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Open Recommendations (20 total)

Sexual Assault and Harassment: NOAA Has Made Substantial Progress in Prevention and Response but Could Further Improve Its Processes

GAO-21-560
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The administrator of NOAA should ensure that the central tracking system being developed will collect consistent data and appropriately document the number and type of incidents of sexual assault and harassment across complaint systems. (Recommendation 6)
Open
As of February 2022, the agency stated that it is currently developing a database that will streamline case data for reporting to Congress, as well as provide consistent trend data to NOAA leadership and employees. The agency stated that this data will also allow NOAA to engage in meaningful prevention and response efforts. The agency stated that it anticipates the database will be operational by the end of June 2022. As of December 2023, we are following up with NOAA and will update this recommendation when we have additional 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.

Alaska Native Issues: Federal Agencies Could Enhance Support for Native Village Efforts to Address Environmental Threats

GAO-22-104241
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The Administrator of NOAA should review NOAA's programs identified in this report and, where the agency determines it feasible and appropriate, implement relevant changes to address program characteristics that are not established in statute that pose obstacles to Alaska Native villages' obtaining assistance, including characteristics we identified and others that NOAA may identify. NOAA should also document its review, any related consultation with tribes, and any changes made to its programs. (Recommendation 7)
Open
In December 2022, NOAA described actions the agency has taken to assess the characteristics that pose obstacles for Alaska Native villages for the National Coastal Resilience Fund. Specifically, NOAA has reviewed the relevant legislative authority and updated its program guidance to clarify that a nonfederal cost share is not required for program applicants. NOAA estimated that it would complete the remaining actions to fulfill this recommendation by October 2023. We will continue to monitor NOAA's actions in response to this recommendation and evaluate them when complete.

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 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.

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

GAO-22-104449
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1 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.

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 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.
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 develop a national goal for the group focused on efforts to prevent HABs and hypoxia. (Recommendation 5)
Open
In March 2024, NOAA and EPA officials stated that they are taking actions, in consultation with other members of the working group, to develop a national goal focused on efforts to prevent HABs and hypoxia. In April 2024, NOAA and EPA developed national objectives for the working group, including an objective to help decision-makers prevent new or the expansion of existing HABs or hypoxia events through advancing the dissemination of information on their human-caused drivers. By developing and subsequently incorporating this objective into the national HAB and hypoxia strategy in the 2024 national assessment of HABs and hypoxia, the agencies, through the working group, could help increase federal attention on preventative actions to reduce the risks that HABs and hypoxia pose to tribal, state, and local communities. We will continue to follow up on this recommendation.
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.

Federal Research: Additional Actions Needed to Improve Public Access to Research Results

GAO-20-81
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator should fully develop and implement a mechanism to ensure researcher compliance with the public access plan and associated requirements. (Recommendation 27)
Open
The Department of Commerce agreed with this recommendation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicated it was pursuing multiple mechanisms to implement it. According to information NOAA provided in January and June 2021, the agency continues to pursue a multi-pronged approach to better understand the extent of compliance issues with its public access plan and to address them. For instance, in May 2021, NOAA's Acting Chief Scientist communicated the importance of complying with the public access plan agency-wide. NOAA's June 2021 update also indicated that the agency's Science Council continues to investigate the reasons for, and proposed changes to improve public access plan compliance. GAO met with NOAA officials in March 2022 to discuss implementation of this recommendation and NOAA agreed to follow up with additional information. As we obtain more information about NOAA's actions in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Sexual Assault and Harassment: NOAA Has Made Substantial Progress in Prevention and Response but Could Further Improve Its Processes

GAO-21-560
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The administrator of NOAA should ensure that future updates to the agency's sexual harassment and sexual assault prevention and response policy are consistent with all relevant legal requirements in the 2017 NDAA. (Recommendation 1)
Open
As of February 2022, , the agency stated that it is actively collaborating with stakeholders to modify its Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment (SASH) policy to incorporate all relevant legal requirements, including implementing a process that will ensure future updates are consistent with legal requirements. NOAA anticipates the updated policy will be finalized in the first half of 2022. As of December 2023, we are following up with NOAA and will update this recommendation when we have additional information.
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