BEP EXPANDS ITS WATCHLIST TO INCLUDE CONTRACTORS

The Treasury Department's Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which like many federal agencies maintains investigative files on past and present employees and its contractors -- so it can perform background investigations on these individuals -- has decided to add another specific group to that list -- employees of companies to which the Bureau supplies samples of Federal Reserve notes or other government securities.

“This amendment will allow BEP to collect and maintain background investigation records on individuals who do not work for BEP or for any of its contractors or service providers,” explains a Treasury Department notice published in the Federal Register on Jan. 6.

In another change to its Privacy Act system of records, the BEP also announced that it will begin collecting and maintaining passport numbers, which “may be the one record available,” when its new policies take effect on Feb. 10, “unless the BEP receives comments that would result in a contrary determination.”

Members of the public can comment on these proposed changes by sending an email to Keir Bancroft, the BEP's chief privacy officer, at Keir.Bancroft@bep.gov by Feb. 6.

To read the complete article, see: Bureau of Engraving will soon be able to investigate manufacturers of banknote equipment and currency readers (www.gsnmagazine.com/node/25382?c=federal_agencies_legislative)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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