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Open Recommendations (20 total)

Coral Reef Conservation Program: Opportunities Exist to Better Track Expenditures and Share Information

GAO-24-106692
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The Administrator of NOAA should ensure that the Director of the CRCP takes steps to communicate information related to expenditures and performance results to outside entities, as appropriate. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The Administrator of NOAA should ensure that the Director of the CRCP improves the program's ability to track and report expenditure data for the program as a whole by, for example, regularly assigning specific task codes to CRCP projects. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Coral Reef Conservation Program: Opportunities Exist to Better Track Expenditures and Share Information

GAO-24-106692
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The Administrator of NOAA should ensure that the Director of the CRCP accesses and uses expenditure data in managing the program. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Emergency Alerts: NOAA Should Take Additional Actions to Help Ensure Tsunami Alerts Reach Those at Risk

GAO-23-105961
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The NOAA Administrator should assess the extent to which NOAA Weather Radio coverage extends to populated areas at risk of tsunamis, and publicly communicate the results of the assessment. (Recommendation 1)
Open
NOAA agreed with the recommendation. As of March 2024, NOAA officials informed us that the agency had started producing maps of tsunami risks areas for the U.S. Pacific and Alaskan coasts with overlays of NOAA Weather Radio coverage areas. Officials said that the agency expects coverage maps for the U.S. Pacific and Alaskan coasts to be available on publicly accessible webpages in 2024. Officials said that the agency would work with state officials to develop similar maps for Atlantic coastal areas. NOAA expects full implementation of this recommendation by December 2025.

Emergency Alerts: NOAA Should Take Additional Actions to Help Ensure Tsunami Alerts Reach Those at Risk

GAO-23-105961
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The NOAA Administrator, in collaboration with FCC and FEMA, should clarify and document the agencies' responsibilities and a decision-making process for determining how to use IPAWS to deliver tsunami alerts to EAS. (Recommendation 2)
Open
NOAA agreed with the recommendation. As of March 2024, NOAA officials informed us that the agency was holding monthly meetings with FCC and FEMA to discuss requirements for how to use IPAWS to deliver tsunami alerts to EAS. NOAA expects full implementation of this recommendation by December 2025.

NOAA Acquisitions: Fully Aligning Procedures with Best Practices Could Improve the Reliability of Cost Estimates

GAO-23-105808
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The Administrator of NOAA should require each office within NOAA to have documented cost estimating procedures that are fully aligned with the best practices established in its agency-wide policy and guidance. (Recommendation 2)
Open
The Department of Commerce's action plan dated October 10, 2023, states that NOAA agrees with this recommendation and will take the following actions for implementation. Taking a risk-based approach, NOAA will require that its offices utilize Commerce's newly developed cost- estimate guidance and GAO's Cost Estimating and Assessment guide. This effort will be led by NOAA's Office of the Chief Financial Officer and aims to develop and implement NOAA procedures that strengthen Commerce's released cost-estimate procedures. NOAA expects to complete and implement its plan by September 30, 2024.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The Administrator of NOAA should establish agency-wide policy and guidance that is aligned with best practices in GAO's Cost Guide. (Recommendation 1
Open
The Department of Commerce's action plan dated October 10, 2023, states that NOAA agrees with this recommendation and will take the following actions for implementation. The plan aims to have a NOAA-wide Working Group, led by the Office of the Financial Officer and the Acquisitions and Grants Office, oversee the development and implementation of internal cost-estimate guidance in NOAA offices using a risk-based approach that incorporates GAO's 12-step procedures for specific programs. NOAA expects to complete the guidance by September 30, 2024.

Water Quality: Agencies Should Take More Actions to Manage Risks from Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia

GAO-22-104449
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3 Open Recommendations
1 Priority
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Priority Rec.
The Administrator of NOAA and the Administrator of EPA, in collaboration with the members of the working group, should document and define what a national HAB and hypoxia program would entail, including identifying the program's resource needs. (Recommendation 1)
Open
NOAA officials told us that the agency was working with EPA and other members of the interagency HAB and hypoxia working group to develop a national program, including drafting associated goals and identifying resource needs. As of April 2024, NOAA and EPA officials developed a draft description of the components of a national program. These officials also stated that they plan to include information about the national program structure and resource needs in the next national assessment of HABs and hypoxia mandated by the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998, as amended, which is expected to be completed in December 2024. We will continue to follow up on the agencies' efforts and progress.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The Administrator of NOAA and the Administrator of EPA, in collaboration with the members of the working group, should coordinate the development of a more comprehensive body of information on the costs and benefits of mitigation, control, and prevention actions for use by state, local, and tribal governments. (Recommendation 6)
Open
NOAA and EPA agreed with this recommendation. In late 2022, the agencies stated that they will work together and in collaboration with the working group members to identify the resources and information needed to determine the costs and benefits of mitigation, control, and prevention actions. They also stated that they will build on efforts to engage state, local, and tribal governments in workshops, webinars, trainings, and other venues and to provide expertise, support, and assistance, including funding to assist with mitigation, control, and prevention activities.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The Administrator of NOAA and the Administrator of EPA, in collaboration with the members of the working group, should develop performance measures to assess the working group's efforts, including the extent to which the recommended goals from the Research Plan and Action Strategy have been achieved. (Recommendation 2)
Open
NOAA and EPA agreed with this recommendation and in late 2022 stated that they will work together, in collaboration with the working group members, to develop formal performance measures. They anticipate the measures will be complete by December 2024. We will continue to follow up on the agencies' efforts.
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