[Federal Register: April 22, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 78)]
[Notices]
[Page 17690-17691]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Computer Matching Program; Notice
AGENCY: Department of Education (ED).
ACTION: Notice of computer matching program between the U. S.
Department of Education and the U. S. Postal Service (USPS).
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SUMMARY: Subsection (e)(12) of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended by
the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-
503), requires agencies to publish advance notice of computer matching
programs as a means of informing benefit recipients/employees of plans
to conduct computer matches. This publishes notice that ED proposes to
conduct a computer matching program with the USPS. The matching program
will compare USPS payroll and ED debtor records to identify postal
employees delinquently indebted to the federal government under certain
programs administered by ED. ED will contact affected employees and
will take appropriate steps to collect those debts under the salary
offset provisions of the Debt Collection Act of 1982 (Pub. L. 97-365)
when voluntary payment is not made.
DATES: Comments must be received May 22, 1996. Unless comments are
received that result in a contrary determination, the matching program
covered by this notice will begin no sooner than 40 days after the
computer matching agreement and this notice have been sent to the
Congress and the Office of Management and Budget.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the U. S. Department of Education,
Washington Service Center, Attention: USPS CMA Comments, 600
Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20202-5320.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Demetrius V. Windom, (202) 708-4774.
Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Education expects that
this computer matching program will enable it to obtain current home
and work addresses for 6,000 USPS employees having student loan
obligations held by ED. ED has collected approximately $3 million from
previous matches with the USPS, and expects to recover from the 1996
match $10.4 million over an average repayment period of five years. Set
forth below is a description of the computer matching program proposed
by this notice in compliance with OMB Bulletin No. 89-22,
``Instructions on Reporting Computer Matching Programs to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB), Congress and the Public''.
Report of Computer Matching Program--U. S. Department of Education and
U. S. Postal Service (Comparing ED Debtor Records and USPS Payroll)
A. Participating Agencies
The U. S. Postal Service (USPS) is the recipient agency and will
perform the computer match with debtor records provided by the
Department of Education (ED), the source agency in this matching
program.
B. Purposes of the Matching Program
This matching program will compare USPS payroll and ED delinquent
debtor files for the purposes of identifying postal employees who may
owe delinquent debts to the federal government under programs
administered by the Department of Education. The pay of an employee
identified and verified as a delinquent debtor may be offset under the
provisions of the Debt Collection Act of 1982 when voluntary payment is
not made.
C. Legal Authorities Authorizing Operation of the Match
This matching program will be undertaken under the authority of the
Debt Collection Act of 1982 (P. L. 97-365) which authorizes federal
agencies to offset a federal employee's salary as a means of satisfying
delinquent debts owed to the United States.
D. Categories of Individuals Matched and Identification of Records Used
The following systems of records, maintained by the participant
agencies under the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, will be used to
disclose records for this matching program:
1. USPS' ``Finance Records--Payroll System, USPS 050-020,''
containing records for approximately 800,000 employees. [Disclosure
will be made pursuant to routine use No. 24 of USPS 050-020, which last
appeared in the Federal Register on December 4, 1992 (57 FR 57515).]
2. ED's ``Title IV Program Files'' (18-40-0024), containing debt
records for approximately 3,000,000 borrowers. [A notice of this system
was last published in the Federal Register on April 12, 1994 (59 FR
17351).]
E. Description of the Matching Program
ED will provide USPS a magnetic computer tape containing the names
and social security numbers (SSN) of its loan defaulters. By computer,
the USPS will compare that information with its payroll files,
establishing matched individuals (i.e., ``hits'') on the basis of
[[Page 17691]]
like SSNs. For each matched individual, the USPS will provide to ED the
name, SSN, home address and work location. The identity and debtor
status of an individual will be verified by ED through a review of its
manual application and payment files and independent inquiries as
needed. In all cases of mismatched names or SSN's, ED's regional
personnel will confirm identity through individual file check and/or
external sources such as the Social Security Administration. If
identity is established, ED's computer system will ascertain the
current repayment status for the account, eliminating from subsequent
follow-up those accounts that are in repayment status, recently paid in
full or otherwise resolved.
The Debt Collection Act requires ED to give debtors advance notice
of offset and an opportunity to contest the alleged debt. The
Department's offset procedures include providing the debtor employee
with the following notice and opportunities:
1. A 65-day written notice of the Department of Education's
determination of the debt and an explanation of the debtor employee's
rights under the Debt Collection Act;
2. An opportunity to inspect and copy records relating to the debt;
3. An opportunity to enter into a written agreement establishing a
repayment schedule; and
4. An opportunity to a hearing on the existence or amount of the
debt and on the terms of any involuntary repayment schedule.
Involuntary offsets will be made only after ED has afforded the
debtor these opportunities and certified over the signature of an
authorized agency official that all due process procedures have been
followed.
F. Beginning and Ending Dates of the Matching Program
The matching program is expected to begin in May 1996 and to
continue in effect for a period not to exceed 18 months. The agreement
may be extended for one additional year beyond that period, if within
90 days prior to the actual expiration date of the matching agreement,
the Data Integrity Boards of both the USPS and ED find that the
computer matching program will be conducted without change and each
party certifies that the matching program has been conducted in
compliance with the matching agreement.
Dated: April 17, 1996.
David A. Longanecker,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 96-9818 Filed 4-19-96; 8:45 am]
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