DOL/ESA-27

SYSTEM NAME:

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act Claimant Representatives.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:

None.

SYSTEM LOCATION:

Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Washington, DC 20210, and district offices of the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs set forth in the Appendix to this document.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:

Individuals alleged to have violated the provisions of the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act and its implementing regulations relating to representation of claimants/beneficiaries before the Department of Labor, those found to have committed such violations and who have been disqualified, and those who are investigated but not disqualified. This system would also cover those persons who have been reinstated as qualified claimant representatives.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

Records in the system will consist of information such as the representative's name and address, the names and addresses of affected claimants/beneficiaries, copies of relevant documents obtained from claimant/beneficiary files relating to the issue of representation; all documents received or created as a result of the investigation of and/or hearing on the alleged violation of the Longshore Act and/or its regulations relating to representation, including investigations conducted by the DOL Office of Inspector General or other agency; and copies of documents notifying the representative and other interested persons of the disqualification.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:

Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, 33 U.S.C. 931(b)(2)(B).

PURPOSE(S):

These records contain information on activities--including billing-- relating to representation of claimants/beneficiaries, including documents relating to the debarment of representatives under other Federal or state programs.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:

In addition to those universal routine uses listed in the General Prefatory Statement to this document, disclosure of relevant and necessary information from this system of records may also be made to the following individuals and entities for the purposes noted when the purpose of the disclosure is compatible with the purpose for which the information was collected:

a. A claimant/beneficiary for the purpose of informing him/her that his/her representative has been disqualified from further representation under the Longshore Act.

b. Employers, insurance carriers, state bar disciplinary authorities, and the general public, for the purpose of providing information concerning the qualification of person(s) to act as a claimant representative under the Act.

c. Federal, state or local agency maintaining pertinent records, if necessary to obtain information relevant to a Departmental decision relating to debarment actions.

Note: Disclosure of information contained in the file of the claimant, a person who is duly authorized to act on his/her behalf, or to others to whom disclosure is authorized by these routine uses, may be made over the telephone. Disclosure over the telephone will only be done where the requestor provides appropriate identifying information. Telephonic disclosure of information is essential to permit efficient administration and adjudication of claims.

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b)(1), information from this system of records is disclosed to members and staff of the Office of Administrative Law Judges, the Benefits Review Board, the Office of the Solicitor and other components of the Department who have a need for the record in the performance of their duties.

DISCLOSURE TO CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES:

None.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THIS SYSTEM:

STORAGE:

The information collected in connection with complaints is kept in manual files.

RETRIEVABILITY:

The records are retrieved by the name of the representative.

SAFEGUARDS:

Records are stored in locked file cabinets.

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:

File is retained in the office for three years after the debarment action is final and then transferred to the Federal Records Center, and destroyed thirty years after the debarment action is final. Where the period of exclusion is defined as a set period of time, the file will be retained two years after the period of exclusion expires (or the individual is otherwise reinstated), then transferred to the Federal Records Center, and destroyed thirty years after the debarment action is final.

SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS:

Director for Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210, and District Directors in district offices set forth in the Appendix.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:

Requests, including name, date of injury, employer at the time of injury, and case file number, if known, should be addressed to the appropriate system manager indicated above.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:

Individuals wishing to request access to records should contact the appropriate system manager listed above.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURE:

Individuals wishing to contest the contents of a record should contact the System Manager.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:

Information in this system is obtained from employees, employers, insurance carriers, members of the public, agency investigative reports, and from other DOL systems of records.

SYSTEM EXEMPTED FROM CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE ACT:

In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(2), investigatory material in this system of records compiled for law enforcement purposes is exempt from subsections (c)(3); (d); (e)(1); (e)(4)(G), (H), and (I); and (f) of 5 U.S.C. 552a, provided however, that if any individual is denied any right, privilege, or benefit that he or she would otherwise be entitled to by Federal law, or for which he or she would otherwise be eligible, as a result of the maintenance of these records, such material shall be provided to the individual, except to the extent that the disclosure of such material would reveal the identity of a source who furnished information to the Government under an express promise that the identity of the source would be held in confidence, or prior to January 1, 1975, under an implied promise that the identity of the source would be held in confidence.