Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) procedures and guidelines require that program and project managers review and apply lessons learned from the past throughout a program's or project's life cycle. Managers must also document and submit any significant lessons learned in a timely manner. NASA's principal mechanism for collecting and sharing lessons learned from programs, projects, and missions agency wide is the Lessons Learned Information System. The goal of the system is to prevent NASA from having to "relearn" the lessons of the past. NASA also shares lessons learned through revisions to its policies and guidance. Furthermore, lessons learned from a mishap or operational event are captured in procedure and process documents. GAO surveyed all of NASA's program and project managers to obtain their perspectives on NASA's mechanisms to ensure that past lessons learned from mission failures are being applied. GAO found fundamental weaknesses in the collection and sharing of lessons learned in NASA by program and project managers as well as in the system. Although some lessons learning does take place, lessons are not routinely identified, collected, or shared by program and project managers. In addition, …

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "From 1996 to 1997, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted a cleanup action on a former zinc smelter operated by Eagle-Picher Mining and Smelting, Inc. and other areas contaminated by materials from this site near Henryetta, Oklahoma. EPA's cleanup focused on removing the immediate health threat posed by lead- and arsenic-contaminated soil transported from the Eagle-Picher site to residential and other highly accessible areas. Cleanup actions on the Eagle-Picher site involved establishing proper drainage on the site, encapsulating the Eagle-Picher site with clay and cover soil, and establishing vegetative cover at the site to protect nearby residents from the recontamination from wind and water erosion of hazardous materials. Since completion of the cleanup, private landowners of a neighboring property have raised concerns about contamination of their property resulting from EPA's cleanup actions. Landowners allege that EPA, through its contractors, transported and negligently disposed of hazardous substances on their property. The landowners also allege that EPA's actions at the site contributed to the migration of contamination from the Eagle-Picher site onto their property. These landowners are currently pursuing litigation against EPA and the city of Henryetta for damages …

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Invasive species--harmful, nonnative plants, animals, and microorganisms--are found throughout the United States and cause damage to crops, rangelands, waterways, and other ecosystems that is estimated to cost in the billions of dollars annually. In addition to their economic costs, invasive species can have a devastating effect on natural areas, where they have strangled native plants, taken over wetland habitats, crowded out native species, and deprived waterfowl and other species of food sources. Scientists, academicians, and industry leaders have all recognized invasive species as one of the most serious environmental threats of the twenty-first century. More specifically, conservation biologists ranked invasive species as the second most serious threat to endangered species after habitat destruction. In June 2003, GAO testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water concerning invasive species issues reported in our October 2002 report. We also provided testimony on the partial results of our spring 2003 survey of state agencies involved in efforts to address invasive species and members of the Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC). This report provides the final results of our survey and focuses on state perspectives on (1) gaps in, or …

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "As part of the Army's ongoing transformation efforts, in October 1999 the Army announced the Stryker brigade concept. The Stryker brigade is a unit designed to provide the Army with a rapidly deployable force that is capable of operating against the full spectrum of military threats. To meet the Army's requirements for being rapidly deployable and combat capable, the Stryker brigade relies on new sustainment concepts, such as minimizing the number of personnel and spare parts within the brigade and reaching back to assets outside the brigade for support, which are not found in other existing Army brigades. In a span of 6 years, the Army announced its intention to create a new brigade, chose a vehicle, tested the operational concept, and deployed three brigades in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Army is also sending one Stryker brigade for a second rotation to Iraq and is developing four additional Stryker brigades. To support the accelerated development and deployment timeline, the Army relied on contractors to support some equipment within the Stryker brigade, such as the Stryker vehicle and computer and communication systems. The largest group of contractor …

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "This letter responds to a Congressional request on August 12, 2003 that we provide answers to questions relating to our July 24, 2003, testimony. In that testimony, we discussed the risks that the Social Security Administration (SSA) faces in its efforts to automate its disability claims process. The questions concerned money saved by implementing an electronic disability folder, SSA's development of a risk management plan, areas which SSA could improve, and difficulties in completing the project."

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This testimony is intended to discuss our report on whether or not the government of Iraq has met 18 benchmarks contained in the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act of 20072 (the Act). The Act requires GAO to report on the status of the achievement of these benchmarks. Consistent with GAO's core values and our desire to be fair and balanced, we also considered and used a "partially met" rating for some benchmarks. In comparison, the Act requires the administration to report on whether satisfactory progress is being made toward meeting the benchmarks. The benchmarks cover Iraqi government actions needed to advance reconciliation within Iraqi society, improve the security of the Iraqi population, provide essential services to the population, and promote economic well-being. To complete this work, we reviewed U.S. agency and Iraqi documents and interviewed officials from the Departments of Defense, State, and the Treasury; the Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I) and its subordinate commands; the Defense Intelligence Agency; the Central Intelligence Agency; the National Intelligence Council; and the United Nations. These officials included Ryan Crocker, the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, and General …

Other written product issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) new rule on migratory bird hunting. GAO noted that: (1) the rule establishes the early-seasons frameworks from which states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands may select dates and other options available to them for 2000-2001 migratory bird hunting season; and (2) the FWS complied with the applicable requirements in promulgating the rule."

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This testimony is intended to discuss our report on whether or not the government of Iraq has met 18 benchmarks contained in the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act of 20072 (the Act). The Act requires GAO to report on the status of the achievement of these benchmarks. Consistent with GAO's core values and our desire to be fair and balanced, we also considered and used a "partially met" rating for some benchmarks. In comparison, the Act requires the administration to report on whether satisfactory progress is being made toward meeting the benchmarks. The benchmarks cover Iraqi government actions needed to advance reconciliation within Iraqi society, improve the security of the Iraqi population, provide essential services to the population, and promote economic well-being. To complete this work, we reviewed U.S. agency and Iraqi documents and interviewed officials from the Departments of Defense, State, and the Treasury; the Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I) and its subordinate commands; the Defense Intelligence Agency; the Central Intelligence Agency; the National Intelligence Council; and the United Nations. These officials included Ryan Crocker, the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, and General …

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO discussed the causes of the bankruptcies of large corporations owning nursing homes and the implications for nursing home residents, focusing on: (1) the adequacy of Medicare's payment rates for skilled nursing services furnished in nursing homes; (2) the relationship between the changes wrought by the Balanced Budget Act and recent nursing home bankruptcies; and (3) what exists to protect patients."

Disregard Restriction of Header and Footer: 04/29/2005 - Realign Sierra Army Depot. Relocate demilitarization workload to Tooele Army Depot.

Disregard Restriction of Header and Footer: 04/27/2005 - Close Riverbank Army Ammunition Plant. Relocate the artillery, mortar, and tank metal parts functions to Rock Island Arsenal.

Disregard Restriction of Header and Footer: Summary of Scenario Environmental Impacts, 04/26/2005 - Realign Ft Lee, VA by establishing a Joint Center of Excellence for Culinary Training. Realign Lackland AFB, TX, Great Lakes, IL and Marine Corps Base Camp LeJeune, NC by re-locating all culinary training courses taught there to Ft Lee. Realign Navy Supply Corps School Athens, GA by disestablishing all supply training and consolidating at Ft Lee. The intent of this scenario is to consolidate like courses while maintaining service unique capabilities.

Disregard restriction of header and footer MEMORANDUM FOR Chairman, Education and Training Joint Cross Service Group (E&T JCSG) Chairman, Headquarters and Support Activities Joint Cross S e ~ cGer oup (HSA JCSG) Chairman, Intelligence Joint Cross Service Group (INTEL JCSG) Chairman, Medical Joint Cross Service Group (MED JCSG) Chairman, Supply and Storage Joint Cross Service Group (S&S JCSG) Chairman, Technical Joint Cross Service Group (TECH JCSG)

Disregard restriction of header and footer MEMORANDUM FOR Chairman, Education and Training Joint Cross Service Group (E&T JCSG)

Disregard Restriction of Header and Footer: 04/19/2005 - Co-locate Miscellaneous Air Force Locations and Realign JP-1, Crystal City Complex Leased site, by relocating elements of the Army National Guard Headquarters, Air National Guard and National Guard Headquarters (700) personnel) from JP-1 to Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington hall, VA.

Disregard restriction of header and footer MEMORANDUM FOR Chairman, Headquarters and Support Joint Cross Service Group (HSA JCSG) Chairman, Medical Joint Cross Service Group (MED JCSG)

Disregard Restriction of Header and Footer: 04/27/2005 - Realign Aberdeen Proving Ground, Washington Navy Yard, McChord AFB, SUBASE Groton by consolidating at a newly established joint mobilization processing center at Ft Dix. Realign Bangor NSB and McChord AFB by consolidating at a newly established joint processing center at Ft Lewis. Realign Ft Huachuca by consolidating mobilization processing operations at a newly established joint mobilization processing center at Ft Bliss/Holloman AFB. Realign Ft Eustis, Ft Jackson, and Ft Lee by consolidating mobilization processing operations at a newly established joint mobilization processing site at Ft Bragg/Pope AFB

Disregard restriction of header and footer MEMORANDUM FOR Chairman, Education and Training Joint Cross Service Group (E&T JCSG) Chairman, Headquarters and Support Joint Cross Service Group (HSA JCSG) Chairman, Medical Joint Cross Service Group (MED JCSG) Chairman, Technical Joint Cross Service Group (TECH JCSG)

Disregard Restriction of Header and Footer: 04/27/2005 - Realign Edwards Air Force Base, California, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, by relocating the correctional function to Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, California, and consolidating it with the correctional function already at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, to form a single Level II Southwest Joint Regional Correctional Facility. Realign Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Fort Sill, Oklahoma by relocating the correctional function to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and consolidating it with the correctional function already at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to form a single Level II Midwest Joint Regional Correctional Facility. Realign Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, and Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, by relocating the correctional function to Naval Weapons Station Charleston, South Carolina, and consolidating it with the correcti

Disregard restriction of header and footer. MEMORANDUM FOR Chairman, Education and Training Joint Cross Service Group (E&T JCSG) Chairman, Headquarters and Support Activities Joint Cross Service Group (HSA JCSG)

Disregard Restriction of Header and Footer: 04/14/2005 - Close Army Human Resources Command leased facilities in Alexandria, Virginia, Indianapolis, Indiana and St. Louis, Missouri and consolidate at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Disregard Restriction of Header and Footer: 04/27/2005 - Candidate recommendation assumes an Industrial Joint Cross Service Group (IJCSG) Subgroup Maintenance scenario and recommendation which disestablishes depot maintenance functions at Rock Island Arsenal, IL and realigns Combat Vehicles and Other From Rock Island Arsenal, IL to Anniston Army Depot, AL; Other Equipment and Tactical Vehicles from Rock Island Arsenal, IL to Letterkenny Army Depot, PA.

Disregard restriction of header and footer. MEMORANDUM FOR Chairman, Education and Training Joint Cross Service Group (E&T JCSG) Chairman, Headquarters and Support Joint Cross Service Group (HSA JCSG) Chairman, Medical Joint Cross Service Group (MED JCSG) Chairman, Technical Joint Cross Service Group (TECH JCSG)

Disregard Restriction of Header and Footer: 04/27/2005 - Realign NAVWPNSTA Seal Beach, CA. Relocate the depot maintenance of Electronic Components (Non-Airborne), Fire Control Systems and Components, Radar, and Radio to Tobyhanna Army Depot, PA. Relocate the depot maintenance of Material Handling to MCLB Albany, GA. Relocate the depot maintenance of Other Components to Anniston Army Depot, AL. Relocate the depot maintenance of Tactical Missiles to Letterkenny Army Depot, PA.