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035 a| (Sirsi) o314357259;

035 a| (OCoLC)314357259;

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043 a| n-us---;

049 a| ERE#;

074 a| 0546-D-01 (online);

086 0 a| GA 1.5/2:GAO-09-443 T;

100 1 a| Nazzaro, Robin M.=| ^A568960;

245 10 a| Forest Service :b| emerging issues highlight the need to address persistent management challenges : testimony before the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives /c| statement of Robin M. Nazzaro.;

246 30 a| Emerging issues highlight the need to address persistent management challenges;

260 a| [Washington, D.C.] :b| U.S. Govt. Accountability Office,c| [2009];

300 a| 18 pages :b| digital, PDF file.;

336 a| text2| rdacontent;

337 a| computer2| rdamedia;

338 a| online resource2| rdacarrier;

490 1 a| Testimony ;v| GAO-09-443T;

500 a| Title from title screen (viewed on Mar. 12, 2009).;

500 a| "For release ... March 11, 2009.";

500 a| Paper version available from: U.S. Govt. Accountability Office, 441 G St., NW, Rm. LM, Washington, D.C. 20548.;

504 a| Includes bibliographical references.;

520 a| While the Forest Service has made improvements in many areas GAO has reported on in recent years, certain management challenges persist--with the agency struggling to manage a worsening wildland fire problem and spiraling fire costs, collect data on its activities and their costs, and demonstrate financial and performance accountability to Congress and the public. Several emerging issues facing the agency underscore the urgency of addressing these challenges. The Forest Service continues to lack strategies for using its wildland fire management funds effectively. In numerous reports over the past decade, GAO has highlighted the challenges the Forest Service faces in protecting the nation against the threat of wildland fires. While the agency has taken important steps to improve its wildland fire management, other key steps remain. Specifically, the agency needs to (1) develop a cohesive strategy laying out various potential long-term approaches for addressing wildland fire, the estimated costs associated with each approach, and the trade-offs involved; (2) establish clear goals and a strategy to help contain increasing wildland fire costs; (3) continue improving its processes for allocating funds and selecting projects to reduce potentially hazardous vegetation; and (4) take steps to improve its use of a new interagency budgeting and planning tool. Program management suffers from lack of data on activities and costs. GAO's work over the years points to a persistent shortcoming in the Forest Service's management of its activities: the lack of adequate data on program activities and costs. This shortcoming spans multiple land management programs, including programs for selling timber and rehabilitating and reforesting lands that have been burned, as well as administrative functions such as the competitive sourcing program, which aims to increase competition between federal entities and private sector organizations. Inadequate data have hindered field managers in carrying out their duties and prevented the agency from understanding how much its activities are costing. Financial and performance accountability have been inadequate. The Forest Service has struggled to implement adequate internal controls over its funds, generate accurate financial information, and provide clear measures of what it accomplishes with the appropriations it receives every year. GAO's concerns about these issues date back to the 1990s but have yet to be fully addressed. Several emerging issues underscore the need for the Forest Service to improve its management. The evolving effects of climate change, increasing development in and near wildlands, the aging of the federal workforce, and our nation's long-term fiscal condition likely will have profound implications for the agency and magnify the urgency of addressing these challenges.;

538 a| Mode of access: Internet from GAO web site. Address as of 3/12/09: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09443t.pdf ; current access available via PURL.;

610 10 a| United States.b| Forest Service.=| ^A20756;

650 0 a| Forest reservesz| United Statesx| Management.=| ^A420772;

650 0 a| Public landsz| United Statesx| Management.=| ^A322082;

710 1 a| United States.b| Government Accountability Office.=| ^A580995;

830 0 a| Testimonyv| GAO-09-443T.=| ^A682308;

856 40 u| https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/LPS113420;

949 a| Click on web addressw| ASISh| JOYNER94o| jlhb;

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999 a| CLICK ON WEB ADDRESSw| ASISc| 1i| 1899918-1001l| JNETm| JOYNERr| Ys| Yt| JNE1DOu| 9/16/2009x| EDOCUMENTz| JERESOURCEo| .STAFF. jlhb;

Forest Service : emerging issues highlight the need to address persistent management challenges : testimony before the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives / statement of Robin M. Nazzaro.

Author/creator	Nazzaro, Robin M.
Other author	United States. Congress. House. Committee on Appropriations. Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.
Other author	United States. Government Accountability Office.
Format	Electronic
Publication Info	[Washington, D.C.] : U.S. Govt. Accountability Office, [2009]
Description	18 pages : digital, PDF file.
Supplemental Content	https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/LPS113420
Subjects	United States. Forest Service. Forest reserves--United States. --Management. Public lands--United States. --Management.

Portion of title	Emerging issues highlight the need to address persistent management challenges
Series	Testimony ; GAO-09-443T Testimony GAO-09-443T. ^A682308
Abstract	While the Forest Service has made improvements in many areas GAO has reported on in recent years, certain management challenges persist--with the agency struggling to manage a worsening wildland fire problem and spiraling fire costs, collect data on its activities and their costs, and demonstrate financial and performance accountability to Congress and the public. Several emerging issues facing the agency underscore the urgency of addressing these challenges. The Forest Service continues to lack strategies for using its wildland fire management funds effectively. In numerous reports over the past decade, GAO has highlighted the challenges the Forest Service faces in protecting the nation against the threat of wildland fires. While the agency has taken important steps to improve its wildland fire management, other key steps remain. Specifically, the agency needs to (1) develop a cohesive strategy laying out various potential long-term approaches for addressing wildland fire, the estimated costs associated with each approach, and the trade-offs involved; (2) establish clear goals and a strategy to help contain increasing wildland fire costs; (3) continue improving its processes for allocating funds and selecting projects to reduce potentially hazardous vegetation; and (4) take steps to improve its use of a new interagency budgeting and planning tool. Program management suffers from lack of data on activities and costs. GAO's work over the years points to a persistent shortcoming in the Forest Service's management of its activities: the lack of adequate data on program activities and costs. This shortcoming spans multiple land management programs, including programs for selling timber and rehabilitating and reforesting lands that have been burned, as well as administrative functions such as the competitive sourcing program, which aims to increase competition between federal entities and private sector organizations. Inadequate data have hindered field managers in carrying out their duties and prevented the agency from understanding how much its activities are costing. Financial and performance accountability have been inadequate. The Forest Service has struggled to implement adequate internal controls over its funds, generate accurate financial information, and provide clear measures of what it accomplishes with the appropriations it receives every year. GAO's concerns about these issues date back to the 1990s but have yet to be fully addressed. Several emerging issues underscore the need for the Forest Service to improve its management. The evolving effects of climate change, increasing development in and near wildlands, the aging of the federal workforce, and our nation's long-term fiscal condition likely will have profound implications for the agency and magnify the urgency of addressing these challenges.
General note	Title from title screen (viewed on Mar. 12, 2009).
General note	"For release ... March 11, 2009."
General note	Paper version available from: U.S. Govt. Accountability Office, 441 G St., NW, Rm. LM, Washington, D.C. 20548.
Bibliography note	Includes bibliographical references.
Technical details	Mode of access: Internet from GAO web site. Address as of 3/12/09: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09443t.pdf ; current access available via PURL.
GPO item number	0546-D-01 (online)
Govt. docs number	GA 1.5/2:GAO-09-443 T

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Forest Service : emerging issues highlight the need to address persistent management challenges : testimony before the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives / statement of Robin M. Nazzaro.

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