Federal Surplus Ships: Government Efforts to Address the Growing Backlog of Ships Awaiting Disposal
NSIAD-99-18
Published: Oct 22, 1998. Publicly Released: Oct 22, 1998.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the status of federal ship scrapping programs, focusing on: (1) the factors contributing to the backlog of about 200 surplus ships waiting to be scrapped; and (2) federal agencies' efforts to address the backlog.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretaries of Defense and Transportation should take the lead and work with other agencies involved in ship scrapping such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Departments of State and Commerce to establish a specific timeframe for completing the review of the interagency panel's recommendations. |
Closed – Implemented
A workgroup of all agency panel liaisons was convened. The liaison workgroup reviewed the panel's recommendations and decided to focus on all recommendations except for those concerned with overseas scrapping because of the moratorium on overseas scrapping. The agencies have had periodic meetings to discuss these recommendations, to establish milestones for their review efforts, and to discuss the status of their efforts. Lead agencies were established and actions on recommendations are complete. Action on the remainder of the recommendations will continue indefinitely. The interagency panel agreed to reconvene in one year to reassess progress and provide further direction.
|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretaries of Defense and Transportation should take the lead and work with other agencies involved in ship scrapping such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Departments of State and Commerce to establish a specific timeframe for completing the review of the interagency panel's recommendations. |
Closed – Implemented
A workgroup of all agency panel liaisons was convened. The liaison workgroup reviewed the panel's recommendations and decided to focus on all recommendations except for those concerned with overseas scrapping because of the moratorium on overseas scrapping. The agencies have had periodic meetings to discuss these recommendations, to establish milestones for their review efforts, and to discuss the status of their efforts.
|
| Department of Defense | Once the review is complete, each agency should establish milestones for implementing those recommendations that are adopted and that the Secretaries of Defense and Transportation designate lead responsibilities within their respective organizations for addressing individual panel recommendations. |
Closed – Implemented
The agencies' liaison workgroup identified lead agencies for each of the recommendations. DOD has designated lead responsibilities within its organization.
|
| Department of Transportation | Once the review is complete, each agency should establish milestones for implementing those recommendations that are adopted and that the Secretaries of Defense and Transportation designate lead responsibilities within their respective organizations for addressing individual panel recommendations. |
Closed – Implemented
Please call 202/512-6100 for information.
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Topics
Environmental policiesForeign military salesForeign military sales policiesHazardous substancesDownsizingProperty disposalScrap metalsShipsSurplus federal propertyU.S. Navy