Electricity Regulation:
FERC's Efforts to Monitor and Enforce Hydroelectric Requirements
RCED-94-162: Published: May 24, 1994. Publicly Released: Jun 27, 1994.
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Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) efforts to ensure that nonfederal hydroelectric projects comply with its safety and environmental requirements, focusing on its compliance: (1) monitoring; (2) investigations; and (3) enforcement activities.
GAO found that: (1) FERC monitoring procedures and practices are adequate to ensure that nonfederal hydroelectric projects comply with its requirements; (2) FERC inspects nonfederal hydroelectric projects once every 1-1/2 years and high-hazard projects annually; (3) although the current FERC workforce has been able to adequately monitor projects' compliance with existing requirements, the current workforce may be insufficient to ensure their compliance with future environmental requirements; (4) FERC procedures for investigating noncompliance allegations are adequate and generally followed; (5) FERC investigated all of the allegations it received between 1989 and 1993; (6) in 1993, FERC reduced its average investigation time from 347 to 89 days; (7) FERC monitoring and enforcement efforts to ensure structural soundness, public safety, and environmental protection have been effective; (8) between 1989 and 1993, the number of violations committed decreased from 157 to 87 and the number of enforcement actions increased from 26 to 37; (9) FERC levied $3.7 million in fines and revoked 8 licenses against facilities that were not in compliance; and (10) FERC attributes the reduction in project noncompliance to the increased scope and proficiency of FERC inspection and compliance work.
Dec 10, 2020
Uranium Management:
Actions to Mitigate Risks to Domestic Supply Chain Could Be Better Planned and CoordinatedGAO-21-28: Published: Dec 10, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 10, 2020.
Dec 8, 2020
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Offshore Wind Energy:
Planned Projects May Lead to Construction of New Vessels in the U.S., but Industry Has Made Few Decisions amid UncertaintiesGAO-21-153: Published: Dec 8, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 8, 2020.
Nov 19, 2020
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Nuclear Waste Disposal:
Better Planning Needed to Avoid Potential Disruptions at Waste Isolation Pilot PlantGAO-21-48: Published: Nov 19, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 19, 2020.
Oct 29, 2020
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Nuclear Safety:
DOE and the Safety Board Should Collaborate to Develop a Written Agreement to Enhance OversightGAO-21-141: Published: Oct 29, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 29, 2020.
Oct 15, 2020
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Nuclear Weapons:
NNSA Plans to Modernize Critical Depleted Uranium Capabilities and Improve Program ManagementGAO-21-16: Published: Oct 15, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 15, 2020.
Jul 24, 2020
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Nuclear Weapons:
Action Needed to Address the W80-4 Warhead Program's Schedule ConstraintsGAO-20-409: Published: Jul 24, 2020. Publicly Released: Jul 24, 2020.
Jun 24, 2020
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National Nuclear Security Administration:
Analyzing Cost Savings Program Could Result in Wider Use and Additional Contractor EfficienciesGAO-20-451: Published: Jun 24, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 24, 2020.
Jun 9, 2020
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Nuclear Weapons:
NNSA Needs to Incorporate Additional Management Controls Over Its Microelectronics ActivitiesGAO-20-357: Published: Jun 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 9, 2020.
May 13, 2020
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Environmental Liabilities:
DOE Needs to Better Plan for Post-Cleanup Challenges Facing SitesGAO-20-373: Published: May 13, 2020. Publicly Released: May 13, 2020.
May 12, 2020
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant:
DOE Is Pursuing Pretreatment Alternatives, but Its Strategy Is Unclear While Costs Continue to RiseGAO-20-363: Published: May 12, 2020. Publicly Released: May 12, 2020.
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