Skip to main content

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Jump To:

Recent Reports

View More Reports

Open Recommendations (20 total)

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

GAO-20-81
Show
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.

Spectrum Management: Agencies Should Strengthen Collaborative Mechanisms and Processes to Address Potential Interference

GAO-21-474
Show
1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The NOAA Administrator should clarify and document NOAA's internal processes for identifying and raising concerns about potential interference to NOAA satellite instruments. (Recommendation 11)
Open – Partially Addressed
Previously, NOAA completed the first of two planned actions to address this recommendation. Specifically, NOAA created a Domestic Spectrum Management Process guidance document which, among other things, identifies the processes NOAA uses to identify and raise concerns about potential spectrum interference issues in domestic fora. As of January 2024, NOAA indicated that it intends to clarify and document its internal processes for international fora as well, with an anticipated completion date of September 2024 (subject to resource availability). We will continue to monitor NOAA's efforts to implement this recommendation.

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

GAO-21-560
Show
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.

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

GAO-21-560
Show
5 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The administrator of NOAA should implement a mechanism requiring oversight by senior agency leaders of all disciplinary actions involving misconduct related to sexual assault and sexual harassment before such actions are finalized. (Recommendation 2)
Open
As of February 2022, the agency stated that it is collaborating with stakeholders to modify its SASH policy to include oversight of disciplinary matters. It also stated it will conduct training for managers and decisionmakers on roles and responsibilities related to SASH. NOAA anticipates all actions to address this recommendation will be completed by December 2022. As of December 2023, we are following up with NOAA and will update this recommendation when we have additional information.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The administrator of NOAA should ensure that the agency provides specific and readily accessible information on its website, through frequently asked questions (FAQ) and in staff training. The information should describe and explain the differences among complaint systems and what to expect from each when reporting allegations of sexual harassment or assault. (Recommendation 3)
Open
As of February 2022, the agency stated that it is actively collaborating with stakeholders and affiliates on streamlining access to information and updating its websites to include FAQs, contact mechanisms, and cross-posting resources. In addition, the agency stated that each office that received SASH allegations will include information on their respective public facing sites and also include a link to the NOAA Workplace Violence Prevention and Response office. NOAA anticipated actions to address the recommendation will be completed 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.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The administrator of NOAA should require that training for supervisors and managers include critical NOAA-specific information, such as how to report allegations up the chain of command, how to identify and minimize potential risk factors, explanations of NOAA's confidentiality rules, and the consequences for failing to fulfill this staff's supervisory responsibilities. (Recommendation 4)
Open
As of February 2022, the agency stated that it is actively collaborating with stakeholders on modifying its SASH policy to clarify managerial requirements relating to SASH incidents. They also stated that NOAA has hired a contractor that is creating evidence-based training that highlights existing programs and processes and provides tools to address risk factors and bystander intervention methods. NOAA will mandate that all supervisors and managers take this training, which it anticipated will be completed 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.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The administrator of NOAA should ensure the agency provides more information to specific individuals and the larger NOAA workforce about how the agency is responding to allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment, as appropriate, such as by regularly updating individuals on the status of their cases and by annually developing summary-level information for the workforce about the number, type, and resolution of cases. (Recommendation 5)
Open
As of February 2022, the agency stated that it holds a monthly SASH Council where stakeholders may share data and trends tied to SASH. In addition, the agency stated that it is training its volunteer assistance advocates on trauma-informed care and response, clarifying expectations on transparency and ongoing communication. NOAA also stated it will provide an annual report to the NOAA workforce that includes aggregate data, such as the total number of open and closed SASH cases and types of corrective actions implemented. According to agency officials, this report will not include specific details about cases or identifying information, and it will be available on the NOAA website. They anticipate issuing the annual report each February, beginning in 2022. As of December 2023, we are following up with NOAA and will update this recommendation when we have additional information.
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.

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

GAO-22-104241
Show
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.

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

GAO-22-104449
Show
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.
View More Recommendations

Related Pages