Skip to main content

Natural Resources and Environment

Jump To:

Recent Reports

View More Reports

Open Recommendations

Oil and Gas Royalties: Congress and Interior Should Strengthen Safeguards to Better Ensure Accurate Payments
GAO-26-107669
Dec 15, 2025
Show
5 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Congress To help ensure ONRR has sufficient time to review and verify royalty payments before the statutory period for finalizing any enforcement actions to collect unpaid royalties expires, Congress should consider shortening the statutory time frame during which companies may make adjustments. (Matter for Consideration 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Office of Natural Resources Revenue The Director of ONRR should develop a written policy to guide the use of voluntary agreements that considers the risks and benefits of their use, such as by establishing specific criteria for pursuing agreements to review late-period adjustments. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Office of Natural Resources Revenue The Director of ONRR should develop a centralized system to consistently track the use of voluntary agreements to extend the time available for audits. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Office of Natural Resources Revenue The Director of ONRR should ensure there is a documented procedure in place to communicate information about approved refunds to staff responsible for selecting cases for compliance. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Office of Natural Resources Revenue The Director of ONRR should develop detailed internal guidance on what documentation is required to support a refund request and how best to communicate this to companies. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Persistent Chemicals: DOE Should Complete Efforts to Review PFAS Use
GAO-25-107809
Sep 24, 2025
Show
1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should direct all DOE sites that have not completed an initial historical and current use review of PFAS to do so by an established deadline and report to the heads of each responsible DOE office on if additional investigation, characterization, or cleanup of PFAS contamination is needed. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Water Infrastructure Resilience: Agencies Could Better Assess Efforts to Assist Communities Vulnerable to Natural Disasters
GAO-25-107013
Aug 11, 2025
Show
8 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Emergency Management Agency The FEMA Administrator should ensure that FEMA's hazard mitigation assistance programs communicate with potential applicants about USDA financial assistance that may be used to fulfill nonfederal cost-share requirements in certain circumstances. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Federal Emergency Management Agency The FEMA Administrator should ensure that FEMA's hazard mitigation assistance programs systematically track and assess the number of, and reasons for, subapplicant withdrawals and address any related barriers, as appropriate. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Federal Emergency Management Agency The FEMA Administrator should ensure that FEMA's hazard mitigation assistance programs identify and track projects related to drinking water infrastructure. Then, these programs should consult with relevant EPA officials on how to use EPA's community water system service area mapping tool to more accurately assess the beneficiaries of these projects—including vulnerable communities, as defined in the relevant laws—and use the tool for this purpose. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Federal Emergency Management Agency The FEMA Administrator should ensure that FEMA's hazard mitigation assistance programs identify and track projects related to wastewater infrastructure. Then, these programs should consult with relevant EPA officials on how to use EPA's wastewater system service area mapping tool, once available, to more accurately assess the beneficiaries of these projects—including vulnerable communities, as defined in the relevant laws—and use the tool for this purpose. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure that USDA financial assistance programs for drinking water infrastructure consult with relevant EPA officials on how to use EPA's community water system service area mapping tool to more accurately assess the beneficiaries of assistance for drinking water infrastructure, including vulnerable communities, as defined in the relevant laws. Then, these USDA programs should use the tool for this purpose. (Recommendation 5)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure that USDA financial assistance programs for wastewater infrastructure consult with relevant EPA officials on how to use EPA's wastewater system service area mapping tool, once it is available, to more accurately assess the beneficiaries of assistance for wastewater infrastructure, including vulnerable communities, as defined in the relevant laws. Then, these USDA programs should use the tool for this purpose. (Recommendation 6)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Diesel School Bus Alternatives: Opportunities to Better Assess Progress of Federal Programs
GAO-25-106887
Jul 28, 2025
Show
2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The Assistant Administrator of EPA's Office of Air and Radiation should gather complete and timely performance information—through rebate closeout forms or other mechanism—to verify the successful deployment of nondiesel school buses funded by Clean School Bus program rebates and track factors that may hinder progress toward bus deployment. (Recommendation 1)
Open
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 develop a methodology to characterize emissions related to charging electric school buses and estimate emission reductions from each of the agency's key programs funding nondiesel school buses. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
View More Recommendations

Related Pages

GAO Contacts

Multimedia

Podcasts

A New Nuclear Waste Cleanup Plan Could Save Billions
Transcript
Hundreds of Hazardous Waste Facilities May Face Risks from Climate Change
Transcript
State and Local Efforts to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Vehicles
Transcript