Environmental Protection Agency

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Open Recommendations (80 total)

Air Pollution: EPA Needs to Develop a Business Case for Replacing Legacy Air Quality Data Systems

GAO-23-105618
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The Assistant Administrator of EPA's Office of Air and Radiation should develop and document a business case for a new IT system for air quality data based on considerations for how such a system could address the challenges currently posed by AQS and AirNow. The business case should consider an analysis of alternatives, if appropriate. (Recommendation 3)
Open

 Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned.
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Air Pollution: EPA Needs to Develop a Business Case for Replacing Legacy Air Quality Data Systems

GAO-23-105618
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The Assistant Administrator of EPA's Office of Mission Support should identify factors for evaluating whether EPA's IT systems may be ready for replacement or retirement. (Recommendation 1)
Open

 Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned.
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 consider documenting an operational analysis for AQS and AirNow. (Recommendation 2)
Open

 Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned.
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Lake Pontchartrain Basin: Additional Transparency and Performance Management Could Improve EPA's Restoration Program

GAO-23-105547
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The EPA Administrator should define the geographic boundaries of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin to clarify which parishes and counties are included within the Basin's boundaries to ensure that EPA convenes appropriate stakeholders to implement the PRP. (Recommendation 2)
Open

 Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned.
EPA agreed with this recommendation. According to EPA officials, the agency is developing a map that will clarify which parishes and counties are included within the Basin's boundaries.

Lake Pontchartrain Basin: Additional Transparency and Performance Management Could Improve EPA's Restoration Program

GAO-23-105547
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3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The EPA Administrator, in updating the comprehensive conservation and management plan, should collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the plan reflects the current state of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin and includes performance measures. (Recommendation 3)
Open

 Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned.
EPA agreed with this recommendation. The agency plans to involve stakeholders and include performance measures and trackable milestones when updating the PRP's comprehensive conservation and management plan.
Environmental Protection Agency The EPA Administrator should improve the availability of key grant information by making it publicly accessible in a central location, such as a website. (Recommendation 1)
Open

 Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned.
EPA agreed with this recommendation and has launched a public website for the PRP. The agency plans to add program information to this website.
Environmental Protection Agency The EPA Administrator should develop and document a process for overseeing the PRP. (Recommendation 4)
Open

 Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned.
EPA agreed with this recommendation. According to EPA officials, the agency is developing program-specific guidance that will both provide direction to PRP grantees and inform the PRP's management conference and public about key aspects of the program.

Wildfire Smoke: Opportunities to Strengthen Federal Efforts to Manage Growing Risks

GAO-23-104723
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The Administrator of EPA should develop and document a coordinated approach for EPA's actions to help communities prepare for and respond to the air quality and public health risks of wildfire smoke. The approach should align with leading practices for collaboration, including establishing goals, identifying and leveraging resources, and clarifying key stakeholder roles and responsibilities. (Recommendation 1)
Open

 Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned.
EPA agreed with this recommendation. In July 2023, EPA officials stated that the agency continues to collaborate with other federal, tribal, state, and local agencies on initiatives to help communities prepare for and respond to wildfire smoke. They also stated that EPA has been collaborating internally to help improve communications and actions relating to wildland fire smoke. We will further review EPA's response to this recommendation once the agency provides a documented approach for its actions.

Wildfire Smoke: Opportunities to Strengthen Federal Efforts to Manage Growing Risks

GAO-23-104723
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The Director of EPA's Office of Air and Radiation should work with EPA's tribal, state, and local partners to evaluate options for providing incentives for and supporting wildfire risk mitigation and establish a plan for implementing appropriate options, seeking additional authority from Congress if needed. (Recommendation 6)
Open

 Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned.
EPA agreed with this recommendation and asked for clarification, which we provided in the report. In July 2023, EPA officials stated that its revised regulations and guidance on implementation of particulate matter and ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards address issues related to smoke; that the agency plans to continue collaborating with federal, tribal, state, and local partners on a strategic prescribed burn program to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires; and that the agency continues to explore possible approaches to improve the efficiency of the exceptional events process, specifically with regard to wildfire and prescribed burn events that influence air quality data. We will continue to track the results of these and other related EPA efforts and provide update information, as appropriate.
Environmental Protection Agency The Administrator of EPA should work with the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to better align air quality and land management goals for wildfire risk mitigation and establish joint strategies for achieving those goals. (Recommendation 2)
Open

 Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned.
EPA agreed with this recommendation. In July 2023, EPA officials stated that the agency engages other federal stakeholders through the interagency groups we identified in our report and plans to conduct joint workshops with the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior to improve interagency engagement, increase information sharing, and clarify roles and responsibilities. We will follow up on the results of the planned workshops, once they become available.
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