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Open Recommendations

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board: Opportunities Exist to Further Improve Management and Planning
GAO-25-107948
Sep 04, 2025
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board DNFSB should update its 2024 human capital plan so that it better aligns with internal control standards and includes: (1) what is to be achieved, (2) who is to achieve it, (3) how it will be achieved, and (4) the time frames for achieving it. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Water Infrastructure Resilience: Agencies Could Better Assess Efforts to Assist Communities Vulnerable to Natural Disasters
GAO-25-107013
Aug 11, 2025
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8 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Emergency Management Agency The FEMA Administrator should ensure that FEMA's hazard mitigation assistance programs communicate with potential applicants about USDA financial assistance that may be used to fulfill nonfederal cost-share requirements in certain circumstances. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Federal Emergency Management Agency The FEMA Administrator should ensure that FEMA's hazard mitigation assistance programs systematically track and assess the number of, and reasons for, subapplicant withdrawals and address any related barriers, as appropriate. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Federal Emergency Management Agency The FEMA Administrator should ensure that FEMA's hazard mitigation assistance programs identify and track projects related to drinking water infrastructure. Then, these programs should consult with relevant EPA officials on how to use EPA's community water system service area mapping tool to more accurately assess the beneficiaries of these projects—including vulnerable communities, as defined in the relevant laws—and use the tool for this purpose. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Federal Emergency Management Agency The FEMA Administrator should ensure that FEMA's hazard mitigation assistance programs identify and track projects related to wastewater infrastructure. Then, these programs should consult with relevant EPA officials on how to use EPA's wastewater system service area mapping tool, once available, to more accurately assess the beneficiaries of these projects—including vulnerable communities, as defined in the relevant laws—and use the tool for this purpose. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure that USDA financial assistance programs for drinking water infrastructure consult with relevant EPA officials on how to use EPA's community water system service area mapping tool to more accurately assess the beneficiaries of assistance for drinking water infrastructure, including vulnerable communities, as defined in the relevant laws. Then, these USDA programs should use the tool for this purpose. (Recommendation 5)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure that USDA financial assistance programs for wastewater infrastructure consult with relevant EPA officials on how to use EPA's wastewater system service area mapping tool, once it is available, to more accurately assess the beneficiaries of assistance for wastewater infrastructure, including vulnerable communities, as defined in the relevant laws. Then, these USDA programs should use the tool for this purpose. (Recommendation 6)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Diesel School Bus Alternatives: Opportunities to Better Assess Progress of Federal Programs
GAO-25-106887
Jul 28, 2025
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The Assistant Administrator of EPA's Office of Air and Radiation should gather complete and timely performance information—through rebate closeout forms or other mechanism—to verify the successful deployment of nondiesel school buses funded by Clean School Bus program rebates and track factors that may hinder progress toward bus deployment. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Environmental Protection Agency The Assistant Administrator of EPA's Office of Air and Radiation should develop a methodology to characterize emissions related to charging electric school buses and estimate emission reductions from each of the agency's key programs funding nondiesel school buses. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Watershed Dams: Better Program Management Would Improve Safety
GAO-25-107404
Jul 17, 2025
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4 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Natural Resources Conservation Service The Administrator of NRCS should develop mechanisms to consistently implement NRCS's policies and procedures for monitoring project sponsors' compliance with operation and maintenance requirements for watershed dams. These mechanisms should provide direction for (1) reviewing operation and maintenance agreements made between NRCS and sponsors; (2) monitoring formal dam inspections; and (3) investigating sponsors' potential violations of operation and maintenance requirements. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Natural Resources Conservation Service The Administrator of NRCS should develop a quality assurance plan and guidance for state and district offices for collecting and verifying key information in NRCS's dams database. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Natural Resources Conservation Service The Administrator of NRCS should develop a mechanism to communicate key information about REHAB funding opportunities to project sponsors, including information related to available funding (such as cost share requirements), eligibility, and types of projects to be funded. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Natural Resources Conservation Service The Administrator of NRCS should develop guidance for NRCS state offices to document the rationale for their decisions to advance applications to NRCS headquarters for funding. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
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