SYSTEM NAME:

Federal Emergency Management Agency National Defense Executive Reserve System  (January 07, 2009,  74 FR 722)

SYSTEM LOCATION:

Records may be maintained in the personnel office, emergency preparedness unit, or other designated offices located at the local installation of the department or agency which currently employs the individual.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:

Categories of individuals include applicants for and members of the National Defense Executive Reserve assignments.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

FEMA Form 85-3, National Defense Executive Reserve Personal Qualifications Statement. This Form includes: Individual's name; social security number; home mailing address; home telephone number; home e-mail address; date of birth; birthplace; employment experience; and Professional memberships.

Other personnel and administrative records, skills inventory, training data, and other related records necessary to coordinate and administer the program.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:

Defense Production Act of 1950, E.O. 11179 dated September 22, 1964, as amended by E.O. 12148 dated July 20, 1979, 5 U.S.C. 301; the Federal Records Act, 44 U.S.C. 3101; Executive Order 9397.

PURPOSE(S):

The purpose of this system is to collect and preserve records regarding applicants for and members of the National Defense Executive Reserve. The collection and maintenance of this information will assist the Federal Government in coordinating and administering the National Defense Executive Reserve.

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

In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 552a(b) of the Privacy Act, all or a portion of the records of information contained in this system may be disclosed outside DHS as a routine use pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows:

• To the Department of Justice or other Federal agency conducting litigation or in proceedings before any court, adjudicative or administrative body, when it is necessary to the litigation and one of the following is a party to the litigation or has an interest in such litigation:
  1. DHS or any component thereof;
  2. Any employee of DHS in his/her official capacity;
  3. Any employee of DHS in his/her individual capacity where DOJ or DHS has agreed to represent the employee; or
  4. The United States or any agency thereof, is a party to the litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and DHS determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation and the use of such records is compatible with the purpose for which DHS collected the records.
• To a congressional office from the record of an individual in response to an inquiry from that congressional office made at the request of the individual about whom the record pertains.
• To the National Archives and Records Administration or other Federal government agencies pursuant to records management inspections being conducted under the authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906.
• To an agency, organization, or individual for the purpose of performing audit or oversight operations as authorized by law, but only such information as is necessary and relevant to such audit or oversight function.
• To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when:
• DHS suspects or has confirmed that the security or confidentiality of information in the system of records has been compromised;
• The Department has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to economic or property interests, identity theft or fraud, or harm to the security or integrity of this system or other systems or programs (whether maintained by DHS or another agency or entity) or harm to the individual who relies upon the compromised information; and
• The disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with DHS's efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed compromise and prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.
• To contractors and their agents, grantees, experts, consultants, and others performing or working on a contract, service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other assignment for DHS, when necessary to accomplish an agency function related to this system of records. Individuals provided information under this routine use are subject to the same Privacy Act requirements and limitations on disclosure as are applicable to DHS officers and employees.
• To an appropriate Federal, State, tribal, local, international, or foreign law enforcement agency or other appropriate authority charged with investigating or prosecuting a violation or enforcing or implementing a law, rule, regulation, or order, where a record, either on its face or in conjunction with other information, indicates a violation or potential violation of law, which includes criminal, civil, or regulatory violations and such disclosure is proper and consistent with the official duties of the person making the disclosure.
• To the Association of the National Defense Executive Reserve and the National Defense Executive Reserve Conference Association to facilitate training and relevant information dissemination efforts for reservists in the National Defense Executive Reserve.
• To an appropriate Federal, State, local, tribal, foreign, or international agency, if the information is relevant and necessary to a requesting agency's decision concerning the hiring or retention of an individual, or issuance of a security clearance, license, contract, grant, or other benefit, or if the information is relevant and necessary to a DHS decision concerning the hiring or retention of an employee, the issuance of a security clearance, the reporting of an investigation of an employee, the letting of a contract, or the issuance of a license, grant or other benefit and when disclosure is appropriate to the proper performance of the official duties of the person making the request.
• To a court, magistrate, or administrative tribunal in the course of presenting evidence, including disclosure to opposing counsel or witnesses in the course of civil discovery, litigation, or settlement negotiations or in connection with criminal law proceedings or in response to a subpoena from a court of competent jurisdiction.
• To the news media and the public, with the approval of the Chief Privacy Officer in consultation with counsel, when there exists a legitimate public interest in the disclosure of the information or when disclosure is necessary to preserve confidence in the integrity of DHS or is necessary to demonstrate the accountability of DHS's officers, employees, or individuals covered by the system, except to the extent it is determined that release of the specific information in the context of a particular case would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.

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

STORAGE:

Records in this system are stored electronically or on paper in secure facilities in a locked drawer behind a locked door. The records are stored on magnetic disc, tape, digital media, and CD-ROM.

RETRIEVABILITY:

Records may be retrieved by individual's name, social security number, specific skill area of the applicant, or agency.

SAFEGUARDS:

Records in this system are safeguarded in accordance with applicable rules and policies, including all applicable DHS automated systems security and access policies. Strict controls have been imposed to minimize the risk of compromising the information that is being stored. Access to the computer system containing the records in this system is limited to those individuals who have a need to know the information for the performance of their official duties and who have appropriate clearances or permissions.

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:

Case files on reservists are maintained in accordance with Item 29a, GRS 18, Security and Protective Services Records, and destroyed five years after termination from the NDER program. Case files on individuals whose applications were rejected or withdrawn are destroyed when five years old in accordance with Item 29b, GRS 18. FEMA will review this retention schedule and work with NARA to determine whether it remains appropriate.

SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS:

Associate Director, National Preparedness Directorate, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington, DC 20472, will maintain a computerized record of all applications and assignments of National Defense Executive Reserve reservists for the Federal Government as well as the personnel files for all individuals assigned to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The departments and agencies will maintain their own personnel records on those individuals assigned to their respective department or agency.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:

Individuals wishing to inquire whether this system of records contains information about themselves should submit their inquiries to:

• NDER applicants/assignees to DHS/FEMA—Federal Emergency Management Agency, Associate Director, National Preparedness Directorate, Washington, DC 20472;
• NDER applicants/assignees to Federal departments and/or agencies other than DHS—contact the agency personnel, emergency preparedness unit, or Privacy Act Officer to determine location of records within the department/agency. Individuals must include their full name, date of birth, social security number, current address, and type of assignment/agency they applied with to be an NDER reservist.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:

Individuals/applicants/assignees to DHS/FEMA wishing to access records containing information about themselves should follow the record access procedures that are outlined in FEMA's and DHS' Privacy Act regulations, 44 CFR Part 6 and 6 CFR Part 5. Requests for Privacy Act protected information must be made in writing and clearly marked as a “Privacy Act Request.” The name of the requester, the nature of the record sought, and the required verification of identity must be clearly indicated. Requests should be sent to: FOIA Officer, Records Management, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security, 500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472.

Individuals/applicants/assignees to Federal departments and/or agencies other than DHS should follow “Notification procedure (b)” above.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:

See "Record access procedures" above.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:

The individuals to whom the record pertains. Prior to being designated as a National Defense Executive Reserve reservist, the applicant must successfully complete a background investigation conducted by the Office of Personnel Management which may include reference checks of prior employers, educational institutions attended, police records, neighborhoods, and present and past friends and acquaintances.

EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED FOR THE SYSTEM:

FEDERAL REGISTER HISTORY: