Overview
Title
Records Schedules; Availability and Request for Comments
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The National Archives wants to let people know that some government offices plan to get rid of papers they don’t need anymore, and they are asking everyone if they think that’s okay. People can share their thoughts by April 2, 2021, and based on what people say, the decision will be made about keeping or throwing away the papers.
Summary AI
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has announced the availability of proposed records schedules from Federal agencies that wish to dispose of records they no longer need for business. Public comments are invited on these schedules, which are published in the Federal Register and on regulations.gov. Comments can be submitted until April 2, 2021. After reviewing the public feedback, NARA will make a decision regarding the records' disposal or preservation.
Abstract
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) publishes notice of certain Federal agency requests for records disposition authority (records schedules). We publish notice in the Federal Register and on regulations.gov for records schedules in which agencies propose to dispose of records they no longer need to conduct agency business. We invite public comments on such records schedules.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
General Summary
The document announces the availability of proposed records schedules from various Federal agencies, which are seeking to dispose of records no longer necessary for their business operations. This announcement comes from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), offering transparency in how government records are managed. The public is invited to review and comment on these schedules through the Federal Register and regulations.gov, with a deadline for submitting comments set for April 2, 2021. After receiving public feedback, NARA will decide whether these records should be preserved or destroyed.
Significant Issues or Concerns
The document employs specialized terminology such as "records schedules," "disposition authority," and "appraisal memorandum," without offering definitions. This could hinder understanding among the general public who may not be familiar with archival or bureaucratic language.
Moreover, while the document explains how to submit comments and provides an email for submitting concerns about confidential information, it lacks clarity on the exact procedures for handling such confidential submissions.
The references to regulations.gov and the Federal Register, integral platforms for public governance, are not explained for those outside administrative circles, potentially leaving the purpose and significance of these platforms ambiguous to lay readers.
Public Impact
Broadly, the process of inviting public commentary ensures transparency and fosters trust in how governmental records are handled. It allows citizens to actively participate in decisions that may impact public administration and the history of governmental activities. This type of engagement empowers individuals to shape the archival record and understand the government's records management practices.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For specific stakeholders, like researchers, historians, and legal professionals, this document could have a noteworthy impact by altering access to government files that are crucial for various analyses. Permanently preserving certain records could benefit researchers by providing a richer historical account, while the destruction of records could pose challenges in accessing significant information.
Additionally, individuals directly involved with or affected by the records in question may find the review process pivotal if it impacts rights, privacy, or legal standing. Therefore, these stakeholders might be more inclined to provide detailed feedback during the comment period to ensure their interests and needs are considered.
Overall, while the process is designed to ensure that record management is efficient and sensitive to public interest, the document could be more accessible and informative for a general audience to maximize public participation and understanding.
Issues
• The document uses specialized terminology such as 'records schedules', 'disposition authority', and 'appraisal memorandum' without providing definitions or explanations, which might make it difficult for the general public to fully understand.
• The document provides methods for submitting comments but does not explicitly address accessibility considerations for individuals who may not be able to submit comments online or via mail.
• The procedural aspects related to comments, such as how they are handled if they include confidential information, could be clearer. It mentions contacting an email for instructions but does not specify what those instructions might entail.
• The document references regulations.gov and Federal Register without explaining their significance or purpose in layman's terms.
• The process of approval by the Archivist of the United States is briefly mentioned but not detailed, which might leave readers unclear about the steps involved after public comments are considered.
• There is a lack of information about how the public can access previously submitted comments or outcomes of the comment period, other than a mention of the 'Consolidated Reply'.