Statement of Anu K. Mittal, Dir., Natural Resources and Environment, GAO. The Nat. Museum of the Am. Indian Act of 1989 (NMAI Act), as amended in 1996, generally requires the Smithsonian Institution to inventory and identify the origins of its Indian and Native Hawaiian human remains and objects placed with them (funerary objects) and repatriate them to culturally affiliated Indian tribes upon request. According to the Smithsonian, two of its museums the American Indian and the Natural History Museums have items that are subject to the NMAI Act. The Native Am. Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), enacted in 1990, includes similar requirements for federal agencies and museums. The National NAGPRA office, within the Dept. of the Interior's National Park Service, facilitates the governmentwide implementation of NAGPRA. Each act requires the establishment of a committee to monitor and review repatriation activities. This testimony focuses on the extent to which key federal agencies have complied with NAGPRA's requirements and the extent to which the Smithsonian has fulfilled its repatriation requirements. Table. This is a print on demand report.
This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find publication. Under the Defense Environ. Restoration Program (DERP), DoD is responsible for cleaning up 5,400 sites on military bases that have been closed, as well as 21,500 sites on active bases, and over 4,700 formerly used defense sites, properties that DoD owned or controlled and transferred to other parties prior to Oct. 1986. The goals of DERP include: (1) reducing risk to human health and the environ.; (2) preparing properties to be environ. suitable for transfer; (3) having final remedies in place and completing response actions; and (4) demonstrating progress toward meeting program performance goals. This testimony discusses information on: (1) how DoD allocates cleanup funding at all sites with defense waste; and (2) cleanup status.
The EPA has estimated that a potential gap between future needs and current spending for wastewater infrastructure of $150 billion to $400 billion could occur over the next decade. A number of entities are involved in planning, financing, building, and operating this infrastructure. Some of these stakeholders have suggested a variety of approaches to bridge this potential gap. One such proposal is to establish a clean water trust fund. In this context, the auditor was asked to: (1) obtain stakeholders' views on the issues that would need to be addressed in designing and establishing a clean water trust fund; and (2) identify and describe potential options that could generate about $10 billion in revenue to support a clean water trust fund. Charts and tables.
Water and energy are inexorably linked -- energy is needed to pump, treat, and transport water and large quantities of water are needed to support the development of energy. Two examples that demonstrate the link between water and energy are the cultivation and conversion of corn, switchgrass, and algae into biofuels; and the production of electricity by thermoelectric power plants. There are three ongoing studies focusing on the water-energy nexus related to: (1) biofuels and water; (2) thermoelectric power plants and water; and (3) oil shale and water. This testimony provides the key themes that have emerged from work to date on the R&D and data needs with regard to the production of biofuels and electricity and their linkage with water.
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) are large livestock and poultry operations that raise animals in a confined situation. CAFOs can improve the efficiency of animal production but large amounts of manure can degrade air and water quality. The EPA is responsible for regulating CAFOs and requires CAFOs that discharge certain pollutants to obtain a permit. This report discusses: (1) trends in CAFOs over the past 30 years; (2) amounts of waste they generate; (3) findings of key research on CAFOs¿ health and environmental impacts; (4) EPA¿s progress in developing CAFO air emissions protocols; and (5) effect of recent court decisions on EPA¿s regulation of CAFO water pollutants. Includes recommendations. Illustrations.
Providing drinking water and wastewater services are two key functions needed to support an urban lifestyle. To provide these services, energy is needed to extract, use, and treat water and wastewater. As the demand for water increases, the energy demands associated with providing water services are expected to grow. This report describe what is known about: (1) the energy needed for the urban water lifecycle; and (2) technologies and approaches that could lessen the energy needed for the lifecycle and barriers that exist to their adoption. Three cities were selected -- Memphis, TN; San Diego, CA; and Wash., D.C. -- as case studies to help understand the energy demands in different areas of the country. Illus. This is a print on demand report.
Nanotechnology involves the ability to control matter at the scale of a nanometer -- one billionth of a meter. The world market for products that contain nanomaterials is expected to reach $2.6 trillion by 2015. This report: (1) identified examples of current and potential uses of nanomaterials; (2) determined what is known about the potential human health and environmental risks from nanomaterials; (3) assessed actions EPA has taken to better understand and regulate the risks posed by nanomaterials as well as its authorities to do so; and (4) identified approaches that other selected national authorities and actions U.S. states have taken to address the potential risks associated with nanomaterials. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.
In response to concerns about the nation¿s energy dependence on imported oil, and climate change, the fed. gov¿t. has encouraged the use of biofuels. Water plays a crucial role in all stages of biofuel production -- from cultivation of feedstock through its conversion into biofuel. As demand for water from various sectors increases and places additional stress on already constrained supplies, the effects of expanded biofuel production must be considered. This report examined: (1) water resource effects of biofuel production in the U.S.; (2) agr. conservation practices and technological innovations that could address these effects and any barriers to their adoption; and (3) research needs regarding the effects of water resources on biofuel production.
Indian tribes are among the most economically distressed groups in the U.S. In 2008, the poverty rate among American Indian and Alaska Natives was almost twice as high as the population as a whole -- 27% compared with 15%. Residents of tribal lands often lack basic infrastructure, such as water and sewer systems, and sufficient technology infrastructure. Without such infrastructure, tribal communities often find it difficult to compete successfully in the economic mainstream. This testimony statement summarizes observations on: (1) five broad categories of unique issues that may create uncertainty and therefore affect economic activity in Indian country; and (2) tribes¿ use of special gaming and small business contracting provisions. This is a print on demand report.
The Army Corps of Engineers is charged with cleaning up 4,700 formerly used defense sites (FUDS) and active sites that were under its jurisdiction when they were initially contaminated. The 661-acre Spring Valley site in Wash., D.C is one such site. The primary threats at the site are buried munitions, elevated arsenic in site soils, and lab. waste; perchlorate was also found onsite. This testimony addresses: (1) the impact that shortcomings in info. and guidance can have on decision-making; (2) the impact that incomplete data can have on cost estimates and schedules; (3) how funding for a site may be influenced by program goals; and (4) how better coordination can increase public confidence in cleanups and facilitate effective decision-making. Illustrations.
The Native Amer. Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, enacted in 1990 (NAGPRA), required fed. agencies and museums to: (1) identify their Native Amer. human remains and other objects; (2) try to culturally affiliate them with a present day Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian org.; and (3) repatriate them under the terms in the act. The National NAGPRA office, within the Nat. Park Service, facilitates the gov¿t.-wide implementation of NAGPRA. This report determined the: (1) extent to which agencies have complied with their NAGPRA requirements; (2) actions taken by National NAGPRA; and (3) extent of repatriations reported by agencies. The report reviewed records for eight agencies with significant historical collections. Illus.
This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find publication. The Bureau of Land Mgmt. (BLM) requires oil and gas operators to reclaim the land they disturb and post a bond to help ensure they do so. If the bond is not sufficient to cover well plugging and surface reclamation and there are no responsible or liable parties, the well is considered "orphaned," and BLM uses fed. dollars to fund reclamation. This report: (1) determined the number, value, and coverage of bonds held by BLM for oil and gas oper.; (2) determined the amount that BLM has paid to reclaim orphaned wells over the past 20 years and the number of orphaned wells BLM has identified but has not yet reclaimed; and (3) compared BLM's bonding requirements for oil and gas operations with those the 12 western states use for oil and gas oper. Illustrations.
The number of oil and gas wells on leased fed. land has increased dramatically. To help manage the environmental impacts of these wells, BLM requires oil and gas operators to reclaim disturbed land. BLM requires them to provide a bond before beginning drilling operations. BLM refers to oil and gas wells and leased land that will require reclamation as potential liabilities because BLM may have to pay for reclamation if the operators fail to do so. This report determined: (1) BLM's policies for managing potential federal oil and gas well liability; (2) the extent to which BLM has implemented these policies; and (3) the challenges, if any, BLM faces in managing potential oil and gas well liability. Charts and tables. This is a print on demand report.
The DoD established the military munitions response program (MMRP) in 2001 to clean up sites known to be or suspected of being contaminated with military munitions and related hazardous substances. Cleanup of sites on active and base realignment and closure installations is the responsibility of the military service ¿ Air Force, Army, Navy, or Marine Corps ¿ that currently controls the land. This report assessed the: (1) MMRP staffing and funding levels; (2) progress DoD has made in cleaning up munitions response sites; (3) extent to which DoD has established MMRP performance goals; and (4) extent to which DoD collects data on factors influencing project duration, as well as the accuracy of its cleanup cost estimates. Illustrations.
The Clean Water Act was enacted to help reduce water pollution and improve the health of the nation¿s waterways. The EPA administers its enforcement responsibilities, as well as its 10 regional offices and the states. This statement summarizes the results of five prior reports on the effectiveness of EPA¿s enforcement program. Specifically, it includes information on the: (1) factors that cause variations in enforcement activities and lead to inconsistencies across regions; (2) impact that inadequate resources and work force planning has had on enforcement; (3) efforts EPA has taken to improve priority planning; and (4) accuracy and transparency of measures of program effectiveness.
Surface mining for coal in Appalachia has generated opposition because rock and dirt from mountaintops is removed and placed in valleys and streams. The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) and states regulate these mines. Mine operators must provide financial assurances to allow mines to be reclaimed. This report examined: (1) the approaches OSM and the states have taken to obtain financial assurances for surface coal mines with valley fills; (2) fed. and state agencies' monitoring of these mines after reclamation and mitigation are complete; and (3) the fed. laws agencies may use, and have used, to address latent environ. problems. The report gathered info. from agencies in KY, TN, VA, and WV. Illus. This is a print on demand report.
Most of Alaska's more than 200 Native villages have been affected to some degree by flooding and erosion. Since 2003, state officials have identified the growing impacts of climate change, increasing the urgency of fed. and state efforts to identify imminently threatened villages and assess their relocation options. This is a report on: (1) the flooding and erosion threats that Alaska Native villages currently face; (2) the federal programs that are available to assist villages facing potential disasters; (3) the status of village relocation efforts; and (4) how federal assistance to relocating villages is prioritized. Includes recommendations. Illustrations.
Many of the wastewater systems that Americans rely on to protect public health and the environment are reaching the end of their useful lives. The EPA has estimated that a potential gap between future needs and current spending for wastewater infrastructure of $150 billion to $400 billion could occur over the next decade. Various approaches have been proposed to bridge this potential gap. One is to establish a clean water trust fund. This testimony summarizes findings of a May 2009 report which examined: (1) stakeholders' views on the issues that would need to be addressed in designing and establishing a clean water trust fund; and (2) potential options that could generate about $10 billion annually in revenue to support a clean water trust fund. Ill.
This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find publication. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (Corps) civil works mission has grown over the years, while its three-tiered headquarters, division, and district structure has remained the same since it was created in 1893. This report examined for the Civil Works Program: (1) over time, how the Corps has realigned its organization to take into account its changing mission, budget, staffing, and workload; (2) the challenges that the Corps has faced in realigning its organization; and (3) areas where officials and stakeholders believe changes to organizational alignment, if any, could enhance the Corps' civil works mission. Organizational alignment refers to, among other things, changes in structure, roles and responsibilities, and technical and policy guidance. Ill.
Provides information on: (1) the factors that influence the price of fluid milk as it moves from the farm to the consumer; (2) the portion of the average retail price of a gallon of fluid milk that is received by farmers, coops, wholesalers, & retailers in selected markets across the country; (3) changes in farm & retail prices & their effect on the farm-to-retail spread; (4) the way changes in prices at any given level in the milk marketing chain are reflected in changes in prices at the other levels; & (5) different retail pricing relationships that exist in selected markets among the 4 kinds of milk -- whole, reduced-fat (2%), low-fat (1%), & fat-free (skim).
Rising U.S. energy consumption & concerns about dependency on foreign energy sources have prompted the admin. to aggressively pursue domestic oil & gas (O&G) prod., incl. prod. on public lands, which in turn has generated concern that the impacts of this activity may compromise the use of public land for other purposes. This report determined: (1) the extent to which the level of O&G develop. on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Mgmt. (BLM) has changed in recent years, & how the change has affected BLM's ability to mitigate impacts; (2) what policy changes related to O&G develop. BLM recently made & how these policies affected BLM's environ. mitigation activ.; & (3) what challenges BLM faces in managing its O&G program. Ill.
Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) are large livestock and poultry operations that raise animals in a confined situation. CAFOs may improve the efficiency of animal production, but the large amounts of manure they produce can, if improperly managed, degrade air and water quality. The EPA requires CAFOs that discharge certain pollutants to obtain a permit. This testimony summarizes the findings of a Sept. 4, 2008 report on: (1) trends in CAFOs; (2) amounts of waste they generate; (3) findings of key research on CAFOs¿ health and environmental impacts; (4) progress made in developing CAFO air emissions protocols; and (5) the effect of recent court decisions on EPA¿s regulation of CAFO water pollutants.
With a workforce of about 35,000, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provides engineering services for civil works and military programs in the U.S. and overseas. Recently, the Corps¿ focus has shifted to also support contingency operations, such as responding to natural disasters. To meet its mission and emerging priorities, the Corps must have effective human capital planning processes to ensure that it can maintain its workforce. This report examines the: (1) extent to which the Corps has aligned its human capital plan with its strategic plan; (2) extent to which the Corps has the information necessary to identify and meet current and future workforce needs; and (3) challenges the Corps faces in meeting its workforce needs. Includes recomm. Ill.
When non-fed. public entities propose public works projects that could degrade or damage federally regulated waters and wetlands they must obtain a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) before proceeding. To obtain the ACE's approval, the entity must submit a permit application. In 2000, the Congress included a provision in an Act to expedite permit processing for these entities. Sect. 214 of the act authorizes the ACE to accept and expend funds from these entities to expedite the evaluation of permit applications. Mittal believes that the ACE has taken appropriate steps to ensure that the documentation that district officials include in project files will justify and support their permitting decisions. This is a print on demand report.
This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find publication. Increases in the number and intensity of wildland fires have led the Forest Service (FS) to place greater emphasis on thinning forests and rangelands to reduce the buildup of potentially hazardous vegetation that can fuel wildland fires. The public can file a formal objection to a proposed decision, or can appeal a decision the agency has already made. This report determined, for FY 2006-2008; (1) the number of FS fuel reduction decisions and the associated acreage; (2) the number of decisions subject to appeal and objection, the number appealed, objected to, and litigated, and the associated acreage; and (3) the outcomes of appeals, objections, and litigation, and the extent to which they were processed within prescribed time frames. Illustrations.
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