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Open Recommendations

Nuclear Power Plants: NRC Should Take Actions to Fully Consider the Potential Effects of Climate Change
GAO-24-106326
Apr 02, 2024
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3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Nuclear Regulatory Commission The Chair of the NRC should direct NRC staff to assess whether its licensing and oversight processes adequately address the potential for increased risks to nuclear power plants from climate change. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission The Chair of the NRC should direct NRC staff to develop, finalize, and implement a plan to address any gaps identified in its assessment of existing processes. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission The Chair of the NRC should direct NRC staff to develop and finalize guidance on incorporating climate projections data into relevant processes, including what sources of climate projections data to use and when and how to use climate projections data. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Offshore Oil and Gas: Interior Needs to Improve Decommissioning Enforcement and Mitigate Related Risks
GAO-24-106229
Feb 20, 2024
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5 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Congress To the extent that Congress wants to further encourage Interior to manage risks posed by decommissioning liabilities, it should consider implementing an oversight mechanism—such as requiring annual reporting on the status of decommissioning enforcement efforts and associated liabilities—or providing additional direction to Interior on how to balance the goals outlined by the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act as it makes decisions about decommissioning oversight and enforcement priorities. (Matter 1)
Open
As of March 2024, Congress has not introduced any legislation related to this matter.
Department of the Interior The Secretary of the Interior should direct the BSEE Director to strengthen BSEE's approach to proactively overseeing and enforcing decommissioning deadlines, including by (1) assessing the effectiveness of enforcement tools to incentivize compliance and data and practices supporting their timely use, and (2) identifying and implementing regulatory or policy changes as needed in consultation with BOEM, such as by providing clear timelines or other trigger criteria for use of existing enforcement tools and identifying additional enforcement tools. (Recommendation 1)
Open
Interior agreed with this recommendation. We will update the status of the recommendation when we have more information.
Department of the Interior The Secretary of the Interior should ensure the BSEE Director completes planned actions to identify, propose, finalize, and fully implement changes to decommissioning regulations and guidance, including by (1) clarifying decommissioning criteria and deadlines for idle infrastructure in all regions and for end-of-lease infrastructure in the Pacific Region, and (2) addressing any other identified limitations. (Recommendation 2)
Open
Interior agreed with this recommendation. We will update the status of the recommendation when we have more information.
Department of the Interior The Secretary of the Interior should ensure the BOEM Director completes planned actions to further develop, finalize, and fully implement changes to financial assurance regulations and procedures that reduce financial risks, including by (1) requiring higher levels of supplemental bonding, and (2) addressing other known weaknesses. (Recommendation 3)
Open
Interior agreed with this recommendation. We will update the status of the recommendation when we have more information.
Department of the Interior The Secretary of the Interior should ensure the BOEM Director completes planned actions to assess and revise qualification procedures to address decommissioning capacity and compliance history in consultation with BSEE, such as through qualification and disqualification criteria or fitness to operate standards. (Recommendation 4)
Open
Interior agreed with this recommendation. We will update the status of the recommendation when we have more information.

Oil and Gas Pipelines: Agencies Should Improve Oversight of Decommissioning
GAO-24-106444
Feb 20, 2024
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9 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Agriculture The Chief of the Forest Service should further specify when gathering lines should be decommissioned following the termination or revocation of rights-of-way. (Recommendation 8)
Open
The Forest Service agreed with this recommendation. We will update the status of the recommendation when we have more information.
Department of Agriculture The Chief of the Forest Service should analyze all gathering lines the Forest Service oversees to identify and prioritize those that pose the greatest safety, environmental, or fiscal risks for oversight and decommissioning. (Recommendation 9)
Open
The Forest Service agreed with this recommendation. We will update the status of the recommendation when we have more information.
Department of Agriculture The Chief of the Forest Service should develop a documented plan to ensure the agency collects and maintains the data necessary to oversee the decommissioning of gathering lines. (Recommendation 7)
Open
The Forest Service agreed with this recommendation. We will update the status of the recommendation when we have more information.
Department of the Interior The Director of BLM should develop a documented plan to ensure the agency collects and maintains the data necessary to oversee the decommissioning of gathering lines. (Recommendation 1)
Open
Interior agreed with this recommendation. We will update the status of the recommendation when we have more information.
Department of the Interior The Director of BLM should further specify when gathering lines should be decommissioned following the termination or revocation of rights-of-way. (Recommendation 2)
Open
Interior agreed with this recommendation. We will update the status of the recommendation when we have more information.
Department of the Interior The Director of BLM should analyze all gathering lines BLM oversees to identify and prioritize those that pose the greatest safety, environmental, or fiscal risks for oversight and decommissioning. (Recommendation 3)
Open
Interior agreed with this recommendation. We will update the status of the recommendation when we have more information.

Low-Dose Radiation: Agency Leadership and Collaboration Are Needed to Set the Direction of Future Research
GAO-24-106317
Dec 07, 2023
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should ensure that the Director of the Office of Science leads a collaborative effort with all other relevant agencies to determine how to respond to the National Academies report, including clarifying roles and responsibilities for a research program on low-dose radiation. (Recommendation 1)
Open
As of February 2024, DOE had no updates on the implementation status of the recommendation. When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Energy If in the process of leading a collaborative effort, the Office of Science finds that it should share or hand over leadership to another agency, the Secretary of Energy should ensure that the Director of the Office of Science or other designee work with Congress to determine how best to meet DOE's statutory requirements under the Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act. (Recommendation 2)
Open
As of February 2024, DOE had no updates on the implementation status of the recommendation. When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
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