Document ID: EPA-HQ-OEI-2011-0349-0002
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Privacy Act; Systems of Records
Posted Date: 2020-04-20T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 76 (Monday, April 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21850-21852]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08288]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-10008-37-OMS]

Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

AGENCY: Office of Mission Support, Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA).

ACTION: Notice of a modified system of records.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, the 
Office of Inspector General (OIG) is giving notice that it proposes to 
modify the point of contact, retention and disposal, system manager and 
address, notification procedures, and the inclusion of the new general 
routine uses identified per OMB M-17-12 of an existing system of 
records, Inspector General Enterprise Management System (IGEMS) Hotline 
Module (EPA-30).

DATES: Persons wishing to comment on this system of records notice must 
do so by May 20, 2020. New or Modified routine uses for this modified 
system of records will be effective May 20, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OEI-2011-0349, by one of the following methods:
    Regulations.gov: www.regulations.gov Follow the online instructions 
for submitting comments.
    Email: oei.docket@epa.gov.
    Fax: 202-566-1752.
    Mail: OMS Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 2822T, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460.
    Hand Delivery: OMS Docket, EPA/DC, WJC West Building, Room 3334, 
1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. Such deliveries are only 
accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and special 
arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OEI-
2011-0349. The EPA's policy is that all comments received will be 
included in the public docket without change and may be made available 
online at www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be 
Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or other information for 
which disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information 
that you consider to be CUI or otherwise protected through 
www.regulations.gov. The www.regulations.gov website is an ``anonymous 
access'' system for EPA, which means the EPA will not know your 
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of 
your comment. Each agency determines submission requirements within 
their own internal processes and standards. EPA has no requirement of 
personal information. If you send an email comment directly to the EPA 
without going through www.regulations.gov your email address will be 
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is 
placed in the public docket and made available on the internet. If you 
submit an electronic comment, the EPA recommends that you include your 
name and other contact information in the body of your comment. If the 
EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot 
contact you for clarification, the EPA may not be able to consider your 
comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, 
any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For 
additional information about the EPA's public docket visit the EPA 
Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the 
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, e.g., CUI or other information 
for which disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, 
such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard 
copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either 
electronically in www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the OMS 
Docket, EPA/DC, WJC West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. 
NW, Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday excluding legal holidays. The 
telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the 
telephone number for the OMS Docket is (202) 566-1752.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Wright, Assistant Inspector 
General for Management, 202-566-0847.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 21851]]

I. General Information

    The EPA OIG is giving notice that it intends to modify an existing 
system of records. The Inspector General Enterprise Management System 
(IGEMS) Hotline Module is modifying its point of contact, retention and 
disposal, system manager and address, and notification procedure. This 
system facilitates OIG responsibilities under Section 7 of the 
Inspector General Act, that is to receive and investigate complaints of 
information concerning the possible existence of activities 
constituting a violation of law, rules, or regulations, mismanagement, 
gross waste of funds, abuse of authority or a substantial and specific 
danger to the public health or safety, and the subject of the 
complaints. The privacy of individuals is protected through user 
authentication and system roles, permissions and privileges. The system 
is operated and maintained by the Office of Inspector General, Office 
of Management, Information Technology Directorate (OM-ITD).

SYSTEM NAME and NUMBER:
    Inspector General Enterprise Management System (IGEMS) Hotline 
Module. EPA-30

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
    Unclassified.

SYSTEM LOCATION:
    Office of Inspector General, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460.

SYSTEM MANAGER(S):
    USEPA, Office of Management (Mail code 2410T), 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460, Attn: Assistant Inspector General for 
Management. Tel Number: 202-566-0847, Fax: 202-566-0857.

AUTHORITY for MAINTENANCE of the SYSTEM:
    Inspector General Act of 1978, 5 U.S.C. app. 3.

PURPOSE(S) OF THE SYSTEM:
    Facilitates OIG's responsibilities under Section 7 of the Inspector 
General Act, that is to receive and investigate complaints of 
information concerning the possible existence of activities 
constituting a violation of law, rules or regulations, mismanagement, 
gross waste of funds, abuse of authority or a substantial and specific 
danger to the public health or safety, and the subject of the 
complaints.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
    Persons who report information to the Office of Inspector General 
(OIG) concerning the possible existence of activities constituting a 
violation of law, rules or regulations, mismanagement, gross waste of 
funds, abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to the 
public health or safety; the subject of the complaints; persons about 
whom complaints are made; and possible witnesses identified.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
    Complainants who report indications of wrongdoing, name and address 
of the complainant (except for anonymous complainants), date complaint 
received, program area, nature and subject of complaint, any additional 
contacts and specific comments provided by the complainant, information 
on the OIG disposition of the complaint, including investigative case 
number, preliminary inquiry number, dates of referral, reply and 
follow-up, status and disposition code of the complaint.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
    Complainants who are employees of EPA; employees of other Federal 
agencies; employees of state and local agencies; and private citizens. 
Records in the system come from complainants through the telephone, 
mail, personal interviews, web forms, and email. Complainants are 
advised that if they provide contact information, this information may 
be used to initiate follow-up communications with the complainant and 
may be shared by EPA with appropriate administrative, law enforcement, 
and judicial entities engaged in investigating or adjudicating the tip 
or complaint.

ROUTINE USES of RECORDS MAINTAINED IN the SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES 
of USERS and PURPOSES of SUCH USES:
    The following new routine uses apply to this system because the use 
of the record is necessary for the efficient conduct of government 
operations. The routine uses are related to and compatible with the 
original purpose for which the information was collected.
    General routine uses A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, and K apply to 
this system (73 FR 2245). Records may also be disclosed:
     To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when (1) 
the Agency suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of 
the system of records, (2) the Agency has determined that as a result 
of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to 
individuals, the Agency (including its information systems, programs, 
and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (3) 
the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is 
reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Agency's efforts 
to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, 
minimize, or remedy such harm.
     To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the 
Agency determines that information from this system of records is 
reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in (1) 
responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (2) preventing, 
minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient 
agency or entity (including its information systems, programs, and 
operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting 
from a suspected or confirmed breach.
     To a Federal agency responsible for considering suspension 
or debarment action where such record would be relevant to such action.
     To the Department of Justice to obtain its advice on 
Freedom of Information Act matters.
     In response to a lawful subpoena issued by a Federal 
agency.

POLICIES and PRACTICES for STORAGE of RECORDS:
    In accordance with OIG Records Management Policy, computer records 
are maintained in a secure, password protected computer system. Paper 
records are maintained in lockable file cabinets. All records are 
maintained in secure, access-controlled areas or buildings.

POLICIES and PRACTICES for RETRIEVAL of RECORDS:
    By case number, complainant or subject name, and subject matter.

POLICIES and PRACTICES for RETENTION and DISPOSAL of RECORDS:
    Records stored in this system are subject to EPA Records Schedule 
1016, which covers records related to operations and programs of the 
EPA and its external business partners that ensure compliance with 
applicable laws and regulations and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.

ADMINISTRATIVE, TECHNICAL, and PHYSICAL SAFEGUARDS:
    Computer records are maintained in a secure, password protected 
computer system. Paper records are maintained in lockable file 
cabinets. All records are maintained in secure, access-controlled areas 
or buildings. The IGEMS Hotline module is restricted to the Hotline 
Administrator and the Hotline module

[[Page 21852]]

users. It is one of the modules found in IGEMS. IGEMS is accessible to 
EPA OIG employees only. It is an internal database accessible by use of 
strong passwords, which are renewed on a regular basis and controls to 
lock the screen after a set time are enforced.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
    To the extent permitted under the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 
552a(k)(2), this system has been exempted from the provisions of the 
Privacy Act of 1974 that permit access and correction. However, EPA 
may, in its discretion, fully grant individual requests for access and 
correction if it determines that the exercise of these rights will not 
interfere with an interest that the exemption is intended to protect. 
The exemption from access is limited in some instances by law to 
information that would reveal the identity of a confidential source. 
Requesters will be required to provide adequate identification, such as 
a driver's license, employee identification card, or other identifying 
document. Additional identification procedures may be required in some 
instances.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
    Requests for correction or amendment must identify the record to be 
changed and the corrective action sought. Complete EPA Privacy Act 
procedures are set out in 40 CFR part 16.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
    Requests to determine whether this system of records contains a 
record pertaining to you must be sent to the Agency's Privacy Officer. 
The address is: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue NW (2831T), Washington, DC 20460; (202) 566-1668; Email: 
(privacy@epa.gov).

EXEMPTIONS PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM:
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(2), this system is exempt from the 
following provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, subject to the 
limitations set forth in that subsection: 5 U.S.C. 552a (c)(3); (d); 
(e)(1); (e)(4)(G); (e)(4)(H); and (f)(2) through (5).

HISTORY:
    76 FR 42707--Changing the name of the system from the Office of 
Inspector General (OIG) Hotline Allegation System (EPA-30) to the 
Inspector General Enterprise Management System (IGEMS) Hotline Module.
    40 CFR part 16--
    Exempt the OIG Hotline Allegation System--EPA/OIG (EPA-30) system 
of records from compliance with certain subsections of the Act. This 
amendment is made to maintain the efficiency and integrity of OIG 
investigations, audits, or referrals that result from complaints 
concerning the possible existence of activities constituting a 
violation of law, rules, or regulations, mismanagement, gross waste of 
funds, abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to the 
public health or safety.
    57 FR 36092--Established OIG Hotline Allegation System--EPA/OIG and 
is maintained by the EPA Office of Inspector General (OIG).

    Dated: April 15, 2020.
Vaughn Noga,
Senior Agency Official for Privacy.
[FR Doc. 2020-08288 Filed 4-17-20; 8:45 am]
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