Overview
Title
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Department of Defense wants to ask people for some personal info, like their home address and name, when they sign up to use the gym at the Pentagon. Some people are worried because they don't know how their info will be used or kept safe.
Summary AI
The Department of Defense (DoD) has announced a 30-day period for public comments regarding a proposed information collection. This proposal, submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), involves the Pentagon Athletic Center Membership Application (WHS Form 19), with the aim of collecting details such as home address, email, and full name from those looking to join the center. The application targets individuals in the National Capital Region, including government civilians, contractors, and retired personnel. The information collected will help create member profiles for the center's membership database.
Abstract
The DoD has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The Department of Defense (DoD) has issued a public notice calling for feedback on a newly proposed information collection, namely the Pentagon Athletic Center Membership Application (WHS Form 19). Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, the collection aims to gather personal details from prospective members who wish to join the Pentagon Athletic Center. Such details include the individual's home address, email, and full name. The membership invitation is extended to individuals situated in the National Capital Region, particularly targeting government civilians, contractors, and both active and retired service members. The overall goal is to compile these details into a comprehensive membership database for the center.
Significant Issues and Concerns
Several key concerns emerge from this notice. Firstly, the document is vague about how the collected information will be used beyond its fundamental purpose, nor does it specify data protection measures—raising potential privacy issues. Secondly, individuals might question the necessity of collecting a home address, perceived as a potential overreach and unnecessary data gathering. Notably absent is any mention of alternative ways to submit this information, possibly limiting accessibility for some respondents. Furthermore, there is no clarity about data retention policies and disposal methods post-use, leaving unanswered questions regarding data security and privacy preservation. There is also an opportunity to provide better guidance on how to navigate the www.reginfo.gov website to locate the proposal, which might currently prove confusing for some users.
Impact on the Public
Broadly, this document may have a negligible direct impact on the general public, as it targets a specific audience within the National Capital Region. However, for those potentially eligible to become members of the Pentagon Athletic Center, this information collection could lead to increased accessibility to the center’s facilities. Yet, concerns around data privacy and the apparent lack of alternative submission methods could deter participation from those wary of including personal information without clear justification and assurances of its protection.
Positive and Negative Impacts on Stakeholders
For stakeholders such as government employees and contractors, this proposed information collection has a specific positive potential—it offers them and retired military personnel access to the facilities at the Pentagon Athletic Center. On the downside, the perceived lack of transparency regarding data usage and protection might overshadow these benefits for privacy-conscious individuals. The absence of varied submission processes could also be a barrier for those less comfortable using the traditional WHS Form 19.
In conclusion, while the proposed membership application serves a definitive purpose, clarity and transparency are needed regarding data collection, usage, and protection practices. Addressing these would build trust and encourage broader participation from the intended stakeholders.
Issues
• The notice does not provide detailed information on how the collected data will be used or protected, which could raise privacy concerns.
• The notice lacks clarity on whether there are alternative methods for respondents to submit their information, other than the WHS Form 19.
• There is no justification provided for the necessity of collecting home address information, which might amount to excessive data collection.
• The action notice does not specify how long the information will be retained once collected, or how it will be disposed of after its use.
• The document could be improved by providing more detailed instructions on how to locate the information collection on the www.reginfo.gov website, as the current guidance could be confusing to some users.