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November 4, 2008    DOL Home > SOL > Privacy Act Systems > DOL/PWBA-2   

DOL/PWBA-2

SYSTEM NAME:

PWBA Enforcement Management System

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:

None.

SYSTEM LOCATIONS:

Office of Enforcement, PWBA, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20210, and all PWBA field offices as listed in the Appendix A to this document.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:

Plan administrators, trustees, and those individuals who provide advice or services to employee benefit plans, and other individuals (such as the named defendants) involved in investigations and enforcement actions.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

Information including plan name, plan administrator's name, service provider's name, trustee's name, and names of other individuals (such as the named defendants) involved in investigations and enforcement actions.

AUTHORITY FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:

29 U.S.C. 1134-37

PURPOSE(S):

This system of records is used to access information related to case files involving investigations instituted by the Department of Labor (DOL) under the Title I of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The investigative files are used in the prosecution of violations of law, whether civil or criminal in nature.

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

In addition to those universal routine uses listed in the General Prefatory Statement to this document, pursuant to 29 U.S.C. 1134, a record from this system of records may be disclosed, subject to the restrictions imposed by various statutes and rules, such as the Privacy Act, to a department or agency of the United States, or to any person actually affected by any matter which may be the subject of the investigation; except that any information obtained by the Secretary of Labor pursuant to section 6103 of Title 26 shall be made available only in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.

DISCLOSURE TO CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES:

None.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING, AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

STORAGE:

The records in this system are maintained in an electronic database and in paper case files.

RETRIEVABILITY:

Records are retrieved from the electronic database by the name of the plan, service provider name, trustee name, or the name of another individual (such as the named defendant) involved in the investigation or enforcement action. Records are also retrieved by case number, the plan's employer identification number (EIN) and plan number (if known), or service provider or trustee EIN.

SAFEGUARDS:

Direct access to and use of these records is restricted to authorized personnel in the Office of Enforcement and PWBA field offices. In the Office of Enforcement, manual files are maintained in file cabinets with access limited to OE staff. In the field offices, manual files are maintained in file cabinets with access limited to appropriate PWBA staff. In all instances, the electronic database is password protected and limited to use by authorized personnel.

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:

Investigative case files are retained in the office for one year after completion by voluntary compliance or litigation, or related actions following voluntary compliance or litigation. After one year, the case files are transferred to the Federal Records Center for seven (7) years and then destroyed. The electronic database files are retained permanently.

SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS(ES):

In the national office: Director of Enforcement, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210.

In the Regional offices: the Regional Director (as listed in the Appendix to this document).

In the District Offices: the District Supervisor (as listed in the Appendix A to this document).

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES:

Individuals wishing to inquire whether this system of records contains information about them should contact the appropriate system manager described above. Individuals should furnish their full name, address, and employee benefit plan association and should identify the employee benefit plan by name, address, and EIS (if known).

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:

Request for access to records should follow the Notification procedure described above. Specific materials in the system have been exempted from Privacy Act provisions under 5 U.S.C. 552a(j)(2) and (k)(2). To the extent that this system of records is not subject to exemption, it is subject to access, contest of the content of the record, and appeal of a denial to access. A determination as to exemption shall be made at the time a request for access is received. Access procedures are the same as the Notification procedures described above. Individuals requesting access must also comply with Privacy Act regulations on verification of identity and access to records (29 CFR 71.2).

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:

Same as the Notification procedure above, except individuals desiring to contest or amend information maintained in the system should direct their written request to the appropriate System Manager listed above, state clearly and concisely what information is being contested, the reasons for contesting it, and the proposed amendment to the information sought pursuant to 29 CFR 71.9.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:

Individual complaints, witnesses, or interviews conducted during investigations or plan participant or beneficiary information obtained during investigations on cases opened in the Office of Enforcement or in any of the PWBA field offices.

SYSTEMS EXEMPTED FROM CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE ACT:

a. Criminal Law Enforcement: In accordance with subsection 552a(j)(2) of the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a(j)(2), information maintained for criminal law enforcement purposes in PWBA's Office of Enforcement or its field offices is exempt from subsections (c)(3) and (4), (d), (e)(1), (2), and (3), (e)(4)(G), (H), and (I), (e)(5) and (8), (f), and (g) of 5 U.S.C. 552a

b. Other Law Enforcement: In accordance with subsection 552a(k)(2) of the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(2), investigatory material in this system of records compiled for civil law enforcement purposes is exempt from subsections (c)(3), (d)(1), (2), (3), and (4), (e)(1), (e)(4)(G) and (I), and (f) of 5 U.S.C. 552a.



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