GSA seeks emergency contact list

Federal Register notice: GSA's proposed Privacy Act

General Services Administration officials are seeking public comment on a plan to maintain electronic files and databases with personal information so they can contact GSA workers in the event of an emergency.

In a Federal Register notice published today, GSA officials said they want input into their plans to create an emergency notification roster, including an Emergency Management Information Database. The information that would be collected includes a worker's name, phone number, home address, e-mail address, wireless and home phone numbers, and out-of-area contact numbers.

The data would be used only by authorized individuals in the event of an emergency, according to the notice. The information also could be used by federal, state or local officials investigating a case or by a federal agency issuing a security clearance.

The information would be protected from unauthorized access, and paper records would be placed in locked file cabinets. GSA employees would be able to find out if their records are in the database and whether they are accurate.