ML20062H381
| ML20062H381 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/30/1990 |
| From: | Scroggins R NRC OFFICE OF THE CONTROLLER |
| To: | Shapiro B OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20062H290 | List: |
| References | |
| FRN-55FR39285, FRN-55FR39286, FRN-55FR39287, FRN-55FR39288, RULE-PR-16 AD44-1-11, NUDOCS 9012040283 | |
| Download: ML20062H381 (22) | |
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Mr. Barry E. Shapiro Deputy Assistant Director for. Pay Programs Office of Pay and Performance Management y
U.S. Office of Personnel Management e
Washington, D. C.
20415
Dear Mr. Shapiro:
In response to your letter of August 8,1989, to Paul E. Birds Director, Office of Personnel, I have enclosed for your review and approval a copy of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's proposed regulation 10 CFR Part 16, " Salary Offset Procedures for Collecting Debts Owed by Federal Employees to the Federal Government."
I apologize for the delay in responding to your lette.
If you have any questions, please contact Diane B. Dandois, Chief, License Fee and Debt Collection Branch, on 492-7225.
Sincerely,
/.S/. R0nald M, Sgogging Ronald M. Scroggins Controller
Enclosure:
Proposed Regulation 10 CFR Part 16 DISTRIBUTION:
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g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 10 CFR Part 16 RIN 3150-AD44 Salary Offset Procedures for Collecting Debts Owed by Federal Employees to the Federal Government AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Comission.
ACTION:
Proposed rule.-
SUMMARY
- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to establish procedures to collect certain debts owed by Federal employees to the NRC and other Federal. agencies by deduction (s) from their pay.
This proposed rule establishes 10 CFR Part 16 and is necessary to conform NRC regulations to the Debt Collection Act of.1982 which requires each agency to establish a salary offset program for the collecten of these debts.
DATE:
Submit: comments by Coments received after this date will:be' considered if it is practical to do so, but the Commission is able to ensure consideration only for comments received on or before this date.
. ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory l'
' Commission, Washington, DC 20555, Attention: Docketing and Service Branch.
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t-s Hand deliver comments to:
11555 Rockville Pike, One White Flint North, Rockville, liaryland, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., Federal workdays.
Examine comments received at:
The NRC Public Document Room, 2120LStreet,NW.(LowerLevel), Washington,DC20555.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane B. Dandois, Chief, License Fee and Debt Collection Branch, Division of Accounting-and Finance, Office of the Controller, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, telephone (301)492-7225.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Debt Collection Act of 1982 (Pub. L.97-365) requires each agency to establish a' salary offset program for the collection of debts owed by Federal employees to the Federal Government.
Debt collection efforts under these programs resulted in the collection of $52 million in FY 1988.
The Office of Personnel Management (0PM) regulations governing the salary offset program establish certain minimum standards and procedures that must be incorporated into each agency's salary offset regulations (5 CFR 550.1104) and require each agency to submit proposed regulations to
'0PM for review and approval prior to their becoming final rules (5 CFR 550.1105). The NRC has forwarded a copy of this proposed rule to OPM in
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order to comply with 5 CFR'550.1105.
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d The NRC is proposing to establish a new part in 10 CFR Chapter 1 (Part
- 16) that would contain the provisions necessary to meet this obligation.
The proposed 10 CFR Part 16 provides procedures for the NRC to collect debts owed to the Federal Government by administrative offset from a Federal employee's salary without his or her consent. This rule applies to all Federal employees who owe debts to the NRC and to current employees of the NRC who owe debts to other Federal agencies.
L Concurrently with publication of 10 CFR Part 16 as a final rule, the NRC intends to amend 10 CFR Part 15, Debt Collection Procedures, to specify L.
that the salary offset provisions of 10 CFR Part 16 apply to the collection of'certain debts owed by Federal employees to the NRC and other agencies.
Finding of No Significant Environmental Impact The Commission has determined, under the National Environmental Policy
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Act of 1969, as amended, and the Commission's regulations in Subpart A of 10 CFR 51, that this rule, if adopted, would not be a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment and therefore an environmental statement is not required. Amending the procedures to be used by the Commission to collect debts which are owed to it and other Federal agencies by Federal employees-through salary offset will have no radiological environmental impact offsite and no impact on occupational radiation exposure onsite. The proposed rule does not affect nonradiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact.
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The environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact, on which this determination is based, are available for inspection at the NRC Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, (Lower Level), N.W., Washington, D.C.
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement This proposed rule contains no information collection requirements and therefore is not subjact to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of-1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
Regulatory Analysis This proposed rule will bring NRC procedures for collecting debts owed it and other Federal agencies by Federal employees into conformance with current statutory and regulatory guidance and requirements and, as such, does not have significant impact on state and local governments and geographical regions, health, safety, and the environment; nor does it represent substantial costs to licensees, the NRC, or other Federal ogencies. This constitutes the regulatory analysis for this proposed rule.
Regulatory Flexibility Certification In accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 605(b),
the Commission certifies that this rule, if adopted, will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities since it does not cover debts owed the NRC by small entities. As a result, a 4
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regulatory flexibility analysis has not been prepared.
Backfit Analysis The Commission has determined that the backfit rule, 10 CFR 50.109, does not apply to this proposed rule and, therefore, that a backfit analysis is not required for this -roposed rule because it does not involve any provisions which would impose backfits as defined in 10 CFR 50.109(a)(1).
List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 16 Administrative practice and procedure, Debt collection.
For the reasons set out in the preamble and under authority of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended; the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as~ amended; the Debt Collection Act of 1982, as amended; the Federal Claims Collection Act of 1966, as amended; 5 CFR 550.1101-1108, Subpart K; and 5 U.S.C. 552 and 553, the NRC is proposing to adopt 10 CFR Part 16.
1.
A new Part 16 is added to 10 CFR Chapter I.
PART 16 - SALARY OFFSET PROCEDURES FOR COLLECTING DEBTS OWED BY FEDERAL EMPLOYEES TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 5
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- 16.1 Purpose and scope.
16.3-Definitions.
. 16.5 Application.
16.7 Notice requirements.
16.9 Hearing.
16.11' Written decision.
16.13=-Coordinating offset with another Federal agency.
16.15 Procedures for salary offset.
16.17 Refunds.
16.19 Statute of limitations.
- 16.21 Non-waiver of rights.
16.23 Interest, penalties, and administrative costs.
AUTHORITY:
Sec. 161, 68 Stat. 948, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2201); sec. 201, 88 Stat. 1242, as amended (42 U.S.C. 5841); sec. 3, Pub. L.89-508, 80 Stat. 308, as amended (31 U.S.C. 3711, 3717, 3718); sec. 5, Pub. L.89-508, 8_0 Stat. 308, as amended (31 U.S.C. 3716); Debt Collection Act of 1982, Pub. L.97-365, 96 Stat. 1749-1758; Federal Claims Collection Standards, 4 CFR Parts 101-105; 5 U.S.C. 5514, as amended; 5 CFR 550.1101-550.1108.
616.1 Purpose and scope.
(a) This rule provides procedures for the collection by administrative offset.of a Federal employee's salary without his/her consent to satisfy certain debts owed to the Federal Government. This rule applies to all Federal employees who owe debts to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and to current employees of.the NRC who owe debts to other Federal agencies. This rule does not apply when the employee consents to recovery from his/her current pay account.
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(b) These procedures ao not apply to debts or claims arising under:
(1) The Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, 26 U.S.C. 1 et seq.;
(2) The Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.;
(3)ThetarifflawsoftheUnitedStates;or (4) Any case where a collection of a debt by salary offset is explicitly provided for or prohibited by another statute.
b (c) These procedures do not apply to any adjustment to pay arising out of an employee's selection of coverage or a change in coverage under a Federal benefits program. requiring periodic deductions from pay if the amount to be recovered was accumulated over four pay periods.cr less.
(d)-Theseproceduresdonotprecludethecompromise, suspension,or termination of collection action where appropriate under the standards
_7 implementing the Federal Claims Collection Act, 31 U.S.C. 3711 et seq.,
4 CFR Parts 101 through 105.
(e) This regulation does not preclude an employee from requesting waiver of an overpayment under 5 U.S.C. 5584, 10 U.S.C. 2774, or 32 U.S.C.
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-716 or in any wey questioning the amount or validity of the debt by submitting a subsequent claim to the General Accounting Office. This I
regulation does not preclude an employee from requesting a waiver pursuant to other statutory provisions applicable to the particular debt being collected.
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616.3 Definitions.
For the purposes of this part, the following definitions apply:
" Administrative charges" are those amounts assessed by NRC to cover the costs of processing and handling delinquent debts due the Government.
" Administrative offset" means withholding money payable by the United States Government to, or held by the Government for, a person to satisfy a debt the person-owes the United States Government.
" Agency" means an executive agency as is defined at 5 U.S.C.105 including the U.S. Postal Service, the U.S. Postal Rate Commission, a military department as defined at 5 U.S.C.102, an agency or court in the judicial branch, an agency of the legislative branch including the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and other independent establishments that are entities of the Federal Government.
" Creditor agency" means the agency to which a debt is owed.
" Debt" means an amount which has been determined by an appropriate NRC official or an appropriate official of another agency to be owed to the United States _from sources which include loans insured or guaranteed by the United States' and all other amounts due the United States from fees, leases, rents, rlyalties, services, sales of real or personal property, carpayments, penalties, damages, interests, fines, forfeitures (except those arising under the Uniform Code of Military Justice), and all other similar sources.
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" Disposable pay" means the amount that remains from an employee's current basic pay, special pay,- incentive pay, retired pay, retainer pay, or in the case of an employee not entitled to basic pay, other authorized pay after required deductions for social security; Federal, state or local income tax; health insurance premiums; retirement contributions; life insurance premiums; Federal employment taxes; and any other deductions that are required to be withheld by law.
Deductions described in 5 CFR 581.105 (b) through (f) are excluded when determining disposable pay subject to salary offset.
" Employee" means a current employee of an agency, including a z
current member of the Armed Forces or a Reserve of the Armed Forces (Reserves).
"FCCS" mcans the Federal Claims Collection Standards jointly published by the Justice Department and the General Accounting Office at 4 CFR Parts 101-105.
" Hearing official" means an individual responsible for conducting any hearing-with respect to the existence or amount of a debt claimed or the repayment schedule if not established by written agreement between the employee and the NRC, and who renders a decision on the basis of such hearing.
" Paying agency" means the agency that employs the individual who owes the debt and authorizes the payment of his/her current pay.
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" Salary offset" means an administrative offset to collect a debt under 5 U.S.C. 5514 by deduction (s) at one or more ' officially established pay intervals from_ the curreat pay account of an employee without his or her consent.
" Waiver" means the cancellation, remission,. forgiveness, or non-recovery of a debt allegedly owed by an employee to an agency as permitted or required by 5 U.S.C. 5584, 10 U.S.C. 2774, 32 U.S.C. 716, 5 U.S.C. 8346(b), or any other law.
616.5 Application.
The regulations in this part are to be followed when:
(a) The NRC is owed a debt by an individual currently employed by another Federal agency; L-(b) The NRC is owed a debt by an individual who is a current.
employee of the NRC; or l-(c)TheNRCemploysanindividualwhoowesadebttoar.otherFederal-agency.
l 616.7 $!stice requirements.
(a) If the NRC is the creditor agency, deductions will not be made unless the NRC provides the employee with a signed written notice of the 10
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debt at least 30 days befare salary offset commences. The notice will be delivered in person or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, with receipt returned as proof of delivery, j
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(b)Thewrittennoticemustcontain:
(1)Astatementthatthedebtisowedandanexplanationofits origin, nature, and amount; (2)TheNRC'sintentiontocollectthedebtbydeductingfromthe employee's current disposable pay account; (3) The amount, frequency, proposed beginning date, and duration of theintendeddeduction(s);
-(4)Anexplanationofinterest, penalties,andadministrative charges, including a statement that these charges will be assessed unless excused in accordance with the Federal Claims Collection Standards at 4 CFR Parts 101-105; (5) The employee's right to inspect and copy government records pertaining to the debt or, if the employee or his or her representative cannot personally inspect the records, to request and receive a copy of these records; 11
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(6) If not previously provided, the opportunity (under terms agreeable to the NRC) to establish a schedule for the voluntary repayment of the debt or to enter into a written agreement to establish a schedule for repayment of the debt in lieu of offset (4 CFR 102.2(e)).
The agreement must be in writing, signed by both the employee a3d the NRC, and documented in the NRC's files; (7) The employee's right to a hearing conducted by an official arranged for by the NRC (an administrative law judge, or alternatively, a hearing official not under the control of the head of the agency) if a petition is filed as prescribed in 616.9; (8) The metheds and time period for petitioning for hearings; 1
(9) A statement that the timely filing of a petitio4 for a hearing will stay the comencement of collection proceedings; (10)Astatementthatafinaldecisiononthehearingwillbe issued not later than 60 days after the filing of the petition requesting the hearing unless the employee requests and the hearing official grants a delay in the proceedings; (11) A statement that knowingly false or frivolous statements, representations, or evidence may subject the employee to appropriate disciplinary procedures under Chapter 75 of Title 5, United States Code and 5 CFR 752, penalties under the False Claims Act, 63729-3731 12
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of Title 31, United States Code or other applicable statutory authority, or criminal penalties under 6286, 287, 1001 and 1002 of Title 18, United States Code or any other applicable statutory authority; (12) A statement of other rights and remedies available to the employee under statutes or regulations governing the program for which the collection is being made; and (13) Unless there are contractual or statutory provisions to the contrary, a statement that amounts paid on or deducted for the debt which are later waived or found not owed to the United States will be promptly refunded to the employee.
616.9 Hearing.
(a)Requestforhearing.
(1) An employee shall file a petition for a hearing in accordance with the instructions outlined in the creditor agency's notice of offset.
(2)IftheNRCisthecreditoragency,ahearingmayberequestedby filing a written petition addressed to the Controller stating why the employee disputes the existence or amount of the debt or the repayment schedule if it was not established by written agreement between the employee and the NRC. The employee shall sign the petition and fully identify and explain with reasonable specificity all the facts, evidence, 13
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and witnesses, if any, which the employee believes support his or her position. The petition for a hearing must be received by the Controller no later than fifteen (15) calendar days af ter receipt of the notice of offset unless the employee can show that the delay in meeting the deadline date was because of circumstances beyond his or her control or because of failure to receive notice of the time limit (unless otherwise aware of it).
(b) Hearing procedures.
(1) The hearing will be presided over by an impartial hearing official.
(2) The hearing must conform to procedures contained in the Federal ClaimsCollectionStandards4CFR102.3(c). The burden is on the employee to demonstrate either that the existence or the amount of the debt is in error or that the terms of the repayment schedule would result in undue financial hardship or would be against equity and good conscience.
(3) An employee is entitled to representation of his or her choice at any stage of the proceeding. NRC attorneys may not be provided as representatives for the debtor.
The NRC will not compensate the ubter for representation expenses, including hourly fees for attorneys, travel expenses, and costs for reproducing documents.
i16.11 Written decision.
(a) The hearing official will issue a written opinion no later than 60 days after the hearing.
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r (b)Thewrittenopinionmustinclude:
(1) A statement of the facts presented to demonstrate the nature and origin of the alleged debt; i
(2) The hearing official's analysis, findings, and conclusions; l
(3) The amount and validity of the debt; and 1
I (4) The repayment schedule, where appropriate.
916.13 Coordinating offset with another Federal agency.
(a)TheNRCasthecreditoragency. When the NRC determines that an employee of a Federal agency owes a delinquent debt to the NRC. the NRC will, as appropriate:
(1) Arrange for a hearing upon the proper retitioning b/ the employee; (2) Certify in writing that the employee owes the debt, the amount and basis of the debt, the date on which payment is due, the date the Government's right to collect the debt accrued, and that NRC procedures for salary offset implementing 5 U.S.C. 5514 have been approved by the 1
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(3)Ifcollectionmustbemadeininstallments,theNRCmustadvise i
the paying agency of the amount or percentage of disposable pay to be collected in each installment; (4) Advise the paying agency of the actions taken under 5 U.S.C.
5514(a)andprovidethedatesonwhichactionwastakenunlessthe l
employee has consented to salary offset in writing or signed a statement acknowledging receipt of procedures required by law. The written consent or acknowledgment must be sent to the paying agency; (5) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the NRC must submit a debt claim containing the information specified in paragraphs (a) (2) through (4) of this section and an installment agreement (or other instruction on the payment schedule), if applicable, to the employee's paying agency.
(6) Upon rece:pt of notification that the employec has transferred to another agency before thi. debt is collected in full, the NRC will submit a properly certified claim to the new paying agency so that collection can be resumed; (7) If the employee is in the process of separating, the NRC will submit its debt claim to the paying agency as provided in paragraphs (a)
(2)through(5)ofthissection. The paying agency will certify any amounts already collected, notify the employee, and send e i.upy of the certification and notice of the employee's separation to the NRC.
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the paying agency is aware that the employee is entitled to Civil Service Retirement and Disability fund or similar payments, it will certify to the agency responsible for making the payments that the employee owes a debt (including the amount) and that the provisions of this part have been followed. The NRC will submit a properly certified claim to the agency responsible for making such payments so collection can be made.
(8) If the employee has already separated and all payments due from the paying agency have been paid, the NRC may request, unless otherwise prohibited, that money payable to the employee from the Civil Service Retirement and Disability fund or other similar funds be collected by administrative offset.
(b) The NRC as the paying agency.
(1) Upon receipt of a properly certified debt claim from another agency, the NRC will schedule deductions to begin at the next established pay interval. The employee must receive written notice indicating that the NRC has received a certified debt claim from the creditor agency, the amount of the debt, the date salary offset will begin, and the amount of thededuction(s). The NRC may not review the merits of the creditor agency's determinttion of the validity or the amount of the certified claim.
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4 (2)Uponreceiptofanincompletedebtclaimfromacreditoragency, the NRC will return the debt claim to the creditor agency with a notice that procedures under 5 U.S.C. 5514 and 5 CFR part 550, Subpart K, must be followed and a properly certified debt claim received before action will be taken to collect from the employee's current pay account.
(3) If the employee transfers to another agency af ter the creditor agency has submitted its debt claim to the NRC and before the debt is collected completely, the NRC will certify the total amount collected. The NRC will furnish one copy of the certification to the employee. The NRC will furnish a copy to the creditor agency with notice of the employee's transfer.
$16.15 procedures for salary offset.
(a) Deductions to liquidate an employee's debt will be by the method and in the amount stated in the NRC's notice of intention to offset as provided in 616.7. Debts will be collected in one lump sum where possible.
If the employee is financially unable to pay in one lump sum, collection must be made in installments.
(b) Debts will be collected by deduction at officially established pay intervals from an employee's current pay account unless alternative arrangements for repayment are made.
(c) Installment deductions will be made over a period not greater than the anticipated period of employment. The size of installment 18
deductions must bear a reasonable relationship to the size of the debt and the employee's ability to pay.
The deduction for the pay intervals for any period may not exceed 15% of disposable pay unless the employee has agreed in writing to a deduction of a greater amount.
(d) Offset against any subsequent payment due an employee who retires or resigns or whose employment or period of active duty ends before collection of the debt is completed is provided for in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3716. These payments include but are not limited to final salary payment or lump-sum leave due the employee f rom the paying agency as of the date of separation to the extent necessary to liquidate the debt.
$16.17 Refunds.
(a) The NRC will refund promptly any amounts deducted to satisfy debts owed to the NRC when the debt is waived, found not owed to the NRC, or when directed by an administrative or judicial order, (b) The creditor agency will promptly return any amounts deducted by NRC to satisfy debts owed to the creditor agency when the debt is waived, found not owed, or when directed by an administrative or judicial order.
(c) Unless required or permitted by law or contract, refunds under this section may not bear interest.
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616.19 Statute of ' imitations.
if a debt has bun outstanding for more than 10 years af ter the agency's right to collect the debt first accrued, the agency may not collect by salary offset unless facts material to the Government's right to collect were not known and could not reasonably have been known by the NRC official or officials who were charged with the responsibility for discovery and collection of the debts.
616.21 Non-waiver of rights.
An employee's involuntary payment of all or any part of a debt collected under these regulations will not be construed as a waiver of any rights that the employee may have under 5 U.S.C. 5514 or any other provision of contract or law, unless there are statutes or contract (s) to the contrary.
916.23 Interest, penalties, and administrative charges.
Charges may be assessed for interest, penalties, and administrative charges in accordance with the Federal Claims Collection Standards, 4 CFR 102.13.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this day of
,1990.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Ja a s M. Taylor, Executive Director for Operations.
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