Skip to main content

Lapse in Appropriations

Please note that a lapse in appropriations has caused GAO to shut down its operations. Therefore, GAO will not be able to publish reports or otherwise update this website until GAO resumes operations. In addition, the vast majority of GAO personnel are not permitted to work. Consequently, calls or emails to agency personnel may not be returned until GAO resumes operations. For details on how the bid protest process will be handled during the shutdown, please see the legal decisions page. For information related to the GAO Personnel Appeals Board (PAB), please see the PAB webpage.

Environmental Funding: DOE Needs To Better Identify Funds for Hazardous Waste Compliance

RCED-88-62 Published: Dec 16, 1987. Publicly Released: Dec 16, 1987.
Jump To:

Highlights

In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Energy's (DOE) funding for activities to comply with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA).

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should specifically budget and account for all DOE RCRA and CERCLA funds. This effort should include: (1) identifying the funds in future DOE budgets and highlighting them to the Congress; and (2) creating separate accounts in the DOE accounting system to track expended RCRA and CERCLA dollars.
Closed – Implemented
DOE has modified its financial accounting system to track all aspects of the "Environmental Restoration and Waste Management Five-Year Plan", including all RCRA/CERCLA funding, beginning with FY 1990. The recommendation predated the 5-year plan, but since that plan will drive future budgets, this should satisfy the recommendation.

Full Report

Full Report (16 pages)

Media Inquiries

Sarah Kaczmarek
Managing Director
Office of Public Affairs
media@gao.gov

Public Inquiries

Contact Us

Topics

Energy
Environmental lawFederal agency accounting systemsFederal fundsFunds managementHazardous substancesInternal controlsNuclear waste disposalNuclear waste managementHazardous wastesBudgeting