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Open Recommendations

Diesel School Bus Alternatives: Opportunities to Better Assess Progress of Federal Programs
GAO-25-106887
Jul 28, 2025
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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.

Watershed Dams: Better Program Management Would Improve Safety
GAO-25-107404
Jul 17, 2025
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4 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Natural Resources Conservation Service The Administrator of NRCS should develop mechanisms to consistently implement NRCS's policies and procedures for monitoring project sponsors' compliance with operation and maintenance requirements for watershed dams. These mechanisms should provide direction for (1) reviewing operation and maintenance agreements made between NRCS and sponsors; (2) monitoring formal dam inspections; and (3) investigating sponsors' potential violations of operation and maintenance requirements. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Natural Resources Conservation Service The Administrator of NRCS should develop a quality assurance plan and guidance for state and district offices for collecting and verifying key information in NRCS's dams database. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Natural Resources Conservation Service The Administrator of NRCS should develop a mechanism to communicate key information about REHAB funding opportunities to project sponsors, including information related to available funding (such as cost share requirements), eligibility, and types of projects to be funded. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Natural Resources Conservation Service The Administrator of NRCS should develop guidance for NRCS state offices to document the rationale for their decisions to advance applications to NRCS headquarters for funding. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Future-Years Energy Program: DOE Should Complete Required Reporting to Help Ensure Transparency in Spending
GAO-25-107646
Jul 08, 2025
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3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should provide complete information that addresses all legal requirements as part of DOE's FYEP submission to Congress and should identify and report on any factors affecting the department's ability to report on unmet requirements. (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 Secretary of Energy should develop and issue a strategic plan that outlines the department's priorities for the following 4 years and informs the development of DOE's FYEP. (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 Secretary of Energy should formalize and implement a PPBE process to develop DOE's FYEP. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Nuclear Waste Cleanup: DOE Needs to Improve Contractor Oversight at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
GAO-25-107333
Jun 24, 2025
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3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy The Assistant Secretary of Environmental Management should direct Carlsbad Field Office site officials to ensure that the M&O contractor establishes and documents timelines to correct identified data validation issues in FIMS. (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 Assistant Secretary of Environmental Management should monitor whether recent improvements in data collection at WIPP allow the site to accurately capture FIMS asset-level annual required maintenance costs, as required in DOE Order 430.1C. (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 Assistant Secretary of Environmental Management should ensure the Carlsbad Field Office consistently uses available oversight tools, such as the performance evaluation and measurement plan and performance evaluation process, to incentivize the WIPP M&O contractor to satisfy all contractual long-term site infrastructure planning requirements. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
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