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National Forests: Special Recreation Areas Not Meeting Established Objectives

RCED-90-27 Published: Feb 05, 1990. Publicly Released: Feb 05, 1990.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Forest Service's management of 20 special recreation areas within the national forest system to determine whether the Service achieved the development, operation, and maintenance levels consistent with their designating legislation.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture, should direct the Chief, Forest Service, to develop information on and periodically report the status of development, operations, and maintenance at each special recreation area to Congress. Such information should, as a minimum, include: (1) aspects of each area's plan that have been completed; (2) aspects of the plan that have yet to be completed; (3) the proposed time frame and the estimated costs associated with completing the work necessary to fulfill the plan; and (4) an assessment of the resources needed to operate and maintain those areas at showcase levels.
Closed – Implemented
The Forest Service has issued instructions to its regions to compile budgetary needs estimates for its NRA. Data collected will be in accordance with the recommendation.

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Topics

ConservationFacility repairsFederal property managementForest managementGovernment facilitiesMaintenance (upkeep)Maintenance costsNational recreation areasNatural resourcesPublic visitor-centers