Federal Land Management:
Financial Guarantees Encourage Reclamation of National Forest System Lands
RCED-87-157: Published: Aug 24, 1987. Publicly Released: Aug 24, 1987.
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In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the success of the Forest Service's policy of requiring financial guarantees for hardrock mining operations that could significantly disturb National Forest System lands.
GAO found that: (1) requiring mine operators to post financial guarantees ensures that the operators will reclaim sites on national forest lands; (2) the Forest Service required financial guarantees for 214 of the 336 sites reviewed; (3) 157 of the sites with financial guarantees were operating and thus did not require reclamation; (4) 56 of the remaining sites had either been reclaimed, were in some stage of reclamation, or had mining operations suspended and did not require reclamation; and (5) most of the 122 mining operations without financial guarantees had caused minimal surface disturbance. GAO also found that: (1) mining associations generally support reclamation and financial guarantee requirements; (2) the Forest Service worked with mine operators to develop plans that minimized reclamation costs; and (3) the Forest Service recently completed a nationwide review of its reclamation activities and has proposed actions to improve the administration of its reclamation and financial guarantee program.
Mar 12, 2018
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Chemical Innovation:
Technologies to Make Processes and Products More SustainableGAO-18-307: Published: Feb 8, 2018. Publicly Released: Mar 12, 2018.
Feb 22, 2018
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Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration:
Competitive Grant Programs Managed Consistently with Relevant Regulations, but Monitoring Could Be ImprovedGAO-18-303: Published: Feb 22, 2018. Publicly Released: Feb 22, 2018.
Jan 26, 2018
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Water and Wastewater Workforce:
Recruiting Approaches Helped Industry Hire Operators, but Additional EPA Guidance Could Help Identify Future NeedsGAO-18-102: Published: Jan 26, 2018. Publicly Released: Jan 26, 2018.
Jan 19, 2018
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Offshore Seismic Surveys:
Additional Guidance Needed to Help Ensure Timely ReviewsGAO-18-342T: Published: Jan 19, 2018. Publicly Released: Jan 19, 2018.
Jan 4, 2018
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Offshore Seismic Surveys:
Additional Guidance Needed to Help Ensure Timely ReviewsGAO-18-60: Published: Dec 11, 2017. Publicly Released: Jan 4, 2018.
Dec 22, 2017
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Natural Gas Storage:
Department of Transportation Could Take Additional Steps to Improve Safety Enforcement PlanningGAO-18-89: Published: Nov 22, 2017. Publicly Released: Dec 22, 2017.
Dec 13, 2017
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Climate Change Adaptation:
DOD Needs to Better Incorporate Adaptation into Planning and Collaboration at Overseas InstallationsGAO-18-206: Published: Nov 13, 2017. Publicly Released: Dec 13, 2017.
Nov 15, 2017
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Plutonium Disposition:
Observations on DOE and Army Corps Assessments of the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility ContractGAO-18-122R: Published: Nov 15, 2017. Publicly Released: Nov 15, 2017.
Nov 2, 2017
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Strategic Petroleum Reserve:
Preliminary Observations on the Emergency Oil StockpileGAO-18-209T: Published: Nov 2, 2017. Publicly Released: Nov 2, 2017.
Oct 30, 2017
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Stormwater Management:
EPA Pilot Project to Increase Use of Green Infrastructure Could Benefit from Documenting Collaborative AgreementsGAO-17-750: Published: Sep 28, 2017. Publicly Released: Oct 30, 2017.
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