Skip to main content

Natural Resources and Environment

Jump To:

Recent Reports

View More Reports

Open Recommendations

Nuclear Waste Cleanup: Clarifying Definition of High-Level Radioactive Waste Could Help DOE Save Tens of Billions of Dollars
GAO-26-108018
Mar 25, 2026
Show
2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Congress Congress should consider convening a multidisciplinary panel, such as a Blue Ribbon Commission, comprising a group of relevant experts—for example, from key agencies, industry, and academia—to develop and recommend specific revisions to address ambiguities in the definition of HLW in the AEA and NWPA and to report these recommendations to Congress within 12 months. (Matter for Consideration 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Office of Environmental Management The Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management should systematically evaluate the full range of opportunities to treat and dispose of legacy waste associated with reprocessing as something other than HLW and communicate to Congress on (1) EM's plans to implement identified opportunities—or its rationale for not doing so—and (2) actions Congress can take to minimize or eliminate barriers that impede EM's ability to proceed with these plans. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Federal Land and Water Management: Additional Actions Would Strengthen Agreements with Tribes
GAO-26-106626
Jan 28, 2026
Show
11 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should update the department's existing policies to include a discussion of the 11 features GAO identified as strengthening shared decision-making agreements to encourage their adoption in the Forest Service's shared decision-making agreements with Tribes and Native Hawaiian communities, as applicable. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Forest Service The Chief of the Forest Service should assess staff capacity related to developing shared decision-making agreements with Tribes and Native Hawaiian communities, and address any skills and knowledge gaps, including through additional training and updating existing guidance. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Commerce The Secretary of Commerce should update the department's existing policies to include a discussion of the 11 features GAO identified as strengthening shared decision-making agreements to encourage their adoption in NOAA's shared decision-making agreements with Tribes and Native Hawaiian communities, as applicable. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The Administrator of NOAA should assess staff capacity related to developing shared decision-making agreements with Tribes and Native Hawaiian communities, and address any skills and knowledge gaps, including through additional training and updating existing guidance. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Interior The Secretary of the Interior should update the department's existing policies to include a discussion of the 11 important features GAO identified as strengthening shared decision-making agreements to encourage their adoption in BLM, FWS, and NPS agreements with Tribes and Native Hawaiian communities, as applicable. (Recommendation 5)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Bureau of Land Management The Director of BLM should assess staff capacity related to developing shared decision-making agreements with Tribes and Native Hawaiian communities, and address any skills and knowledge gaps, including through additional training and updating existing guidance. (Recommendation 6)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Freshwater Supply: Interior Should Continue to Identify Improvements to the Large-Scale Water Recycling Program
GAO-26-107888
Jan 08, 2026
Show
1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Bureau of Reclamation The Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation should, through the U.S. Department of the Interior, report to Congress the agency's experience implementing the Large-Scale Water Recycling Program, including legislative opportunities for Congress to consider to improve the program, if it is revised or reauthorized, or to improve similar programs. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Oil and Gas Royalties: Congress and Interior Should Strengthen Safeguards to Better Ensure Accurate Payments
GAO-26-107669
Dec 15, 2025
Show
5 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Congress To help ensure ONRR has sufficient time to review and verify royalty payments before the statutory period for finalizing any enforcement actions to collect unpaid royalties expires, Congress should consider shortening the statutory time frame during which companies may make adjustments. (Matter for Consideration 1)
Open
There has been no legislation introduced or enacted in the 118th and 119th Congresses (as of February 2026) that would be responsive to this matter.
Office of Natural Resources Revenue The Director of ONRR should develop a written policy to guide the use of voluntary agreements that considers the risks and benefits of their use, such as by establishing specific criteria for pursuing agreements to review late-period adjustments. (Recommendation 1)
Open
We will update the status of this recommendation when Department of Interior provides its 180-day letter (expected in summer 2026).
Office of Natural Resources Revenue The Director of ONRR should develop a centralized system to consistently track the use of voluntary agreements to extend the time available for audits. (Recommendation 2)
Open
We will update the status of this recommendation when Department of Interior provides its 180-day letter (expected in summer 2026).
Office of Natural Resources Revenue The Director of ONRR should ensure there is a documented procedure in place to communicate information about approved refunds to staff responsible for selecting cases for compliance. (Recommendation 3)
Open
We will update the status of this recommendation when Department of Interior provides its 180-day letter (expected in summer 2026).
Office of Natural Resources Revenue The Director of ONRR should develop detailed internal guidance on what documentation is required to support a refund request and how best to communicate this to companies. (Recommendation 4)
Open
We will update the status of this recommendation when Department of Interior provides its 180-day letter (expected in summer 2026).
View More Recommendations

Related Pages

GAO Contacts

Multimedia

Podcasts

Water Recycling Program Could Help Drought-Stricken Communities
Transcript
A New Nuclear Waste Cleanup Plan Could Save Billions
Transcript
Hundreds of Hazardous Waste Facilities May Face Risks from Climate Change
Transcript