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[Federal Register: May 16, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 96)] 
[Notices]
[Page 24837-24839]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
     
     
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POSTAL SERVICE
     
     
Privacy Act of 1974, System of Records
     
AGENCY: Postal Service.
     
ACTION: Notice of new system of records.
     
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SUMMARY: This document publishes notice of a new Privacy Act system of 
records, USPS 050.050, Finance Records--International Money Transfer 
Transaction and Inquiry Records. The new system contains the names and 
addresses of purchasers and payees of international money transfer 
services and transaction information such as identifying numbers and 
amounts.
     
DATES: Any interested party may submit written comments on the proposed 
new system of records. This proposal will become effective without 
further notice on June 17, 1996, unless comments received on or before 
that date result in a contrary determination.
     
ADDRESSES: Written comments on this proposal should be mailed or 
delivered to Payroll Accounting and Records, United States Postal 
Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 8650, Washington, DC 20260-5243. 
Copies of all written comments will be available at the above address 
for public inspection and photocopying between 8 a.m. and 4:45 p.m., 
Monday through Friday.
     
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Betty E. Sheriff, (202) 268-2608.
     
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service enters into agreements 
with some Foreign Postal Administrations to exchange postal money 
orders. Money orders are transmitted under these reciprocal agreements 
through payment lists, money order authorizations, or both, on behalf 
of the purchaser in the country of origin. A list number and 
international number are assigned to and used to track each money 
order. Because those numbers are used for internal tracking, they are 
generally not known by a customer (either the purchaser or the payee 
inquiring about the status of a money order). However, by cross- 
referencing a transaction dataset or reference number with a customer 
name dataset, the Postal Service is able to retrieve status 
information. For that reason, the Postal Service is establishing this 
grouping of records as a system of records subject to the Privacy Act.
    The Postal Service also maintains purchaser, payee, and transaction
information relating to international money transfers. The transfer is 
completed through payment to the payee in the foreign country. As with 
money order inquiries, information about a transaction may be retrieved 
in response to a status inquiry. Consequently, the Postal Service deems 
it appropriate to include money transfer records in this system of 
records.
    Maintenance of these records is not expected to have a significant
effect on individual privacy rights. Information kept is limited to the 
name and address of the purchaser and/or payee and information about 
the transaction, such as amount, money order serial number or other 
identifying number, and payment status. The information will be kept in 
a secured environment, with automated data processing (ADP) physical 
and administrative security and technical software applied to 
information on computer media. Computers and hard copy records are 
maintained in a secured computer complex with access granted by guards. 
Access to areas within the complex is restricted with card keys. Access 
within the area is further restricted to authorized personnel with an 
official need. To the extent information is exchanged with a foreign 
administration or institution, it is exchanged under the terms of an 
agreement that requires confidentiality and limitations on use. 
Security controls are applied to information electronically 
transmitted.
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(11), interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views, or arguments on this proposal. A report of 
the following proposed system has been sent to Congress and to the 
Office of Management and Budget for their evaluation.
     
USPS 050.050
     
SYSTEM NAME:
    Finance Records--International Money Transfer Transaction and
Inquiry Records, USPS 050.050.
SYSTEM LOCATIONS:
    Accounting service centers.
CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
    Purchasers and payees of postal money order and money transfer
services.
CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
    Name and address of purchaser, name and address of money order/
money transfer payee, amount, country code, date of issue, place of 
issue, and identifying numbers such as list number, authorization 
number, serial number, and/or reference number.
AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
    39 U.S.C. 401 and 404.
PURPOSE(S):
    Information within this system is used to issue and track
international postal money order and money transfer transactions and to 
respond to inquiries concerning the status of those transactions. 
ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES 
OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
    General routine use statements a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, and j listed
in the prefatory statement at the beginning of the Postal Service's 
published system notices apply to this system. Other routine uses 
follow:
    1. Information from this system may be disclosed to a Foreign
Postal Administration or postal or financial institution which has 
entered into a reciprocal agreement with the Postal Service to exchange 
postal money orders.
    2. Information from this system may be disclosed to a foreign
entity under agreement with the Postal Service to distribute money 
order and transfer funds.
    3. Information from this system may be disclosed to the purchaser
or payee of a money order or money transfer in order to respond to an 
inquiry concerning the transaction.
Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, 
and disposing of records in the system:
Storage:
    Paper and computer storage media.
Retrievability:
    Name of purchaser, name of payee, authorization number, money order
serial number, and reference number. 
Safeguards:
    Hard copy records and computers containing information within this
system of records are located in a building with controlled access. To 
gain access to the building and access to controlled areas within the 
building, individuals must have authorized badges and/or card keys. 
Computer systems are protected with an installed security software 
package, the use of computer log-on IDs, and operating system controls. 
Access is limited by those means to persons whose duties require such 
access.
Retention and disposal:
    a. Money Order Inquiry Records. Cut off this file each calendar
year and destroy three years from date of cutoff.
    b. Money Transfer Transaction Records. Maintain for three years.
Destroy by shredding (paper) or degaussing or electronic erasure 
(computer).
System manager(s) and addresses:
    Vice President, Controller United States Postal Service 475
L'Enfant Plaza SW., Washington DC 20260-5200. 
Notification procedure:
    Individuals wanting to know whether information about them is
maintained in this system of records must address inquiries in writing 
to the system manager. Inquiries must contain the authorization number 
for money orders and the reference number for money transfers.
Record access procedures:
    Requests for access must be made in accordance with the
Notification Procedure above and the Postal Service Privacy Act 
regulations regarding access to records and verification of 
identity under 39 CFR 266.6.
Contesting record procedures:
    See Notification Procedure and Record Access Procedures above.
Record source categories:
    Purchasers and payees of money order and money transfer
transactions and Foreign Postal Administrations and entities. 
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 96-12336 Filed 5-15-96; 8:45 am] 
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P