OST

The privacy management process is built upon a methodology that has been developed and implemented in leading companies around the country and globally. The methodology is designed to help ensure that DOT and OST will have the information, tools and technology necessary to manage privacy effectively and employ the highest level of fair information practices while allowing OST to achieve its mission of protecting and enhancing the U.S. transportation system. The methodology is based upon the following steps: 

•     Establish priority, authority, and responsibility. Appointing a cross-functional privacy management team to ensure input from systems architecture, technology, security, legal, and other disciplines necessary to ensure that an effective privacy management program is developed.
•     Assess the current privacy environment. This involves interviews with key individuals involved in the WCIS system to ensure that privacy risks are identified, addressed and documented.
•     Organize the resources necessary for the project's goals. Internal OST resources, along with outside experts, are involved in reviewing the technology, data uses, and associated risks. They are also involved in developing the necessary redress systems and training programs.
•     Develop the policies, practices, and procedures. The resources identified in the paragraph above work to develop effective policies, practices, and procedures to ensure that fair information practices are complied with. The policies are designed to protect privacy effectively while allowing OST to achieve its mission.
•     Implement the policies, practices, and procedures. Once the policies, practices, and procedures are developed, they must be implemented. This involves training all individuals who will have access to and/or process personally identifiable information (PII). It also entails working with vendors to ensure that they maintain the highest standard for privacy while providing services to the OST project.
•     Maintain policies, practices, and procedures. Due to changes in technology, personnel and other aspects of any program, effective privacy management requires that technology and information be available to the privacy management team to ensure that privacy policies, practices, and procedures continue to reflect actual practices. Regular monitoring of compliance is required.
•     Manage exceptions and/or problems with the policies, practices, and procedures. This step involves the development and implementation of an effective redress and audit system to ensure that any complaints are effectively addressed and corrections made, if necessary.

The Office of the Secretary (OST) oversees the formulation of national transportation policy and promotes intermodal transportation. Other responsibilities include negotiation and implementation of international transportation agreements, assuring the fitness of US airlines, enforcing airline consumer protection regulations, issuance of regulations to prevent alcohol and illegal drug misuse in transportation systems and preparing transportation legislation.  

The Workers' Compensation Information System (WCIS) is the Department of Transportation (DOT) Information Technology system used to manage the Department's workers' compensation program by providing features and functions to allow authorized personnel to transmit workers' compensation claims and to monitor the status of workers' compensation cases established with the United States Department of Labor (DOL) under the Federal Employee Compensation Act (FECA).

The Security Operations Systems are used in support of security operations processes including classified document control; monitoring performance of security checks by guard personnel; facility entry control; personnel identification (badging); and monitoring of electronic access (intrusion detection) systems. It also has a general purpose database that supports the following office functions: training; investigations; locks and keys; gun inventory; investigator credentials; lost ID cards; and contractors.  

Privacy management is an integral part of the Department of Transportation (DOT) Security Operations Systems (SOS). The Office of the Secretary (OST) has retained the services of privacy experts to help assess its privacy management program, utilizing proven technology, sound policies and procedures, and established methodologies. 

The Office of the Secretary (OST) oversees the formulation of national transportation policy and promotes intermodal transportation. Other responsibilities include negotiation and implementation of international transportation agreements, assuring the fitness of US airlines, enforcing airline consumer protection regulations, issuance of regulations to prevent alcohol and illegal drug misuse in transportation systems and preparing transportation legislation.  

The Parking and Transit Benefit System (PTBS) is the Department of Transportation (DOT) Information Technology system used to manage the Transportation Subsidy Program (TSP) and facilitate the distribution of public-transport fare media to DOT and other Federal Agency employees, to schedule distribution of the fare media, to maintain an inventory of fare media on hand, and to manage the fare media billing. Also, the Office of Transportation Services (TRANServe), within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration, Department of Transportation, has been given the responsibility of managing the vehicle parking resources at the DOT South East Federal Center (SEFC) Headquarters Facility. As space for parking personally owned vehicles (POV) in the area surrounding the facility is severely limited it is important to ensure that access for government-required vehicles and key DOT employees POVs is available full time within the DOT spaces. Thus, parking at the Headquarters Facility is allocated via a the DOT Headquarters Parking Application (DOT HPA) reservation system.