the 

System was amended to reflect the 

Insurance Program’s current technology, 

including the following: (a) Use of the 

Disability Outreach Tracking System 

(DOTS) which stores the veteran’s or 

uniformed services member’s name, 

address, phone number, and disability 

status as part of the Insurance Program’s 

benefits outreach service; (b) the VA 

Insurance Web site self-service portal 

which tracks activities related to policy 

changes, which may include the name 

of the insured, file number, policy 

number, address, phone number, e-mail 

address, loan status, including loan 

amount requested, denied, or pending, 

date of request for information, loan 

history, and dividend option changes, 

and Web site pages accessed; (c) the VA 

Insurance Web site ‘‘Autoform’’ program 

provides access for veterans to complete 

an online application for ServiceDisabled Veterans Insurance (S–DVI), 

which may include the veteran’s name, 

address, Social Security number, date of 

birth, phone number, medical history, email address, and beneficiary 

information, such as the beneficiary’s 

name, address, and Social Security 

number; (d) the ‘‘Freedom Enterprise,’’ 

which records incoming phone calls 

received by insurance personnel of the 

Veterans Insurance Phone Section 

(VIPS) from veterans, service members, 

beneficiaries, personal representatives, 

Members of Congress and their staff 

members, other interested parties, and 

stakeholders. (The recordings are 

maintained for quality assurance and 

training purposes only.) 

The Authority for Maintenance of the 

System has been amended to reflect 

current citations for DOTS, the VA 

programs of government life insurance, 

and the Privacy Act. 

The system of records has been 

amended by revising the ‘‘Purpose(s)’’ 

section. The Purpose(s) section explains 

the mission and purpose of the VA 

Insurance Program. (Legal authorities 

for the routine uses have been updated 

and are listed with the routine use in 

the System of Records Notice (SORN) 

where appropriate for reference.) 

Several changes have been made to 

the Routine Uses of Records consisting 

of the following: 

Routine use 1 has been continued in 

this single SORN from the previous 

three SORNs (36VA00; 46VA00; and 

53VA00) to permit disclosure of 

information from the record of an 

individual in response to inquiry from 

a Congressional office made on behalf of 

the individual. 

Routine use 2 has been added to 

permit disclosure of information to the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA) and the General 

Services Administration (GSA) relative 

to inspection conducted under title 44 

U.S.C. NARA and GSA are responsible 

for the proper disposition and archiving 

of Federal records that are no longer 

active but may be appropriate for 

preservation. VA must be permitted to 

share information with NARA in order 

for NARA and GSA to perform these 

statutorily created functions. 

Routine use 3 permits records 

disclosure to the U.S. Department of 

Justice (DoJ). When VA is involved in 

litigation or an adjudicative or 

administrative agency process and VA 

policies or operations may be affected 

by the outcome of the litigation or 

process, VA must be able to disclose 

pertinent information to the court, 

adjudicative or administrative bodies or 

parties involved. This routine use does 

not constitute authority to disclose 

records in response to a grand jury or 

other subpoena under the Privacy Act. 

This routine use is an expansion of 

routine use number 13 from the existing 

36VA00. 

Routine use number 4 permits 

disclosure of information to individuals, 

agencies, organizations, or entities from 

whom VA requires the services of a 

contractor or subcontractor to perform 

under the contractual agreement with 

VA as is deemed practicable under the 

laws administered by VA. 

Routine use number 5 represents a 

consolidation of the existing routine 

uses number 6, 7, and 8 from the 

existing 36VA00 and number 2 of the 

existing 53VA00. This use permits VA, 

based on its own initiative, relative to a 

suspected or reasonably imminent 

violation of a law, to disclose 

information to the Federal, State, local, 

Tribal, or foreign agency charged with 

enforcing or implementing such law, 

rule or order. This use permits 

disclosure of the name and address of 

the veteran or member of the uniformed 

services, upon written request for such, 

when relevant to the suspected or 

reasonably imminent violation of laws 

involving public health or safety, to the 

agency with the responsibility of 

maintaining compliance with such laws. 

Routine use number 6 has been 

included to permit disclosure to other 

Federal agencies to assist the agencies in 

preventing and detecting fraud or abuse 

by persons in their operations or 

programs. 

Routine use number 7 has been added 

to permit disclosure of information to 

agencies, entities, or persons 

responsible for preventing, minimizing, 

responding to, or establishing remedies 

when VA suspects or has confirmed that 

the integrity or confidentiality of 

information in the system of records has 

been compromised or there is the risk of 

harm to an individual, including harm 

affecting their reputation, economic 

status, security, and confidentiality, or 

harm affecting another agency or entity 

which relies on the information in this 

system of records or other systems or 

programs. 

Routine use number 8 was formerly 

recorded as routine use number 2 under 

both the existing 36VA00 and the 

existing 46VA00 and has been 

incorporated to permit disclosure of 

information to a Federal agency to the 

extent necessary for the agency to 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 204 / Friday, October 22, 2010 / Notices 65407 

render decisions involving hiring, 

retention or transfer of an employee; 

issuance of a security clearance, letting 

of a contract, or the issuance or 

continuance of a license, grant or other 

benefit given by the agency. Written 

consent by the veteran must be provided 

for disclosures to the U.S. Postal Service 

based on an agreement with the U.S. 

Postal Service. 

Routine use number 9 was formerly 

recorded as routine use number 3 under 

the existing 36VA00 and the existing 

46VA00 and has been incorporated to 

permit disclosure of information to a 

State or local agency to the extent 

necessary for the agency to render 

decisions involving hiring, retention or 

transfer of an employee; issuance of a 

security clearance, letting of a contract, 

or the issuance or continuance of a 

license, grant or other benefit given by 

the agency. The name and address of the 

veteran or member of the uniformed 

services will not be disclosed unless the 

name and address is provided first by 

the requesting State or local agency. 

Routine use number 10 was formerly 

recorded as routine use number 4 under 

the existing 36VA00 and has been 

incorporated to permit disclosure to a 

Federal, State, or local agency 

maintaining civil or criminal violation 

records or other pertinent information 

regarding an individual’s background in 

order for VA to render a decision 

regarding hiring, transfer or retention of 

an employee, the letting of a contract, 

the granting of a security clearance, or 

the issuance of a grant or other benefit. 

Routine use number 11 was formerly 

recorded as routine use number 5 under 

the existing 36VA00 and number 4 

under the existing 46VA00 and has been 

incorporated to permit VA to disclose to 

a Federal agency, information other than 

the name and address of the veteran or 

member of the uniformed services 

(unless required by the receiving 

Federal agency) in order for VA to 

obtain information relevant to issuance 

of title 38 U.S.C. benefits. 

Routine use number 12 was formerly 

recorded as routine use number 9 under 

the existing 36VA00 and has been 

incorporated to permit disclosure of 

information to nonprofit organizations 

where such information is related to 

programs and utilization of benefits 

under title 38 U.S.C., and includes 

computerized lists of names and 

addresses of veterans or members of the 

uniformed services, but not beneficiary 

designation related information. 

Routine use number 13 was formerly 

recorded as routine use number 10 

under the existing 36VA00 and routine 

use number 6 under the existing 

53VA00 and has been incorporated to 

permit disclosure of insurance contract 

information upon the veteran’s or 

uniformed services member’s request, 

not including medical or beneficiary 

related information, to the veteran’s or 

uniformed services member’s legal 

representative in order to assist a 

veteran’s or uniformed services 

member’s legal representative in 

prosecution of a claim under the laws 

administered by VA. 

Routine use number 14 was formerly 

recorded as routine use number 11 

under the existing 36VA00 and has been 

incorporated to permit disclosure of 

information to the Treasury Department 

in order for the Treasury Department to 

process payment related activities. 

Additional language has been added 

consisting of ‘‘insurance account 

information of an insured veteran or 

member of the uniformed services’’ and 

‘‘perform check tracer activities for the 

veteran or member of the uniformed 

services, beneficiary(ies), legal 

representative or designated payee(s)’’ to 

reflect activities and terms commonly 

used in the payment process. 

Routine use number 15 was formerly 

recorded as routine use number 12 

under the existing 36VA00 and has been 

incorporated to permit disclosure of 

information to the Internal Revenue 

Service (IRS) when it is required for the 

IRS to collect tax liens. 

Routine use number 16 was formerly 

recorded as routine use number 14 

under the existing 36VA00 and has been 

incorporated to permit disclosure of 

identifying information for members of 

the uniformed services and veterans, 

including personal information about 

their military service, medical status, 

beneficiary(ies) and dependent(s), to the 

Office of Servicemembers’ Group Life 

Insurance (OSGLI) in order for OSGLI to 

provide government life insurance 

coverage under the Servicemembers’ 

Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and 

Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) 

programs. This routine use has been 

edited to reflect that disclosure of 

information about members of the 

uniformed services and veterans is 

currently used by OSGLI in the 

administration of the related programs 

of insurance based on OSGLI’s 

contractual relationship with VA. 

Routine use number 17 was formerly 

recorded as routine use number 15 

under the existing 36VA00 and has been 

incorporated to permit disclosure of 

information to the Department of 

Defense and the uniformed services in 

order to establish and maintain 

allotments from active and retired 

service pay for VA insurance premiums 

and loan repayments. 

Routine use number 18 was formerly 

recorded as routine use number 16 

under the existing 36VA00 and has been 

incorporated to permit disclosure of 

policy and loan values and the name 

and address of the veteran or member of 

the uniformed services to Federal, State, 

and local agencies in order for the 

agency to render a decision regarding 

the veteran’s or uniformed services 

member’s entitlement to Medicaid, 

Medicare, nursing home admittance, 

and welfare benefits. Additional 

language has been added stating ‘‘or 

other benefits provided by the 

requesting agency’’ in order to be more 

inclusive and encompassing with 

regards to benefits beyond Medicaid, 

Medicare, nursing home admittance, 

and welfare provided by the agency to 

which the veteran or member of the 

uniformed services may be entitled. 

Routine use number 19 was formerly 

recorded as routine use number 17 

under the existing 36VA00 and has been 

incorporated to permit disclosure of the 

name, address, and military service 

information of the veteran or member of 

the uniformed services to the Armed 

Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) for 

official research purposes. 

Routine use number 20 was formerly 

recorded as routine use number 18 

under the existing 36VA00 and has been 

incorporated to permit disclosure of the 

name(s) and address(es) of a veteran or 

member of the uniformed services to 

another Federal agency or contractor of 

that agency for the purposes of 

government research based on the 

statutory purpose of such agency. 

Routine use number 21 was formerly 

recorded as routine use number 19 

under the existing 36VA00 and number 

6 under the existing 46VA00 and has 

been incorporated to permit disclosure 

of any information in the system, 

including information related to 

financial obligations, to a debtor’s 

employing agency or commanding 

officer for the purpose of debt collection 

and debtor-employee counseling. 

Routine use number 22 was formerly 

recorded as routine use number 20 

under the existing 36VA00 and number 

7 under the existing 46VA00 and has 

been incorporated to permit disclosure 

of information regarding the veteran’s or 

uniformed services member’s 

indebtedness to the United States based 

on participation in VA benefit programs 

to another Federal agency, a State 

agency, or a State probate court in order 

to obtain current address, locator, and 

credit report assistance in the collection 

of unpaid financial obligations owed to 

the United States. 

Routine use number 23 was formerly 

recorded as routine use number 21 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
65408 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 204 / Friday, October 22, 2010 / Notices 

under the existing 36VA00 and routine 

use number 8 under the existing 

46VA00 and has been incorporated to 

permit disclosure of information to a 

third party, but not a consumer 

protection agency, regarding the 

veteran’s or uniformed services 

member’s indebtedness to the United 

States based on participation in a VA 

benefits program, in order to help VA 

collect debts due and initiate legal 

action due to fraud in obtaining title 38 

benefits. 

Routine use number 24 was formerly 

recorded as routine use number 22 

under the existing 36VA00 and has been 

incorporated to permit disclosure of the 

name and address of the veteran or 

member of the uniformed services, and 

other information which is reasonably 

necessary to identify the veteran or 

member of the uniformed services, 

including information concerning the 

veteran’s or uniformed services 

member’s indebtedness to the United 

States based on participation in VA 

benefit programs, to consumer reporting 

agencies in order to assist in collection 

of the indebtedness. 

Routine use number 25 was formerly 

recorded as routine use number 23 

under the existing 36VA00 and has been 

incorporated to permit disclosure of 

information to the legal representative 

of incompetent veterans or members of 

the uniformed services in order to 

advise the legal representative relative 

to actions required to properly perform 

his/her duty. Additional language has 

been added to include ‘‘court-appointed 

guardians/conservators, Powers of 

Attorney, or military trustees’’ and the 

term ‘‘VA Federal fiduciaries’’ has been 

changed to ‘‘VA fiduciaries’’ to reflect 

the types of representatives who may 

receive information. 

Routine use number 26 is being 

inserted to replace routine use numbers 

24 and 25 under the existing 36VA00 

and has been incorporated to permit 

disclosure of information involving the 

presentation of evidence in or to a court, 

magistrate, administrative tribunal, or 

grand jury, including disclosures to 

opposing counsel in the course of such 

proceeding or settlement negotiations. 

In order to avoid the controversies 

presented by cases such as Doe v. 

DiGenova, 779 F.2d 74 (DC Cir. 1985) 

and Doe v. Stephens, 851 F.2d 1457 (DC 

Cir. 1988) regarding disclosure of 

information under the Privacy Act in 

response to subpoenas, this routine use 

was added to permit disclosure in 

response to grand jury proceedings but 

omitting the ‘‘subpoena’’ related 

language reference in 36VA00. 

Routine use number 27 was formerly 

recorded as routine use number 26 

under the existing 36VA00 and has been 

incorporated to permit disclosure of 

information to Federal, State, country, 

and municipal agencies for the purpose 

of conducting computer matches to 

validate a veteran’s or uniformed 

services member’s entitlement to 

insurance benefits under title 38 U.S.C. 

The name and address of the veteran or 

member of the uniformed services may 

be disclosed if required by the Federal 

agency in order to respond to VA. 

The Policies and Practices for Storing, 

Accessing, Retaining, and Disposing of 

Records in the System section is 

amended to more accurately reflect 

terminology and changes in technology 

used by the VA Insurance Program. The 

Insurance Program has evolved from a 

paper-based environment to a largely 

paperless one. Records and information 

are primarily stored electronically in 

two storage and retrieval systems, called 

the Veterans Insurance Claims Tracking 

and Response System (VICTARS), and 

the Insurance Terminal System (ITS), 

which are maintained as part of the VA 

Insurance Program’s local area network 

(LAN). 

VICTARS utilizes imaging and 

electronic technology to store paper 

documents and store information from 

the Disability Outreach Tracking 

Services (DOTS), and Web site selfservice activities, including ‘‘Autoform’’ 

S–DVI applications. 

The Insurance Terminal System (ITS) 

provides direct access to insurance 

records relative to claims processing via 

computer monitors. This amendment 

explains that both VICTARS and ITS 

store and retrieve all information in the 

insurance records system through the 

LAN maintained through the VA 

Information Technology Center (VA 

ITC) at the Philadelphia VA Regional 

Office and Insurance Center. 

The amendment also reflects changes 

involving the phone system used by the 

VA Insurance Program to include a 

computerized phone system called 

‘‘Freedom Enterprise’’ which creates 

recordings of incoming phone calls 

related to insurance policies for quality 

assurance and training purposes only. 

This system stores the call as part of the 

LAN maintained through the VA ITC. 

The amendment notes that back-up 

VA insurance computer records are 

stored by Iron Mountain Off-Site Data in 

a secured area. (The complete address is 

provided in Appendix 1 at the end of 

this document.) 

Inactive records are also no longer 

stored on magnetic tape, and reference 

to such has been removed in this 

amended system of records. 

The Retrievability section is amended 

to reflect how records are retrieved in 

these new computerized storage media 

using the VA insurance file number, VA 

file number, policyholder’s name, social 

security number, date of birth, personal 

identification numbers (PINs), and 

passwords. 

The Safeguards section in the system 

of records is amended to include 

changes involving the fact that 

automated records which are not in use 

by the ITC are now stored in locked 

secured areas at Iron Mountain Off-Site 

Data Center. (The address of the facility 

is provided in the SORN in Appendix 

I.) 

The amendment reflects that access to 

the VA ITC and the Collections Unit 

(the payment processing unit) is 

restricted to authorized personnel with 

approved electronically coded access 

cards. All other persons gaining access 

to computer rooms and the Collections 

Unit are escorted by an individual with 

authorized access. 

This amendment reflects that Physical 

Security and System Security at the 

Philadelphia VA Regional Office and 

Insurance Center for computerized 

storage systems, including VICTARS, 

ITS, Freedom Enterprise, and the VA 

ITC is protected by password access, 

magnetic access card readers, and 

audible alarms in designated areas. 

Electronic keyboard locks are activated 

upon security errors. Video surveillance 

is also provided in secured processing 

and computer protected areas, such as 

Claims, Collections, and VA ITC. 

Approved encryption technology is 

included in the amendment to reflect 

new system security procedures. 

Changes involving the main computer 

site area are included to note the end of 

the Benefits Delivery Network 

terminology and the use of the new 

centralized computer center called the 

VA Information Technology Center (VA 

ITC). VA ITC’s practices of identifying 

computerized tapes and disks 

containing data is enforced using 

automated labeling techniques. Access 

to computer programs is now controlled 

at the Operations level only, and no 

longer involves Auditing or 

Programming personnel. 

The Retention and Disposal sections 

are amended to make distinctions 

between remaining hardcopy records 

and imaged/computerized records. 

Hardcopy records are retained and 

disposed of in accordance with 

disposition authorization approved by 

the Archivist of the United States. 

VICTARS, the primary records storage 

and retrieval system for the Insurance 

Program, maintains imaged insurance 

records indefinitely, which has resulted 

in removal of the need for reference to 

periods of storage for inactive records, 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 204 / Friday, October 22, 2010 / Notices 65409 

specifically the 36-month and 50-year 

Federal Archive and Records reference 

in the previous SORN 36VA00 and the 

reference to Veterans’ Mortgage Life 

Insurance (VMLI) closed and inactive 

files noted in SORN 53VA00. 

Additional changes in this section 

include the following: Hardcopy records 

imaged into VICTARS are stored for 31 

days prior to destruction. Beneficiary 

designation forms are imaged and the 

hardcopy originals are stored 

indefinitely at the NARA Mid Atlantic 

Region Center. (The address of the 

facility is provided in Appendix I of the 

SORN.) Computerized records 

accessible through ITS are maintained 

indefinitely though the LAN. Back-up 

VA ITC archive records are stored on 

tape for 1 year prior to being erased or 

written over. Records in the ‘‘Freedom 

Enterprise’’ system which records 

incoming phone calls regarding 

insurance policies are maintained for 1 

year and are purged 13 months after the 

call. 

The System Manager(s) and Address 

sections have been amended to provide 

the complete mailing address of: 

Director (00), VA Regional Office and 

Insurance Center, 5000 Wissahickon 

Avenue, P.O. Box 8079, Philadelphia, 

PA 19101. 

The Notification Procedure section is 

amended to reflect a direct number for 

the Director’s staff relative to inquiries 

about the records. The number provided 

is (215) 381–3029. Reference to the St. 

Paul, Minnesota, office for records 

requests has been removed because the 

St. Paul Insurance Center is no longer in 

operation and all records from that 

office have been consolidated into the 

records maintained by the Philadelphia 

Insurance office. 

Language from 36VA00, 46VA00, and 

53VA00 has been combined and 

incorporated relative to the information 

needed to complete the records inquiry 

request. 

Also the reference to submission of 

VMLI lending and mortgage information 

noted in SORN 53VA00 has been 

omitted because the VMLI records are 

identified using the same indicators 

used to identify other Insurance 

program records. 

Record Access Procedures now 

provides the complete mailing address 

of the Philadelphia VA Regional Office 

and Insurance Center to individuals 

desiring access to, and contesting of, VA 

records. The section also requested 

written notice for records access and 

provides language noting that ‘‘and 

related procedures’’ can be part of the 

inquiry. 

The Record Source Categories has 

been amended to reflect inclusion of 

Westlaw, InfoUSA, and the Inquiry 

Routing & Information System (IRIS) as 

sources of information used in this 

record system. Notation that IRIS is 

maintained by the Office of Information 

Technology (005) and is governed under 

the system of records entitled 

‘‘Information Routing & Information 

System (IRIS)—VA’’ (151VA005N) has 

been added. 

Interested persons are invited to 

submit written comments, suggestions, 

or objections regarding the proposed 

amended routine use statement to the 

Director, Office of Regulations 

Management (02D), Department of 

Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., 

NW., Washington, DC 20420. All 

relevant material received within 

November 22, 2010 will be considered. 

All written comments received will be 

available for public inspection at the 

above address in the Office of 

Regulations Management, Room 1068, 

between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

holidays. 

If no public comment is received 

during the 30-day review period 

allowed for public comment, or 

otherwise published in the Federal 

Register by VA, the new routine use is 

effective November 22, 2010. 

Approved: September 1, 2010. 

John R. Gingrich, 

Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs. 

36VA29 

SYSTEM NAME: 

‘‘Veterans and Uniformed Services 

Personnel Programs of U.S. Government 

Life Insurance—VA’’ 

SYSTEM LOCATION: 

VA Insurance records are maintained 

as follows: 

Active Insurance records are located 

at the VA Regional Office and Insurance 

Center (VAROIC) in Philadelphia, 

Pennsylvania. (The complete address is 

available in Appendix 1 at the end of 

this document.) 

Inactive Insurance records are located 

at the VA Regional Office and Insurance 

Center (VAROIC) in Philadelphia, 

Pennsylvania. (The complete address is 

available in Appendix 1 at the end of 

this document.) In addition, inactive 

records are stored at various servicing 

Federal archives and records centers in 

Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 

Miamisburg, Ohio; Lee’s Summit, 

Missouri; Lenexa, Kansas; Chicago, 

Illinois; and Pittsfield, Massachusetts. 

(The complete addresses are available in 

Appendix 1 at the end of this 

document.) 

Some pre-1968 records pertaining to 

beneficiaries of deceased veterans are 

located in local VA regional offices in 

VA claim folders. 

Insurance file numbers, policies 

numbers, and folder locations are 

available to all VA regional offices 

through VETSNET. 

Back-up computerized insurance 

records and automated data maintained 

by the VA Information Technology 

Center (VA ITC), the primary computer 

processing center, is stored by Iron 

Mountain Off-Site Data in Itasca, 

Illinois. (The complete address is 

available in Appendix 1 at the end of 

this document.) 

Records for the supervised programs 

of government insurance are maintained 

by the Office of Servicemembers’ Group 

Life Insurance (OSGLI) in Roseland, 

New Jersey. (The complete address is 

available in Appendix 1 at the end of 

this document.) 

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE

SYSTEM: 

The following categories of 

individuals will be covered by this 

system: 

1. Veterans (not including 

dependents) and members of the 

uniformed services (including 

dependents) who have applied for and/ 

or have been issued government life 

insurance. 

2. Beneficiaries of government life 

insurance entitled to or in receipt of 

insurance proceeds. 

3. Attorneys drawing fees for aiding in 

settlement of VA insurance claims. 

The individuals noted above are 

covered by this system based on 

applications, claims, and notices of 

eligibility for the following government 

life insurance programs provided in 38 

U.S.C. Chapters 19 and 21: 

(1) U.S. Government Life Insurance 

(USGLI) under Section 1942. 

(2) National Service Life Insurance 

(NSLI) under Section 1904. 

(3) Veterans’ Special Life Insurance 

(VSLI) under Section 1923. 

(4) Veterans’ Reopened Insurance 

(VRI) under Section 1925. 

(5) Service-Disabled Veterans 

Insurance (S–DVI) under Section 1922 

and 1922A. 

(6) Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance 

(VMLI) under Section 2106. 

(7) Servicemembers’ Group Life 

Insurance (SGLI), including Family 

Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance 

(FSGLI), Veterans’ Group Life Insurance 

(VGLI), and Servicemembers’ Group Life 

Insurance Traumatic Injury Protection 

(TSGLI) under Sections 1967 through 

1980A. 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
65410 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 204 / Friday, October 22, 2010 / Notices 

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM: 

Life insurance records (or information 

contained in records) may consist of: 

1. Applications for insurance, 

including the name and address of the 

veteran or member of the uniformed 

services, e-mail address, phone number, 

correspondence to and from the veteran 

or member of the uniformed services or 

their legal representatives, date of birth, 

social security number, military service 

number, dates of service, military 

ranking, character of discharge, VA file 

number, plan or type of insurance, 

disability rating, medical information 

regarding disability and health history, 

method of payment, amount of 

insurance coverage requested, and bank 

routing and account numbers. 

Applications for Veterans’ Mortgage Life 

Insurance (VMLI), including supporting 

mortgage documents, contain the 

address of the mortgaged property, 

name and address of the mortgagor, the 

mortgage account number, the rate of 

interest, the original amount of the 

mortgage, and the current amount of the 

mortgage, the monthly payment amount, 

the mortgage payment period, and VA 

Specially Adapted Grant Cards (which 

contain the veteran’s or uniformed 

services member’s name, address, dates 

of military service, branch of service, 

method of separation, whether the 

veteran or member of the uniformed 

services has VMLI, the name and 

address of the lender, the legal 

description and property address, 

improvements to such property, date 

applied for disability compensation, 

date of initial application submission, 

grant information, amount of the grant 

approved or whether the grant was 

denied or canceled). 

2. Beneficiary and option designation 

information, including the names and 

addresses of principal and contingent 

beneficiaries, beneficiary social security 

number, share amount to each 

beneficiary, the method of payment, and 

the designated estate(s) and trust(s). 

3. Insurance contract information, 

including: (a) Authorization of 

allotment payment; (b) authorization for 

deduction from VA benefit payments; 

(c) authorization for deduction from 

military retired pay; (d) authorization 

for deduction from employee payroll; (e) 

paid dividend information; (f) claims for 

disability or death payments; (g) cash 

value, policy loan, and lien information; 

(h) a listing of lapsed actions and 

unpaid insurance proceeds; (i) payment 

vouchers; (j) reinstatement information; 

(k) premium records status, and retired 

status of the policy; (l) court-martial 

orders; (m) copies of personal papers of 

the insured, including birth certificate, 

marriage license, divorce decree, citizen 

or naturalization papers, death 

certificate, adoption decree, and family 

support documents; (n) correspondence 

to and from the veteran, member of the 

uniformed services, legal representative 

and payee; (o) employment information; 

(p) returned check and check tracer 

information; (q) court documents; and 

(r) insurance death claims settlement 

information, including indebtedness, 

interest, and other credits. 

4. Records of checks withheld from 

delivery to certain foreign countries. 

5. Index of payees, including CO 

index cards and premium record cards. 

6. Disability Outreach Tracking 

System (DOTS) records stored in the 

Veterans Insurance Claims Tracking and 

Response System (VICTARS) including 

the veteran’s or uniformed services 

member’s name, address, phone 

number, and disability status. 

7. Policy information and access 

history from the VA Insurance Web site 

self-service-portal stored in VICTARS, 

which includes the name of the insured, 

file number, policy number, address, 

phone number, e-mail address, loan 

status, including loan amount 

requested, denied, or pending, the date 

of request for information, loan history, 

policy changes, dividend option 

changes, and Web site pages accessed. 

8. Information from the VA Insurance 

Web site’s ‘‘Autoform’’ program which 

provides access to veterans for 

completion of an application for 

Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (S– 

DVI), which includes the veteran’s 

name, address, social security number, 

date of birth, phone number, medical 

history, e-mail address, and beneficiary 

information, such as the beneficiary’s 

name, address, and social security 

number. 

9. Records of incoming calls recorded 

in the ‘‘Freedom Enterprise’’ system. 

These are recordings of incoming phone 

calls received by insurance personnel of 

the Veterans Insurance Phone Section 

(VIPS) from veterans, members of the 

uniformed services, beneficiaries, 

personal representatives, members of 

Congress and their staff, other interested 

parties, and stakeholders. (The 

recordings are maintained for quality 

assurance and training purposes only.) 

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM: 

Title 38, United States Code (U.S.C.), 

chapter 5, section 501, and chapter 3, 

including sections 303 and 315. 

Title 38, U.S.C., chapter 19; chapter 

21, section 2106; and chapter 77, 

sections 7721–7725. 

Title 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 5514. 

PURPOSE(S): 

VA gathers or creates these records in 

order to enable it to administer and 

supervise statutory government life 

insurance programs for veterans, 

members of the uniformed services, and 

their spouses, surviving spouses, 

dependents, and beneficiaries who 

apply for government life insurance 

benefits administered or supervised by 

the VA Insurance Program. See the 

statutory provisions cited in ‘‘Authority 

for maintenance of the system.’’ 

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE

SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OF USERS AND

THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES: 

1. The record of an individual who is 

covered by a system of records may be 

disclosed to a Member of Congress, or 

a staff person acting for the Member, 

when the Member or staff person 

requests the record on behalf of and at 

the written request of the individual. 

2. Disclosure may be made to the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration and the General 

Services Administration in records 

management inspections conducted 

under authority of title 44 U.S.C. 

3. VA may disclose information from 

this system of records to the Department 

of Justice (DoJ), either on VA’s initiative 

or in response to DoJ’s request for the 

information, after either VA or DoJ 

determines that such information is 

relevant to DoJ’s representation of the 

United States or any of its components 

in legal proceedings before a court or 

adjudicative body, provided that, in 

each case, the agency also determines 

prior to disclosure that release of the 

records to DoJ is a use of the 

information contained in the records 

that is compatible with the purpose for 

which VA collected the records. VA, on 

its own initiative, may disclose records 

in this system of records in legal 

proceedings before a court or 

administrative body after determining 

that the disclosure of the records to the 

court or administrative body is a use of 

the information contained in the records 

that is compatible with the purpose for 

which VA collected the records. 

4. Disclosure of relevant information 

may be made to individuals, 

organizations, private or public 

agencies, or other entities with whom 

VA has a contract or agreement or where 

there is a subcontract to perform such 

services as VA may deem practicable for 

the purposes of laws administered by 

VA, in order for the contractor or 

subcontractor to perform the services of 

the contract or agreement. 

5. VA may disclose on its own 

initiative any information in the system, 

except the names and home addresses of 

veterans, members of the uniformed 

services, and their dependents, that is 

relevant to a suspected or reasonably 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 204 / Friday, October 22, 2010 / Notices 65411 

imminent violation of the law whether 

civil, criminal, or regulatory in nature 

and whether arising by general or 

program statute or by regulation, rule, or 

order issued pursuant thereto, to a 

Federal, State, local, Tribal, or foreign 

agency charged with the responsibility 

of investigating or prosecuting such 

violation, or charged with enforcing or 

implementing the statute, regulation, 

rule, or order. VA may also disclose on 

its own initiative the names and 

addresses of veterans, members of the 

uniformed services, and their 

dependents to a Federal agency charged 

with the responsibility of investigating 

or prosecuting civil, criminal, or 

regulatory violations of law, or charged 

with enforcing or implementing the 

statute, regulation, or order issued 

pursuant thereto. 

6. Disclosure to other Federal agencies 

may be made to assist such agencies in 

preventing and detecting possible fraud 

or abuse by individuals in their 

operations and programs. 

7. VA may, on its own initiative, 

disclose any information or records to 

appropriate agencies, entities, and 

persons when (1) VA suspects or has 

confirmed that the integrity or 

confidentiality of information in the 

system of records has been 

compromised; (2) the Department has 

determined that as a result of the 

suspected or confirmed compromise, 

there is a risk of embarrassment or harm 

to the reputations of the record subjects, 

harm to economic or property interests, 

identity theft or fraud, or harm to the 

security, confidentiality, or integrity of 

this system or other systems or 

programs (whether maintained by the 

Department or another agency or entity) 

that rely upon the potentially 

compromised information; and (3) the 

disclosure is to agencies, entities, or 

persons whom VA determines are 

reasonably necessary to assist or carry 

out the Department’s efforts to respond 

to the suspected or confirmed 

compromise and prevent, minimize, or 

remedy such harm. This routine use 

permits disclosures by the Department 

to respond to a suspected or confirmed 

data breach, including the conduct of 

any risk analysis or provision of credit 

protection services as provided in 38 

U.S.C. 5724, as the terms are defined in 

38 U.S.C. 5727. 

8. Any information in this system may 

be disclosed to a Federal agency, upon 

its official request, to the extent that it 

is relevant and necessary to that 

agency’s decision regarding: The hiring, 

retention or transfer of an employee; the 

issuance of a security clearance, the 

letting of a contract, or the issuance or 

continuance of a license, grant or other 

benefit given by that agency. However, 

in accordance with an agreement with 

the U.S. Postal Service, disclosures to 

the U.S. Postal Service for decisions 

concerning the employment of veterans 

will only be made with the veteran’s 

prior written consent. 

9. Any information in this system may 

be disclosed to a State or local agency, 

upon its official request, to the extent 

that it is relevant and necessary to that 

agency’s decision on: The hiring, 

transfer or retention of an employee, the 

issuance of a security clearance, the 

letting of a contract, or the issuance or 

continuance of a license, grant or other 

benefit by that agency; provided, that if 

the information pertains to a veteran or 

member of the uniformed services, the 

name and/or address of the veteran or 

member of the uniformed services will 

not be disclosed unless the name and 

address is provided first by the 

requesting State or local agency. 

10. Any information in this system 

may be disclosed to a Federal, State or 

local agency maintaining civil or 

criminal violation records, or other 

pertinent information such as prior 

employment history, prior Federal 

employment background investigations, 

and personal or educational background 

at the request of the veteran or member 

of the uniformed services in order for 

VA to obtain information relevant to the 

hiring, transfer or retention of an 

employee, the letting of a contract, the 

granting of a security clearance, or the 

issuance of a grant or other benefit. 

11. Any information in this system 

may be disclosed to a Federal agency, 

except for the name and address of a 

veteran or member of the uniformed 

services, in order for VA to obtain 

information relevant to the issuance of 

a benefit under title 38 U.S.C. The name 

and address of a veteran or member of 

the uniformed services may be disclosed 

to a Federal agency under this routine 

use if they are required by the Federal 

agency to respond to VA inquiry. 

12. Except for beneficiary and option 

designations, any information in this 

system including the name and address 

of a veteran or member of the uniformed 

services may be disclosed to any 

nonprofit organization if the release is 

directly connected with the conduct of 

programs and the utilization of benefits 

under title 38 U.S.C. (such disclosures 

include computerized lists of names and 

addresses). 

13. Except for medical information 

and beneficiary and option 

designations, any information including 

insurance contract information (e.g., 

name, address, status of the account, 

dividends paid, cash value, and policy 

loans) may be disclosed at the request 

of a veteran or member of the uniformed 

services to an attorney acting under a 

declaration of representation, a VAapproved claims agent, an insurance 

agency, a trust officer, or to employees 

or members of an accredited service 

organization, so that these individuals 

or organizations can aid veterans or 

members of the uniformed services in 

the preparation, presentation, 

prosecution of claims under the laws 

administered by VA. The name and 

address of a veteran or member of the 

uniformed services will not, however, 

be disclosed to these individuals under 

this routine use if the veteran or 

member of the uniformed services has 

not requested the assistance of an 

accredited service organization, claims 

agent, trust officer, or an attorney. 

14. The name, address, insurance 

account information of an insured 

veteran or member of the uniformed 

services, their beneficiary(ies), legal 

representatives, or designated payee(s), 

and the amount of payment may be 

disclosed to the Treasury Department, 

upon its official request, in order for the 

Treasury Department to make payment 

of dividends, policy loans, cash 

surrenders, maturing endowments, 

insurance refunds, issue checks and 

perform check tracer activities for the 

veteran or member of the uniformed 

services, beneficiary(ies), legal 

representative or designated payee(s). 

15. The name and address of an 

insured veteran or member of the 

uniformed services, date and amount of 

payments made to VA, including 

specific status of each policy (e.g., 

premiums paid in, dividends paid out, 

cash and loan values) may be disclosed 

to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 

upon its official request, in order for the 

IRS to collect tax liens by withholding 

insurance payments to satisfy unpaid 

taxes. This purpose is consistent with 

title 26 of the United States Code, 

section 7602. 

16. The name, address, social security 

number, date of discharge from the 

military, medical information 

concerning the grounds for total 

disability or the nature of an injury or 

illness, and dependency or beneficiary 

related information of a member of the 

uniformed services or veteran may be 

disclosed to the Office of 

Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance 

(OSGLI) at the request of a member of 

the uniformed services or veteran in 

order to aid OSGLI in the verification of 

such information for the purpose of 

issuance and maintenance of insurance 

policies provided to members of the 

uniformed services or veterans 

participating in the Servicemembers’ 

Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
65412 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 204 / Friday, October 22, 2010 / Notices 

and/or Veterans’ Group Life Insurance 

(VGLI) program and to pay insurance 

benefits under these programs. 

17. The name, address, and other 

identifying information such as a social 

security number or a military service 

number may be disclosed to the 

Department of Defense (Army, Air 

Force, Navy, Marine Corps); the Coast 

Guard of the Department of Homeland 

Security; the Commissioned Officers 

Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service; 

and the Commissioned Officers Corps of 

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration (NOAA) of the 

Department of Commerce; this 

disclosure may be made upon their 

official request, for use in order for these 

departments to establish and maintain 

allotments from active and retired 

service pay for VA insurance premiums 

and loan repayments. 

18. The face amount and cash and/or 

loan value of an insurance policy, 

verification of an existing insurance 

policy, and the name and address of an 

insured veteran or member of the 

uniformed services may be disclosed at 

the request of the veteran or member of 

the uniformed services to a Federal, 

State, or local agency, in order for these 

agencies to assist a veteran or member 

of the uniformed services applying for 

Medicaid, Medicare, nursing home 

admittance, welfare benefits, or other 

benefits provided by the requesting 

agency to the extent that the information 

is relevant and necessary to the agency’s 

decision regarding benefits. 

19. The name and address of a veteran 

or member of the uniformed services 

and military service information (e.g., 

dates of service, branch of service) may 

be disclosed to the Armed Forces 

Institute of Pathology (AFIP), upon its 

official request, in order for the AFIP to 

conduct research for specified official 

purposes. 

20. The name(s) and address(es) of a 

veteran or member of the uniformed 

services may be disclosed to another 

Federal agency or to a contractor of that 

agency, at the written request of the 

head of that agency or designee of the 

head of that agency for the purpose of 

conducting government research 

necessary to accomplish a statutory 

purpose of that agency. 

21. Any information in this system, 

including the nature and amount of a 

financial obligation, may be disclosed to 

a debtor’s employing agency or 

commanding officer, upon its official 

request, as a routine use in order to 

assist VA in the collection of unpaid 

financial obligations owed to VA so that 

the debtor-employee may be counseled 

by his or her Federal employer or 

commanding officer. This purpose is 

consistent with 5 U.S.C. 5514, 31 U.S.C. 

3701–3702, and 3711–3718. 

22. Any information in this system, 

including available identifying data 

regarding the debtor, such as the name 

of the debtor, last known address of the 

debtor, name of the debtor’s spouse, 

social security account number of the 

debtor, VA insurance number, VA loan 

number, VA file number, place of birth 

and date of birth of the debtor, name 

and address of the debtor’s employer or 

firm and dates of employment, may be 

disclosed to other Federal agencies, 

State probate courts, State drivers 

license bureaus, and State automobile 

title and license bureaus as a routine use 

in order to obtain current address, 

locator and credit report assistance in 

the collection of unpaid financial 

obligations owed the United States. This 

purpose is consistent with the Federal 

Claims Collection Act of 1966 (Pub. L. 

89–508) and subsequent amendments, 

and 31 United States Codes 3701–3702 

and 3711–3718. 

23. Any information concerning the 

veteran’s or uniformed services 

member’s indebtedness to the United 

States by virtue of a person’s 

participation in a benefits program 

administered by VA, including personal 

information obtained from other Federal 

agencies through computer matching 

programs, may be disclosed to any third 

party, except consumer reporting 

agencies, in connection with any 

proceeding for the collection of an 

amount owed to the United States. 

Purposes of these disclosures may be to 

(a) assist VA in collection of title 38 

benefit overpayments, overdue 

indebtedness, and or costs of services 

provided individuals not entitled to 

such services, and (b) initiate legal 

actions for prosecuting individuals who 

willfully or fraudulently obtain title 38 

benefits without entitlement. This 

disclosure is consistent with 31 U.S.C. 

3701–3702, 3711–3718; and 38 U.S.C. 

5701(b)(6). 

24. The name and address of a veteran 

or member of the uniformed services, 

other information as is reasonably 

necessary to identify such veteran or 

member of the uniformed services, 

including personal information obtained 

from other Federal agencies through 

computer matching programs, and any 

information concerning the veteran’s or 

uniformed services member’s 

indebtedness to the United States by 

virtue of the person’s participation in a 

benefits program administered by VA 

may be disclosed to a consumer 

reporting agency for purposes of 

assisting in the collection of such 

indebtedness, provided that the 

provisions of 31 U.S.C. 3701–3702 and 

3711–3718 and 38 U.S.C 5701(g)(4) have 

been met. 

25. Any information in this system 

such as notice of renewal, 

reinstatement, premium due, lapse 

actions, miscellaneous insurance 

instructions, disposition of dividends, 

policy loans, and transfer of records 

may be disclosed to VA fiduciaries, 

court-appointed guardians/conservators, 

powers of attorney, or military trustees 

of incompetent veterans or members of 

the uniformed services in order to 

advise VA fiduciaries, court-appointed 

guardians/conservators, powers of 

attorney, or military trustees of current 

actions to be taken in connection with 

ownership of U.S. government life 

insurance policies and to enable them to 

properly perform their duties as 

fiduciaries or guardians, powers of 

attorney, or military trustees. 

26. Any information in this system of 

records may be disclosed, in the course 

of presenting evidence in or to a court, 

magistrate, administrative tribunal, or 

grand jury, including disclosures to 

opposing counsel in the course of such 

proceedings or in settlement 

negotiations. 

27. Identifying information, except for 

the name and address of a veteran or 

member of the uniformed services, may 

be disclosed to a Federal, State, County 

or Municipal agency for the purpose of 

conducting computer matches to obtain 

information to validate the entitlement 

of a veteran or member of the uniformed 

services who is receiving or has 

received government insurance benefits 

under title 38 of the United States Code. 

The name and address of a veteran or 

member of the uniformed services may 

also be disclosed to a Federal agency 

under this routine use if they are 

required by the Federal agency to 

respond to the VA inquiry. 

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, 

RETRIEVING, ACCESSSING, RETAINING, AND

DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM: 

STORAGE: 

Records are stored in two 

computerized systems called Veterans 

Insurance Claims Tracking and 

Response System (VICTARS), and the 

Insurance Terminal System (ITS). 

VICTARS utilizes imaging and 

electronic technology to store paper 

documents, including applications and 

correspondence, and it records all 

processing related activities involving 

insurance policies, disability outreach 

services, and Web site self-service and 

‘‘Autoform’’ access. 

The Insurance Terminal System (ITS) 

provides direct access to insurance 

records relative to claims processing via 

computer monitors. Both VICTARS and 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 204 / Friday, October 22, 2010 / Notices 65413 

ITS store and retrieve all information in 

the insurance records system through 

the local area network (LAN) 

maintained through the VA Information 

Technology Center (VA ITC) at the 

Philadelphia VA Regional Office and 

Insurance Center. 

‘‘Freedom Enterprise’’ creates 

recordings of incoming phone calls 

received by insurance personnel 

regarding insurance policy related 

issues and stores the call as part of the 

LAN maintained through the VA ITC. 

Back-up VA insurance records are 

stored by Iron Mountain Off-Site Data in 

a secured area. (The complete address is 

provided in Appendix 1 at the end of 

this document.) 

Inactive records are also stored on 

microfilm, microfiche, disks, Central 

Office (CO) index cards, premium 

record cards in hardcopy folders, on 

computer lists, and on punch cards, 

which are kept in locked files and 

secured areas. 

RETRIEVABILITY: 

All hardcopy and electronically 

stored insurance records are retrievable 

by the government insurance file 

number, VA file number, policyholder’s 

name, social security number, or date of 

birth. 

Information input through the VA 

Insurance Web site’s self-service portal 

relative to loan applications is 

retrievable by the use of unique 

personal identification numbers (PINs), 

passwords, and an insurance file 

number. Approved encryption 

technology is used to protect personal 

information. 

Incomplete Service-Disabled Veterans 

Insurance (S–DVI) applications are 

retrievable on the VA Insurance Web 

site through the ‘‘Autoform’’ program 

with the use of a personal password, 

social security number, and date of birth 

of the veteran. (The completed S–DVI 

application becomes part of the 

VICTARS storage system.) Approved 

encryption technology is used to protect 

personal information. 

The ‘‘Interactive Voice Response 

(IVR)’’ system permits veterans to access 

audible information about their 

insurance records which is stored by the 

VA Insurance Program’s LAN via touchtone telephone technology utilizing the 

VA Insurance file number. 

SAFEGUARDS: 

1. PHYSICAL SECURITY: 

a. All VA facilities are protected by 

the Federal Protective Service or other 

security personnel. All Insurance files 

and processing areas are restricted to 

authorized personnel on a need-to-know 

basis. Areas containing paper and 

computerized records are protected by a 

sprinkler system. Paper records 

pertaining to employees and public 

figures, or otherwise sensitive files, are 

stored in locked files. Microfilm records 

and computerized disk (CD) back-up 

files of Collections (the payment 

processing unit) activities are stored in 

locked, fireproof, humidity-controlled 

vaults at the VA Regional Office and 

Insurance Center. Automated records 

which are not in use by the VA ITC are 

stored in locked, secured areas at Iron 

Mountain Off-Site Data Center. (The 

complete address of the facility is 

available in Appendix 1 at the end of 

this document.) 

b. Access to the VA ITC and 

Collections (the payment processing 

unit) is restricted to VA ITC and 

Collections employees, custodial 

personnel, and Federal Protective 

Service or other security personnel. 

Access to VA ITC and Collections is 

restricted to authorized personnel and is 

secured by electronic locking devices. 

All other persons gaining access to 

computer rooms and the Collections 

Unit are escorted by an individual with 

authorized access. 

c. Access to insurance records at the 

Philadelphia VA Regional Office and 

Insurance Center through computerized 

storage systems, including VICTARS, 

ITS, ‘‘Freedom Enterprise’’, and the VA 

ITC is protected by password access, 

magnetic access card readers, and 

audible alarms. Electronic keyboard 

locks are activated upon security errors. 

Video surveillance is also provided in 

secured processing and computer 

protected areas, such as Claims, 

Collections, and VA ITC. An 

Information Security Officer is assigned 

responsibility for privacy-security 

measures, including review of violations 

logs and local control and distribution 

of passwords. 

2. SYSTEM SECURITY: 

a. In the VA ITC, identification of 

computerized tapes and disks 

containing data is enforced using 

automated labeling techniques. Access 

to computer programs is controlled at 

the Operations level. 

b. The Veterans Insurance Claims 

Tracking and Response System 

(VICTARS), the Insurance Terminal 

System (ITS), and ‘‘Freedom Enterprise’’ 

utilizes the VA Insurance Program’s 

LAN as the storage and retrieval conduit 

which provides automated recognition 

of authorized users and their respective 

access levels and restrictions through 

the use of passwords. Passwords are 

changed periodically and are restricted 

to authorized individuals on a need-toknow basis for system access or security 

purposes. 

c. Back-up insurance records and VA 

ITC data records are stored in a secured 

site by Iron Mountain Off-Site Data. 

(The address of the facility is listed in 

Appendix 1 at the end of this 

document.) 

d. The VA Insurance Web site selfservice pages, including its ‘‘Autoform’’ 

application, which is used by veterans, 

their legal representatives, and payees is 

only accessible with the use of personal 

identifiers consisting of personal 

identification numbers (PINs), 

passwords, file numbers, loan numbers, 

social security number, and date of 

birth. The access portals utilize LAN 

based encryption technology and 

firewalls to protect personal data. 

e. The ‘‘Interactive Voice Response’’ 

(IVR) system, which is protected as part 

of the VA Insurance Program’s LAN, 

permits veterans to listen to information 

from their insurance records via touchtone telephone technology which 

utilizes the VA Insurance file number to 

access the record. 

f. Data exchange by e-mail within the 

agency or between other Federal 

agencies is done by means of dedicated 

communication lines utilizing approved 

encryption technology. 

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL: 

Hardcopy records are retained and 

disposed of in accordance with 

disposition authorization approved by 

the Archivist of the United States. 

VICTARS, the primary records storage 

and retrieval system for the Insurance 

Program maintains imaged insurance 

records indefinitely through the VA 

Insurance Program’s LAN. Hardcopy 

records imaged into VICTARS are stored 

for 31 days prior to destruction. Original 

copies of imaged beneficiary 

designation documents are stored 

indefinitely at the NARA Mid Atlantic 

Regional Center. (The complete address 

is provided in Appendix I at the end of 

this document.) Computerized records 

accessible through ITS are also 

maintained indefinitely through the VA 

Insurance Program’s LAN. 

Back-up VA ITC archive records are 

stored on tape for 1 year prior to being 

erased or written over. 

Records in the ‘‘Freedom Enterprise’’ 

system which records incoming phone 

calls regarding insurance policies are 

maintained for 1 year and purged 13 

months after the call. 

SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS: 

Director (00), VA Regional Office and 

Insurance Center, 5000 Wissahickon 

Avenue, P.O. Box 8079, Philadelphia, 

PA 19101. 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
65414 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 204 / Friday, October 22, 2010 / Notices 

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES: 

Any individual who wishes to 

determine whether a record is being 

maintained in this system under his or 

her name or other personal identifier, or 

who wants to determine the contents of 

such record, or has a routine inquiry 

concerning the status of his or her 

insurance under this system may 

contact the VA Regional Office and 

Insurance Center in Philadelphia, 

Pennsylvania at (215) 381–3029. 

Requests concerning the specific 

content of a record must be made in 

writing or made in person to the VA 

Regional Office and Insurance Center in 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 

inquirer should provide the full name of 

the veteran or member of the uniformed 

services, their insurance file number or 

VA claim number or social security 

number, the date of birth of the veteran 

or member of the uniformed services, 

and reasonably identify the benefit or 

system of records involved. If the 

insurance file number or any of the 

other identifiers noted above are not 

available, the service number, and/or 

location of insurance records that will 

aid VA personnel in locating the official 

insurance records should be provided. 

(Address locations of records storage 

facilities for this system are listed in 

Appendix 1 at the end of this 

document.) 

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURE: 

Individuals desiring access to, and 

contesting of, VA records and related 

procedures should write to the VA 

Regional Office and Insurance Center at 

5000 Wissahickon Avenue, P.O. Box 

8079, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

19101. 

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES: 

(See Records access procedures 

above.) 

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES: 

The veteran, member of the 

uniformed services, or someone acting 

on their behalf; the uniformed services, 

other Federal agencies, including the 

Department of Defense (DoD); Social 

Security Administration (SSA); U.S. 

Treasury Department; Office of 

Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance 

(OSGLI); State and local agencies; 

Federal, State, and local courts; VA 

records; VA and private physicians; VA 

and private medical facilities; 

accredited veterans service 

organizations and other organizations 

aiding veterans and members of the 

uniformed services; VA-approved 

claims agents; VA fiduciaries; courtappointed guardians/conservators, 

powers of attorney, and military 

trustees; financial institutions; 

beneficiaries; commercial insurance 

companies; undertakers; lending 

institutions holding a veteran’s or 

uniformed services member’s mortgage; 

VA Loan Guaranty records; contractors 

remodeling or enlarging or adding 

construction to existing homes; relatives 

and other interested persons; Westlaw 

and InfoUSA; Inquiry Routing & 

Information System (IRIS) (maintained 

under System of Records ‘‘151VA005N’’ 

by the Office of Information & 

Technology); and the general public. 

Appendix I: Address Locations of VA 

Insurance Records Facilities 

1. VA Regional Office and Insurance Center, 

5000 Wissahickon Avenue, P.O. Box 8079, 

Philadelphia, PA 19101. 

2. Iron Mountain Offsite Data, 1397 Glenlake 

Avenue, Ilasca, IL 60143. 

3. NARA Mid Atlantic Region (Northeast 

Philadelphia), 14700 Townsend Road, 

Philadelphia, PA 19154. 

4. NARA Great Lakes Region (Dayton 

Kingsridge), 8801 Kingsridge Drive, 

Miamisburg, OH 45458. 

5. NARA Central Plains Region (Lee’s 

Summit), 200 Space Center Drive, Lee’s 

Summit, MO 64064. 

6. NARA Central Plains Region (Lenexa), 

17501 West 98th Street, Suite 31–50, 

Lenexa, KS 66219. 

7. NARA Great Lakes Region (Chicago), 7358 

South Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60629. 

8. NARA Northeast Region (Pittsfield), 10 

Conte Drive, Pittsfield, MA 01210. 

9. Office of Servicemembers’ Group Life 

Insurance, 80 Livingston Avenue, 

Roseland, NJ 07068. 

[FR Doc. 2010–26491 Filed 10–21–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES