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      Recent Reports
    Nuclear Power Plants: NRC Should Take Actions to Fully Consider the Potential Effects of Climate ChangeGAO-24-106326
      
	Published:  Apr 02, 2024


	Publicly Released: Apr 02, 2024
          Offshore Oil and Gas: Interior Needs to Improve Decommissioning Enforcement and Mitigate Related RisksGAO-24-106229
      
	Published:  Jan 25, 2024


	Publicly Released: Feb 20, 2024
          Oil and Gas Pipelines: Agencies Should Improve Oversight of DecommissioningGAO-24-106444
      
	Published:  Jan 18, 2024


	Publicly Released: Feb 20, 2024
          Low-Dose Radiation: Agency Leadership and Collaboration Are Needed to Set the Direction of Future ResearchGAO-24-106317
      
	Published:  Dec 07, 2023


	Publicly Released: Dec 07, 2023
          Nuclear Materials: DOE Plans for Savannah River Site's H-Canyon FacilityGAO-24-106494
      
	Published:  Dec 07, 2023


	Publicly Released: Dec 07, 2023
          High-Risk Radioactive Material: Opportunities Exist to Improve the Security of Sources No Longer in UseGAO-24-105998
      
	Published:  Nov 30, 2023


	Publicly Released: Nov 30, 2023
    
    

  
  View More ReportsOpen Recommendations
        Nuclear Power Plants: NRC Should Take Actions to Fully Consider the Potential Effects of Climate ChangeGAO-24-106326
      
						Apr 02, 2024
              Show
          3Open Recommendations

          Agency Affected
                                                  Recommendation
                                                  StatusNuclear 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.
          Oil and Gas Pipelines: Agencies Should Improve Oversight of DecommissioningGAO-24-106444
      
						Feb 20, 2024
              Show
          9Open Recommendations

          Agency Affected
                                                  Recommendation
                                                  StatusDepartment 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.Department of the Interior
                                                                                        The Director of FWS should develop a documented plan to ensure the agency collects and maintains the data necessary to oversee the decommissioning of gathering lines. (Recommendation 4)
                                                                                        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 FWS should analyze all gathering lines FWS oversees to identify and prioritize those that pose the greatest safety, environmental, or fiscal risks for oversight and decommissioning. (Recommendation 5)
                                                                                        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 NPS should develop a documented plan to ensure the agency collects and maintains the data necessary to oversee the decommissioning of gathering lines. (Recommendation 6)
                                                                                        Open
Interior agreed with this recommendation. We will update the status of the recommendation when we have more information.
          Offshore Oil and Gas: Interior Needs to Improve Decommissioning Enforcement and Mitigate Related RisksGAO-24-106229
      
						Feb 20, 2024
              Show
          5Open Recommendations

          Agency Affected
                                                  Recommendation
                                                  StatusDepartment 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.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.
          Low-Dose Radiation: Agency Leadership and Collaboration Are Needed to Set the Direction of Future ResearchGAO-24-106317
      
						Dec 07, 2023
              Show
          2Open Recommendations

          Agency Affected
                                                  Recommendation
                                                  StatusDepartment 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.
    
    

  
  View More RecommendationsRelated Pages
    RelatedEnergy Innovation
          RelatedSecurity of Radioactive Materials
          RelatedTribal and Native American Issues
          RelatedNuclear Weapons and Forces Sustainment and Modernization
          RelatedManaging Federal Lands and Waters
          RelatedNuclear Waste Disposal
          RelatedAir Quality
          RelatedNuclear Nonproliferation
          RelatedNuclear Energy

    
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GAO Contacts
    
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              Nathan Anderson
            
            Director
      
            andersonn@gao.gov
      
            (202) 512-3841
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              Allison Bawden
            
            Director
      
            bawdena@gao.gov
      
            (202) 512-3841
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              Frank Rusco
            
            Director
      
            ruscof@gao.gov
      
            (202) 512-3841
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              Sterling Thomas
            
            Chief Scientist
      
            thomass@gao.gov
      
            (202) 512-6888
                                                      MultimediaNuclear Power Plants and Climate Change
      
        
        Nuclear Power Plants and Climate Change
          Tuesday, April 02, 2024
          Natural Disasters & the Electricity Grid – Director Summary
      
        
        Natural Disasters & the Electricity Grid – Director Summary
          Thursday, June 09, 2022
          Pipe Failure at a Strategic Petroleum Reserve Site
      
        
        Pipe Failure at a Strategic Petroleum Reserve Site
          Thursday, June 28, 2018
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      High-Risk Radioactive Material Disposal
    Thursday, November 30, 2023
      
            Transcript
          Fusion Energy
    Thursday, March 30, 2023
      
            Transcript
          Protecting the Electric Grid
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            INTERACTIVE GRAPHIC:  Visualizing Relationships in Department of Energy Contracting
      
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              Securing the U.S. Electricity Grid from Cyberattacks
            Wednesday, October 12, 2022
      
            Reliable electricity is essential to the conveniences of modern life and vital to our nation’s...
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              Federal Government Efforts to Reduce Emissions from Coal-Fired Power Plants
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            Coal-fired power plants release carbon dioxide, mercury, and other emissions that can harm human...
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