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Open Recommendations

Forest Service: Opportunities Exist to Improve Timber Sale Management
GAO-26-107993
Jun 04, 2026
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4 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Forest Service The Chief of the Forest Service should conduct strategic workforce planning related to managing timber sales and develop tailored strategies to address any skills and knowledge gaps. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Forest Service The Chief of the Forest Service should take steps to more frequently and consistently communicate information related to timber sales to industry, other stakeholders, and the public. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Forest Service The Chief of the Forest Service should develop additional performance goals to better measure the effects of timber sales on the agency's multiple-use mission. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Forest Service The Chief of the Forest Service should assess the agency's current operating environment and opportunities to improve timber sales management and take steps to comprehensively implement and institutionalize the opportunities as appropriate, such as by creating a guidebook for agency staff. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Clean Water Act: Corps of Engineers Has Improved Oversight of Compensatory Mitigation, but Needs Implementation Guidance
GAO-26-106827
Apr 30, 2026
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Army The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works should ensure the Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers develop guidance, in consultation with the Corps districts, to assist them in addressing the financial assurances, long-term management, and performance standards requirements in compensatory mitigation plans. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Nuclear Waste Cleanup: Clarifying Definition of High-Level Radioactive Waste Could Help DOE Save Tens of Billions of Dollars
GAO-26-108018
Mar 25, 2026
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Congress Congress should consider convening a multidisciplinary panel, such as a Blue Ribbon Commission, comprising a group of relevant experts—for example, from key agencies, industry, and academia—to develop and recommend specific revisions to address ambiguities in the definition of HLW in the AEA and NWPA and to report these recommendations to Congress within 12 months. (Matter for Consideration 1)
Open
We will continue to monitor Congress' actions to address this recommendation.
Office of Environmental Management The Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management should systematically evaluate the full range of opportunities to treat and dispose of legacy waste associated with reprocessing as something other than HLW and communicate to Congress on (1) EM's plans to implement identified opportunities—or its rationale for not doing so—and (2) actions Congress can take to minimize or eliminate barriers that impede EM's ability to proceed with these plans. (Recommendation 1)
Open
We will update the status of this recommendation when DOE provides its 180-day letter (expected in fall 2026).

Nuclear Waste Cleanup: DOE Needs to Improve the Accuracy of Cost and Schedule Information for Major Projects and Activities
GAO-26-107820
Mar 02, 2026
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Office of Environmental Management The Assistant Secretary for EM should ensure the completeness of information related to cost and schedule performance for EM's capital asset projects in DOE's Project Assessment and Reporting System. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Office of Environmental Management The Assistant Secretary for EM should improve coordination with officials and contractors at sites to enhance EM's ability to provide accurate, consistent historical and current lifecycle cost and schedule data for its operations activities and reconcile any data discrepancies. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
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