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Open Recommendations (74 total)

Farmworkers: Additional Information Needed to Better Protect Workers from Pesticide Exposure

GAO-21-63
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The Director for EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs should, in the agency's guidance, on its website, or through another mechanism, explain EPA's expectations about the appropriate use of the pesticide information obtained by a designated representative, including describing potential misuse of such information. (Recommendation 2)
Open
According to EPA, as of December 2021, the agency would assess information collected by the Association of American Pest Control Officials - State FIFRA Issues Research and Evaluation Group (AAPCO/SFIREG) to determine whether the designated representative provision is fulfilling its intended purpose and how EPA can support understanding and compliance with the provision. In addition, EPA is in the process of addressing the clarity of its webpages on the Worker Protection Standard and the designated representative provision. According to the agency, it will assess the need for developing additional guidance and educational materials and complete any efforts by January 2023. We will continue to monitor EPA's response to this recommendation. As of December 2023, we are following up with EPA and will update this recommendation when we have received additional information.

Lake Pontchartrain Basin: Additional Transparency and Performance Management Could Improve EPA's Restoration Program

GAO-23-105547
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The EPA Administrator should develop and document a process for overseeing the PRP. (Recommendation 4)
Open
EPA agreed with this recommendation. In November 2023, EPA said it is developing a document that will outline and describe EPA's PRP oversight process. According to EPA officials, this program-specific guidance will both provide direction to PRP grantees and inform the PRP's management conference and public about key aspects of the program.

Chemical Accident Prevention: EPA Should Ensure Regulated Facilities Consider Risks from Climate Change

GAO-22-104494
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The Director of the Office of Emergency Management should issue regulations, guidance, or both, as appropriate, to clarify requirements and provide direction for RMP facilities on how to incorporate risks from natural hazards and climate change into their risk management programs. (Recommendation 3)
Open
EPA agreed with this recommendation. The agency published a proposed rule in August 2022, which includes amendments that would explicitly require RMP facilities to consider the risks of external events such as natural hazards, including those caused by climate change. EPA expects to publish the final rule by December 2023.

Justice40: Additional Efforts Needed to Improve Tribal Applicants' Access to Federal Programs Under Environmental Justice Initiative

GAO-24-106511
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The Administrator of EPA should ensure that program offices consult with federally recognized Tribes and conduct outreach to eligible Indigenous communities to ensure meaningful involvement when determining benefits for Justice40 covered programs in accordance with EOP guidance and determine how to incorporate the input into future Justice40 implementation efforts. (Recommendation 7)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Cloud Computing Security: Agencies Increased Their Use of the Federal Authorization Program, but Improved Oversight and Implementation Are Needed

GAO-20-126
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The Administrator of EPA should prepare the letter authorizing the use of cloud service for the selected operational system and submit the letter to the FedRAMP program management office. (Recommendation 22)
Open
In May 2023, we requested supporting documentation to close this recommendation. Once EPA provides the supporting documentation, we will provide updated information.

Renewable Fuel Standard: Actions Needed to Improve Decision-Making in the Small Refinery Exemption Program

GAO-23-104273
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The Administrator of EPA should develop policies and procedures for making small refinery exemption decisions. (Recommendation 5)
Open
EPA partially concurred with this recommendation and said it would take steps to implement it. EPA stated in December 2023 that it was continuing to work to address this recommendation and anticipated completion in 2024.

Chemical Assessments: Annual EPA Survey Inconsistent with Leading Practices in Program Management

GAO-21-156
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The Administrator should direct the Assistant Administrators of program offices and Regional Administrators to develop and make available guidance for chemical assessment nominations. Such guidance could include information such as how to select chemicals for IRIS assessment nomination or for high priority needs, criteria explaining how Assistant and Regional Administrators determine which nominations to support and which they may choose not to support, and how to document these decisions. (Recommendation 2)
Open
As of December 2023, this recommendation remains open. In November 2023, IRIS officials told us they are working to facilitate progress by EPA program and regional offices with the establishment of criteria and we await further evidence of such efforts. We will keep this recommendation open and monitor implementation efforts by program and regional offices.

Air Pollution: EPA Needs to Develop a Business Case for Replacing Legacy Air Quality Data Systems

GAO-23-105618
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The Assistant Administrator of EPA's Office of Mission Support should identify factors for evaluating whether EPA's IT systems may be ready for replacement or retirement. (Recommendation 1)
Open
EPA did not agree with this recommendation. We will update the status of this recommendation when we receive additional information from the agency.

Chemical Accident Prevention: EPA Should Ensure Regulated Facilities Consider Risks from Climate Change

GAO-22-104494
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The Assistant Administrator of the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance and Director of the Office of Emergency Management should develop a method for inspectors to assess the sufficiency of RMP facilities' incorporation of risks from natural hazards and climate change into risk management programs and provide related guidance and training to inspectors. (Recommendation 4)
Open
EPA agreed with this recommendation. The agency is working on a proposal to revise the RMP regulations and expects to complete the revisions by December 2023. After the final rule is published, the agency stated that it intends to incorporate methods and/or materials related to assessing the sufficiency of RMP facilities' incorporation of risks from natural hazards and climate change into the Risk Management Program Inspector Training course.

Cloud Computing Security: Agencies Increased Their Use of the Federal Authorization Program, but Improved Oversight and Implementation Are Needed

GAO-20-126
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The Administrator of EPA should develop guidance requiring that cloud service authorization letter be provided to the FedRAMP program management office. (Recommendation 23)
Open
In May 2023, we requested supporting documentation to close this recommendation. Once EPA provides the supporting documentation, we will provide updated information.
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