Changes to an SOR can involve a lengthy administrative process, which includes internal clearance by the Chief Privacy and Records Management Officer, each “system owner” (typically a Vice President), and any other relevant internal stakeholder, and, in some cases, Government Relations. Advance notice of the changes may then need to be provided to our Congressional oversight committees and the Office of Management and Budget before being published in the Federal Register. Additionally, certain SOR changes require that the Postal Service give the public 30 days to submit comments on the proposal before the changes can be implemented. As a result, the process for establishing or amending an SOR can take anywhere from 2 to 6 months to implement. Contact the Privacy and Records Management Office as early as possible to ensure that your project or initiative is not unnecessarily delayed in order to meet regulatory requirements.
