Parks and Recreation: Interior Did Not Comply With Legal Requirements for the Outdoors Commission

Highlights

In response to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the President's Commission on Americans Outdoors, specifically its: (1) compliance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA); and (2) processes and procedures to accomplish its mission.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Department of the Interior	The Secretary of the Interior should provide current and future advisory committees written detailed information and guidance on FACA administrative requirements.	Closed – Implemented Interior prepared written guidance on FACA administrative requirements and provided it to each bureau and office committee management officer for further distribution to the designated federal officers of each advisory committee serviced by those bureaus and offices.
Department of the Interior	The Secretary of the Interior should develop written internal controls that provide for adequate monitoring and ensure that FACA administrative requirements are met when these responsibilities are handled by an advisory committee. Such controls should include written confirmation that details FACA responsibilities and to whom these responsibilities are delegated.	Closed – Not Implemented Interior's Office of the Solicitor has not yet revised the departmental manual on advisory committees to include written internal controls for FACA administrative requirements. This is a low priority for Interior.

Full Report

Full Report (42 pages)

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Topics

Natural Resources and Environment

Advisory committeesAgency missionsAgency proceedingsInternal controlsNoncomplianceOutdoor recreationRecreation areasFederal registerHearingsTeleconferencing