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                    Most Recent Reports**1 - 20 of 360 Reports**
	
	

	
	  **Released on   Apr 2, 2024**
          Nuclear Power Plants: NRC Should Take Actions to Fully Consider the Potential Effects of Climate Change
    GAO-24-106326
      Published:   Apr 2, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Apr 2, 2024
.
    Climate change is likely to exacerbate natural hazards—such as floods and drought. The risks to nuclear power plants from such hazards include damage to systems and equipment that ensure safe operation. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's oversight process includes addressing safety risks at these plants. However, NRC doesn't fully consider potential increases in risk from climate change. For example, NRC mostly uses historical data to identify...
      **Released on   Nov 30, 2023**
          High-Risk Radioactive Material: Opportunities Exist to Improve the Security of Sources No Longer in Use
    GAO-24-105998
      Published:   Nov 30, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Nov 30, 2023
.
    "Radioactive sources" refers to nuclear materials that emit radiation and are sealed in containers that are specifically designed for use in medical, industrial, or research applications. For example, cesium-137 is widely used in a device that irradiates donor blood to make it safer for transfusions. These radioactive sources can only be used for a defined period—based on radioactive half-life—but some users delay disposal, leaving sources...
      **Released on   Aug 24, 2023**
          Nuclear Power: NRC Needs to Take Additional Actions to Prepare to License Advanced Reactors
    GAO-23-105997
      Published:   Jul 27, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Aug 24, 2023
.
    The Nuclear Regulatory Commission licenses nuclear reactors. In the coming years, the agency expects an increase in licensing applications for advanced nuclear reactors that may provide benefits like faster and cheaper electricity production. NRC has begun updating its regulations and processes to include these reactors—but has had difficulty hiring and retaining the staff needed to license them. Although NRC has offered recruitment and retention incentives...
      **Released on   May 17, 2023**
          Priority Open Recommendations: Nuclear Regulatory Commission
    GAO-23-106462
      Published:   May 10, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   May 17, 2023
.
    Each year, we make more than 1,000 recommendations to help the federal government save money, address issues on our High Risk List , and significantly improve government operations. This letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) outlines 8 open recommendations that it should prioritize. For example, NRC should add extra security features—such as multifactor authentication—to its licensing process for possessing radioactive material. This would make...
      **Released on   Apr 4, 2023**
          Department of Education: Employment Information for Key Grant Programs that Foster Expertise in World Languages and Cultures
    GAO-23-105971
      Published:   Apr 4, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Apr 4, 2023
.
    Many career fields—such as diplomacy, national security, and business—need individuals with knowledge of languages and the world. The Department of Education provides funding to universities to develop experts with such credentials and grant fellowships to students. The 27 grantee universities we looked at encouraged students to pursue employment in certain fields by developing students' language skills and knowledge about other cultures and offering career services...
      **Released on   Sep 22, 2022**
          Privacy: Dedicated Leadership Can Improve Programs and Address Challenges
    GAO-22-105065
      Published:   Sep 22, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Sep 22, 2022
.
    Federal agencies that collect personally identifiable information—such as birthplaces and Social Security numbers—are required to establish programs to protect it. The 24 agencies we examined had designated a senior agency official for privacy, as required. However, these officials may have numerous other duties and may not bring a needed focus on privacy. They generally delegated many aspects of privacy programs to less-senior officials. We recommended...
      **Released on   Jul 21, 2022**
          Preventing a Dirty Bomb: Vulnerabilities Persist in NRC's Controls for Purchases of High-Risk Radioactive Materials
    GAO-22-103441
      Published:   Jul 14, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jul 21, 2022
.
    Radioactive materials are commonly used for things like treating cancer and sterilizing medical instruments. But even a small amount could be used in a dirty bomb, which uses conventional explosives to spread radioactive material. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issues licenses to people and organizations that need to possess radioactive material. However, our investigators used shell companies and fraudulent licenses to purchase radioactive materials from 2...
      **Released on   Jun 13, 2022**
          Priority Open Recommendations: Nuclear Regulatory Commission
    GAO-22-105602
      Published:   Jun 3, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jun 13, 2022
.
    Each year, we make more than 1,000 recommendations to help improve the federal government. We alert department heads to where they can save the most money, address issues on our High Risk List , or significantly improve government operations. This report outlines our 5 priority open recommendations for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, as of July 2016. For example, because some quantities of radioactive materials can...
      **Released on   Apr 5, 2022**
          Security of Radioactive Materials
    GAO-22-105498
      Published:   Apr 5, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Apr 5, 2022
.
    The risks of an attack using a dirty bomb—a weapon that combines a conventional explosive, like dynamite, with radioactive material—are increasing and the costs could be devastating. This snapshot describes these risks and highlights recommendations from our prior reports for improving security for radioactive materials. For example, weaknesses in Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing for radioactive materials make it too easy for bad actors to obtain...
      **Released on   Apr 28, 2021**
          Priority Open Recommendations: Nuclear Regulatory Commission
    GAO-21-453PR
      Published:   Apr 21, 2021
. 
        Publicly Released:   Apr 28, 2021
.
    Each year, we make more than 1,000 recommendations to help improve the federal government. We alert department heads to the recommendations where they can save the most money, address issues on our High Risk List , or significantly improve government operations. This report outlines our 6 priority open recommendations for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) as of April 2021. For example, we recommended that NRC...
      **Released on   Apr 17, 2020**
          Priority Open Recommendations: Nuclear Regulatory Commission
    GAO-20-286PR
      Published:   Apr 10, 2020
. 
        Publicly Released:   Apr 17, 2020
.
    Each year, we make more than 1,000 recommendations to help improve the federal government. We alert department heads to the recommendations where they can save the most money, address issues on our High Risk List , or significantly improve government operations. This report outlines our 7 p riority open recommendations for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) as of April 2020. For example, we recommended that...
      **Released on   Apr 7, 2020**
          Telecommunications: Agencies Should Fully Implement Established Transition Planning Practices to Help Reduce Risk of Costly Delays
    GAO-20-155
      Published:   Apr 7, 2020
. 
        Publicly Released:   Apr 7, 2020
.
    Federal agencies must transition their telecommunications services to new contracts before their current contracts expire in May 2023. However, most agencies we looked at did not meet key dates for completing contract transition activities (such as soliciting vendor proposals or issuing work orders to selected vendors). These agencies also do not plan to complete the transition by the September 2022 deadline set by the General...
      **Released on   Mar 30, 2020**
          Information Management: Selected Agencies Need to Fully Address Federal Electronic Recordkeeping Requirements
    GAO-20-59
      Published:   Feb 27, 2020
. 
        Publicly Released:   Mar 30, 2020
.
    Federal recordkeeping requirements seek to ensure transparency and efficiency in federal agency records, including electronic records. Most of the 17 agencies we reviewed had records management programs, and many of those included electronic records requirements. Some agencies’ programs hadn’t fully addressed electronic records requirements, e.g., they didn’t ensure that appropriate emails are preserved. The National Archives and Records Administration hasn’t ensured that smaller agencies at...
      **Released on   Mar 4, 2020**
          Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Fee-Setting, Billing, and Budgeting Processes Have Improved, but Additional Actions Could Enhance Efforts
    GAO-20-362
      Published:   Feb 28, 2020
. 
        Publicly Released:   Mar 4, 2020
.
    The Nuclear Regulatory Commission licenses, inspects, and enforces regulations for the nuclear industry, including reactors and waste operations. NRC recovers about 90% of its budget by assessing fees for work done at NRC-licensed companies. Since 2017, NRC has altered some of its fee-setting, billing, and budgeting processes in response to previous audits. For example, NRC implemented an electronic billing system and shared more information about...
      **Released on   Feb 26, 2020**
          Science & Tech Spotlight: Nuclear Microreactors
    GAO-20-380SP
      Published:   Feb 26, 2020
. 
        Publicly Released:   Feb 26, 2020
.
    Cyberattacks and natural disasters can pose risks to the electric grid across the country, potentially resulting in blackouts and other disruptions to daily life. Nuclear microreactors are an emerging technology that could help affected areas get back up and running faster. Compact and mobile, fully-assembled microreactors could be transported by rail, truck, or plane to wherever they are needed. Challenges to implementing this technology include...
      **Released on   Nov 8, 2019**
          Data Act: Quality of Data Submissions Has Improved but Further Action Is Needed to Disclose Known Data Limitations
    GAO-20-75
      Published:   Nov 8, 2019
. 
        Publicly Released:   Nov 8, 2019
.
    The DATA Act seeks to improve the quality and comparability of federal spending data available to Congress and the public, and requires it to be posted on USAspending.gov . We found that data quality on USAspending.gov has improved since our 2017 review. However, varying interpretations of data standards lead to persistent data quality issues. Additionally, known data limitations are not fully disclosed. To help ensure...
      **Released on   Apr 19, 2019**
          Tribal Consultation: Additional Federal Actions Needed for Infrastructure Projects
    GAO-19-22
      Published:   Mar 20, 2019
. 
        Publicly Released:   Apr 19, 2019
.
    Federal agencies are required, at times, to consult with tribes on infrastructure projects like pipelines that may harm tribal natural and cultural resources. According to tribal and agency officials, there are several factors making these consultations less effective. For example: Some tribal representatives held the view that agencies did not consider their input and that consultations started too late. Agencies reported difficulty obtaining the contact...
      **Released on   Apr 11, 2019**
          Priority Open Recommendations: Nuclear Regulatory Commission
    GAO-19-310SP
      Published:   Apr 4, 2019
. 
        Publicly Released:   Apr 11, 2019
.
    Each year, we make more than 1,000 recommendations to help improve the federal government. We alert department heads to the recommendations where they can save the most money, address issues on our High Risk List , or significantly improve government operations. This report outlines our 4 priority open recommendations for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as of April 2019. For example, we recommended that NRC set...
          Data Center Optimization: Additional Agency Actions Needed to Meet OMB Goals
    GAO-19-241
      Published:   Apr 11, 2019
. 
        Publicly Released:   Apr 11, 2019
.
    Federal agencies operate thousands of data centers and since 2010 have been required to close unneeded facilities and improve the performance of the remaining centers. Across the government, agencies have closed 6,250 centers to date and saved $2.7 billion. However, only 2 agencies in our review planned to meet September 2018 government-wide optimization goals that include, for example, a target for how much time data...
      **Released on   Apr 4, 2019**
          Combating Nuclear Terrorism: NRC Needs to Take Additional Actions to Ensure the Security of High-Risk Radioactive Material
    GAO-19-468
      Published:   Apr 4, 2019
. 
        Publicly Released:   Apr 4, 2019
.
    In the hands of terrorists, radioactive material could be used for a dirty bomb. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission considers the health risks from short-term radiation exposure when determining how to safeguard radioactive material. But experts told us factors such as deaths during an evacuation and the cost of environmental cleanup should also be considered. We recommended , among other things, that the NRC consider these...
    
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