Skip to main content

Bureau of Reclamation: Federal Interests Not Adequately Protected in Land-Use Agreements

RCED-91-174 Published: Jul 11, 1991. Publicly Released: Jul 11, 1991.
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Bureau of Reclamation's land-use agreements with Scottsdale, Arizona, to determine whether the: (1) terms and conditions of the agreements are consistent with federal law; (2) activities approved under the agreements are consistent with applicable agency policies and guidance; and (3) potential exists for the Bureau to enter into similar agreements elsewhere.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Interior In order to ensure that federal interests are adequately protected in any future agreements for the nonfederal use of Bureau lands for recreation, the Secretary of the Interior should direct the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation to expeditiously establish policies and guidance on when and under what conditions: (1) the government should be compensated for the use of Bureau lands; (2) public access restrictions are permissible; and (3) private operators should be allowed to establish public-use fees.
Closed – Implemented
The Bureau of Reclamation has drafted a schedule to implement this recommendation. The regulation will be revised once the schedule has been approved. Because no firm completion date has been established, GAO will no longer pursue this recommendation.
Department of the Interior In order to ensure that federal interests are adequately protected in any future agreements for the nonfederal use of Bureau lands for recreation, the Secretary of the Interior should direct the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation to expeditiously establish policies and guidance on what constitutes the appropriate development of lands in the public interest for recreation.
Closed – Implemented
The Bureau of Reclamation has drafted a schedule to implement this recommendation. The regulation will be revised once the schedule has been approved. Because no firm completion date has been established, GAO will no longer pursue this recommendation.
Department of the Interior In order to ensure that federal interests are adequately protected in any future agreements for the nonfederal use of Bureau lands for recreation, the Secretary of the Interior should direct the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation to expeditiously establish policies and guidance on monitoring and oversight, including verification of limits placed on public-access restrictions and public-use fees established by private operators.
Closed – Implemented
Revisions are being made to current Bureau policy and regulations to address this issue. Completion of revisions is targeted for June 30, 1993.
Department of the Interior Any future negotiation of agreements with nonfederal public entities or any approval of further development under existing agreements should be postponed until the Bureau has established and implemented the above policies and guidance.
Closed – Implemented
A memorandum was published November 4, 1991, requiring Assistant Commissioner-level review of all proposed agreements or amendments.

Full Report

Office of Public Affairs

Topics

Concessions contractsFederal property managementstate relationsGovernment collectionsLand leasesLand managementLand use agreementsNational recreation areasPublic landsRecreation