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Open Recommendations

Nuclear Waste: An Integrated Disposal Plan Could Help DOE Complete Its Cleanup Mission and Save Billions
GAO-25-107109
May 29, 2025
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5 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy The Senior Advisor for EM should improve the quality of its LLW estimates by (1) adding headquarters oversight procedures that ensure reported waste streams are comprehensive in representing remaining cleanup at DOE sites; and (2) assessing the quality of waste estimates in the BLDD using available information, such as the previous years' actual disposal data, and using the results of this assessment to inform additional improvements. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Energy The Senior Advisor for EM should update guidance for the BLDD to clarify site reporting responsibilities. Such clarifications include that LLW estimates should encompass waste beyond the current cleanup contract and how sites should report waste streams facing significant uncertainty about the scope of cleanup (e.g., related to final disposal decisions, barriers to disposal). (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Energy The Senior Advisor for EM should develop complex-wide analyses, including optimization models, that identify optimal disposal pathways and schedules for its radioactive waste and analyze strategic alternatives to current disposal plans. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Energy The Senior Advisor for EM should develop a nationwide, integrated radioactive waste disposal plan that includes an assessment of strategic alternatives and modeling, and addresses complex-wide disposal issues, such as waste with no disposal pathway. EM should share this integrated plan with key stakeholders—such as state and federal regulators at cleanup sites and disposal facilities—and incorporate their feedback as appropriate. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Energy The Senior Advisor for EM should leverage the results of radioactive waste disposal optimization analyses and integrated planning to identify specific opportunities to optimize radioactive waste disposal by addressing regulatory constraints and create a forum for regulators from cleanup sites and disposal facilities to holistically negotiate implementing these opportunities. (Recommendation 5)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Army Corps of Engineers: Commercial Fishing Data Could Help Inform Budget Process
GAO-25-107447
Apr 28, 2025
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Civil Works The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works should ensure that the Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conduct and document an assessment to determine whether incorporating commercial fish landings data into tonnage could impact the Corps' prioritization of navigation projects. If the agency determines that the inclusion of these data could impact the Corps' prioritization of navigation projects, it should document a plan to include commercial fish landings data in tonnage.
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

New Chemicals Program: EPA Needs a Systematic Process to Better Manage and Assess Performance
GAO-25-106839
Jan 22, 2025
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The Administrator of EPA should ensure that NCD, as it finalizes its strategic plan, addresses relevant key practices for managing and assessing the New Chemicals Program, including involving stakeholders and identifying resources. (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 Administrator of EPA should ensure NCD implements a systematic process that aligns the division's performance management approach with key management and assessment practices. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Oil and Gas: Bureau of Indian Affairs Could Improve Lease Management of Trust and Restricted Land
GAO-25-106307
Dec 19, 2024
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6 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Bureau of Indian Affairs The Director of BIA should compile comprehensive bond information for oil and gas leases—including bond amounts, bond types, and leases covered by each bond—and develop and implement an approach to maintain a record of bond information over time. (Recommendation 1)
Open
The agency agreed with this recommendation. We will update the recommendation's status when the agency provides us information on their actions to implement the recommendation.
Bureau of Indian Affairs The Director of BIA should compile comprehensive information on bond claims for oil and gas leases and develop and implement an approach to maintain a record of bond claims over time. (Recommendation 2)
Open
The agency agreed with this recommendation. We will update the recommendation's status when the agency provides us information on their actions to implement the recommendation.
Bureau of Indian Affairs The Director of BIA should provide greater specificity in current guidance or develop additional policy or guidance for BIA offices related to their responsibilities for bonding including setting initial bond amounts for lessees, when and how to increase existing bond amounts, collecting bonds, and requiring bonds for non-lessee operators. (Recommendation 3)
Open
The agency agreed with this recommendation. We will update the recommendation's status when the agency provides us information on their actions to implement the recommendation.
Bureau of Indian Affairs The Director of BIA should establish a policy for bond reviews that includes clear guidance on the frequency of reviews or specific triggers for reviews and factors to be included in reviews. (Recommendation 4)
Open
The agency agreed with this recommendation. We will update the recommendation's status when the agency provides us information on their actions to implement the recommendation.
Bureau of Indian Affairs The Director of BIA should, in consultation with Tribes, assess its bond requirements to determine if they are sufficient to ensure lessees do not abandon wells and make changes, accordingly, to guidance or regulations, including considering if changes are needed to minimum bond amounts. (Recommendation 5)
Open
The agency agreed with this recommendation. We will update the recommendation's status when the agency provides us information on their actions to implement the recommendation.
Bureau of Indian Affairs The Director of BIA, to help ensure that bond amounts are sufficient to meet their intended purpose, should provide information to Tribes on options for tailoring bond amounts to their needs, including mechanisms to require bond amounts higher than the regulatory minimum. (Recommendation 6)
Open
The agency agreed with this recommendation. We will update the recommendation's status when the agency provides us information on their actions to implement the recommendation.
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