National Defense Stockpile: National Security Council Study Inadequate To Set Stockpile Goals
NSIAD-87-146
Published: May 04, 1987. Publicly Released: May 04, 1987.
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Highlights
In response to a congressional request, GAO: (1) evaluated the methodology and assumptions the National Security Council (NSC) used in its study of national defense stockpile goals; and (2) compiled the views of the participating agencies.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| In view of the Administration's position that the NSC study is a valid basis for stockpile planning, and of existing Administration directives to implement the NSC study's stockpile goals and recommendations, Congress may wish to consider continuing its restrictions on changes in the stockpile. |
Closed – Implemented
|
Conferees agreed to continue restrictions on changes in the stockpile. All changes in goals must be justified, and changes over 10 percent must be expressly authorized by law. They also required changes to clarify management responsibility and provide stricter control over use of money from the stockpile transaction fund. The House and Senate passed these provisions on November 18 and 19, 1987. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Emergency Management Agency | The Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) should ensure that future analyses of stockpile requirements: (1) be directed and performed by the individuals and organizations with subject-area experience and expertise; (2) contain direct input from the industries involved in materials mining and processing; (3) consider a reasonable range of assumptions and provide results of major options to decision makers; (4) fairly present study participants' inputs, and clearly report major dissenting views, if any; (5) verify or supplement economic models, where practical, by the best available direct measures of material requirements; and (6) use assumptions and planning factors consistent with those used by federal departments for similar purposes. |
Closed – Implemented
The Director, FEMA, agreed and issued a policy that any future analyses by FEMA follow six principles which parallel the six recommendations. Compliance with the principles is to be certified to in any recommendation presented to, or by, FEMA for determinations to be made under section 3 of the Stock Piling Act.
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Topics
Defense capabilitiesDefense contingency planningEmergency preparednessFederal property managementMilitary inventoriesRaw materialsStrategic materialsMobilizationEmergency managementMilitary forces