Environmental Affairs in the 91st Congress, 1st Session (open access)

Environmental Affairs in the 91st Congress, 1st Session

This report discusses the growth of environmental policy and provides a listing of introduced legislation related to the environment in the 1st Session of the 91st Congress.
Date: May 16, 1970
Creator: Congressional Research Service. Environmental Policy Division
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
A System for Generating Gamma Ray Cross Section Data for Use with the IBM-7090 Computer (open access)

A System for Generating Gamma Ray Cross Section Data for Use with the IBM-7090 Computer

A system for generating detailed tables of gamma ray cross section data has been devised for use on the IBM7090 computer. This sy;tem obviates the preparation of large amounts of cross section data. It also provides a scheme for rapid access to these tabulated values. (auth)
Date: May 16, 1962
Creator: Penny, S. K.; Emmett, M. B. & Trubey, D. K.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Unit Operations Section Monthly Progress Report, November 1961 (open access)

Unit Operations Section Monthly Progress Report, November 1961

Openation of a 6-in.-dia foam separation column with Sr/sup 89/ tracer and dodecylbenzenesulfonate as a surfactant and foaming agent was continued. The catalytic oxidation of H/sub 2/, CO, and CH/sub 4/ was studied using a nickel- chromepalladium ribbon catalyst. A Mark I prototype fuel assembly was sheared to within 1.5-in. of the end by modifying the gas hydraulic system of the shear. The force required to shear a highly carburized Mark I fuel assembly ductile tubing. Demonstration of the mechanical dejacketing of the SRE Core I fuel burned to approximates 675 Mwd/ton and cooled about 2 years is complete, and decontamination and equipment removal from the segmenting cell is approximately 90% complete. Ten SRE Core I fuel jackets were dissolved in aqua regia and analysis showed negligible U and Pu. A semicontinuous leach run, in which -2 mesh graphite fuel containing 2.6% U was leached in 90% HNO/sub 3/ at 60 deg C, gave only 0.37% U loss. Graphically estimated spectral factors for radiation between tubes within fuel bundles and improved wall radiation factors were rised to calculate the temperature distribution expected within spent fuel elements. Further studies of the dissolution of zirconium oxide by HF in fused salt resulted …
Date: May 16, 1962
Creator: Whatley, M. E.; Haas, P. A.; Horton, R. W.; Ryon, A. D.; Suddath, J. C. & Watson, C. D.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Acceleration of compact torus plasma rings in a coaxial rail-gun (open access)

Acceleration of compact torus plasma rings in a coaxial rail-gun

We discuss here theoretical studies of magnetic acceleration of Compact Torus plasma rings in a coaxial, rail-gun accelerator. The rings are formed using a magnetized coaxial plasma gun and are accelerated by injection of B/sub theta/ flux from an accelerator bank. After acceleration, the rings enter a focusing cone where the ring is decelerated and reduced in radius. As the ring radius decreases, the ring magnetic energy increases until it equals the entering kinetic energy and the ring stagnates. Scaling laws and numerical calculations of acceleration using a O-D numerical code are presented. 2-D, MHD simulations are shown which demonstrate ring formation, acceleration, and focusing. Finally, 3-D calculations are discussed which determine the ideal MHD stability of the accelerated ring.
Date: May 16, 1985
Creator: Hartman, C. W.; Hammer, J. H. & Eddleman, J.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Inverse problems in remote sensing. Progress report (open access)

Inverse problems in remote sensing. Progress report

Research was conducted to improve on presently used techniques for mapping soundspeed variations in the earth by monitoring the return from seismic probes. For small variations in the propagation speed, a linear integral equation was derived for that soundspeed variation. The integral equation is sufficiently general to characterize the placement of sources and receivers. The integral equation was solved in closed form for most of the source-receiver configurations of practical interest. The problem of dealing with the imperfect and incomplete data obtained in the real world was also confronted. The realistically constrained solution was implemented on the computer for a source-receiver configuration commonly used in seismic profiling. This latter project has dominated much of the research effort over the recent contract period.
Date: May 16, 1977
Creator: Bleistein, N.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Aviation Security: Efforts to Strengthen International Passenger Prescreening are Under Way, but Planning and Implementation Issues Remain (open access)

Aviation Security: Efforts to Strengthen International Passenger Prescreening are Under Way, but Planning and Implementation Issues Remain

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Passenger prescreening--a process that includes matching passengers' identifying information against records extracted from the U.S. government terrorist watch list--is one of several security measures in place to help ensure the safety of commercial flights traveling to or from the United States. DHS has several efforts underway to strengthen international aviation passenger prescreening. This report focuses on certain elements of the passenger prescreening process as well as some of the actions that DHS is taking or has planned to strengthen prescreening procedures. This report is a limited version of the original November 2006 report as various agencies that we reviewed deemed some of the information in the original report to be security sensitive. GAO's work included interviewing officials and assessing relevant documentation from federal agencies, U.S. and foreign air carriers, industry groups, and several foreign countries."
Date: May 16, 2007
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Elder Justice: Federal Government Has Taken Some Steps but Could Do More to Combat Elder Financial Exploitation (open access)

Elder Justice: Federal Government Has Taken Some Steps but Could Do More to Combat Elder Financial Exploitation

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins ""
Date: May 16, 2013
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
District of Columbia: Compensation Simplification Contracting Requirements (open access)

District of Columbia: Compensation Simplification Contracting Requirements

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "The District of Columbia Appropriations Act of 2001 provided $250,000 for a contract to study and develop a plan to simplify the compensation systems, schedules, and work rules for DC government employees. The act placed several conditions on the appropriation, one of which was that GAO review the proposed solicitation for the contract to ensure that it adequately addressed all of the elements stipulated in the act. Government officials initially told GAO that they planned to apply the $250,000 payment to existing contracts that were being used in the District's independent effort to reform its classification and compensation systems--and therefore would not carry out the conditions that Congress had set for receipt of the funds. More recently, however, the officials said that they no longer plan to use the funds because doing so would delay the District's reform effort."
Date: May 16, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Government Efficiency and Effectiveness: Strategies for Reducing Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication and Achieving Cost Savings (open access)

Government Efficiency and Effectiveness: Strategies for Reducing Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication and Achieving Cost Savings

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "GAO's 2013 annual report identifies 31 new areas where agencies may be able to achieve greater efficiency or effectiveness. Seventeen areas involve fragmentation, overlap, or duplication. For example, GAO reported that the Department of Defense could realize up to $82 million in cost savings and ensure equivalent levels of performance and protection by taking action to address its fragmented approach to developing and acquiring combat uniforms. Additionally, GAO reported that a total of 31 federal departments and agencies collect, maintain, and use geospatial information. Better planning and implementation could help reduce duplicative investments and save of millions of dollars."
Date: May 16, 2013
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Defense Management: Additional Information Needed to Improve Military Departments' Strategies for Corrosion Prevention and Control (open access)

Defense Management: Additional Information Needed to Improve Military Departments' Strategies for Corrosion Prevention and Control

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The military departments' Corrosion Control and Prevention Executives (Corrosion Executives) coordinated with the Department of Defense's (DOD) Corrosion Policy and Oversight Office (Corrosion Office) on reviews of their respective strategic plans. GAO's prior work has found that linking the goals of component organizations to departmental strategic goals is a practice that, if consistently applied, should improve the usefulness of plans to decision makers. However, the military departments varied in the extent that their strategic plans show clear linkage to the 10 goals and objectives included in the DOD Corrosion Prevention and Mitigation Strategic Plan. The Army's strategic plan showed clear linkage to all 10 of the goals and objectives. The Air Force's plan clearly linked to half of the goals and objectives and the Navy's plan clearly linked to 3 of the goals and objectives. GAO's review of the military departments' strategic plans found no inconsistencies with DOD Instruction 5000.67, which establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides guidance for managing programs to prevent or mitigate corrosion. Without consistency or a clear linkage between the strategic plans of the military departments and the overarching goals and objectives …
Date: May 16, 2013
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
K-12 Education: States' Test Security Policies and Procedures Varied (open access)

K-12 Education: States' Test Security Policies and Procedures Varied

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "According to our nationwide survey of state testing directors, all states reported that their policies and procedures included 50 percent or more of the leading practices to prevent test irregularities in the following five areas—security plans, security training, security breaches, test administration and protecting secure materials. Additionally, of the 28 states that administered computer-based assessments, the majority reported including half or more of the leading practices in computer-based testing. However, states varied in the extent to which they incorporated elements of certain categories of leading practices. For example, 22 states reported having all of the leading practices for security training, but four states reported having none of the practices in this category. Although state officials reported having a variety of security policies and procedures in place, many reported feeling vulnerable to cheating at some point during the testing process."
Date: May 16, 2013
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Military Base Closures: Management Strategy Needed to Mitigate Challenges and Improve Communication to Help Ensure Timely Implementation of Air National Guard Recommendations (open access)

Military Base Closures: Management Strategy Needed to Mitigate Challenges and Improve Communication to Help Ensure Timely Implementation of Air National Guard Recommendations

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) recommendations affected 62 percent of the flying units in the Air National Guard (ANG) with 14 units losing their flying mission, and others converting from one type of aircraft to another, or increasing or decreasing assigned aircraft. To implement the recommendations, ANG must relocate hundreds of aircraft and retrain or recruit about 15,000 personnel by 2011. In this report, GAO addresses the status of efforts to implement the ANG BRAC actions. GAO's objectives were to determine (1) the process to provide replacement missions to units losing flying missions, (2) the progress and challenges in implementing the BRAC actions, and (3) changes to the cost and savings estimates. This report, prepared under the Comptroller General's authority to conduct evaluations on his own initiative, is one in a series of reports related to 2005 BRAC recommendations. GAO conducted its work at the Air Force, ANG headquarters, and in 11 states affected by BRAC 2005"
Date: May 16, 2007
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
World Trade Organization: Status of China's Trade Commitments to the United States and Other Members (open access)

World Trade Organization: Status of China's Trade Commitments to the United States and Other Members

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "GAO followed up on its previous report on the status of China's World Trade Organization (WTO) membership negotiations, focusing on the: (1) results of the November 1999 bilateral Agreement on Market Access between China and the United States; and (2) status of China's ongoing multilateral negotiations in the WTO."
Date: May 16, 2000
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oil and Gas Management: Continued Attention to Interior's Revenue Collection and Human Capital Challenges Is Needed (open access)

Oil and Gas Management: Continued Attention to Interior's Revenue Collection and Human Capital Challenges Is Needed

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins ""
Date: May 16, 2013
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Nation's Long-Term Fiscal Outlook: April 2008 Update (open access)

The Nation's Long-Term Fiscal Outlook: April 2008 Update

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Since 1992, GAO has published long-term fiscal simulations of what might happen to federal deficits and debt levels under varying policy assumptions. We developed our long-term model in response to a bipartisan request from Members of Congress who were concerned about the long-term effects of fiscal policy. Our simulations were updated with the Trustees 2008 intermediate projections and continue to indicate that the long-term federal fiscal outlook remains unsustainable. This update combined with our analysis of the fiscal outlook of state and local governments demonstrates that the fiscal challenges facing all levels of government are linked and should be considered in a strategic and integrated manner. We update our simulations three times a year as new estimates become available from the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) Budget and Economic Outlook (January), Social Security and Medicare Trustees Reports (spring), and CBO's Budget and Economic Outlook: An Update (late summer). This product responds to congressional interest in receiving updated simulation results. Additional information about the GAO model, its assumptions, data, and charts can be found at http://www.gao.gov/special.pubs/longterm/. For more information, contact Susan J. Irving at (202) 512-9142 or irvings@gao.gov."
Date: May 16, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Mutual Fund Trading Abuses: SEC Consistently Applied Procedures in Setting Penalties, but Could Strengthen Certain Internal Controls (open access)

Mutual Fund Trading Abuses: SEC Consistently Applied Procedures in Setting Penalties, but Could Strengthen Certain Internal Controls

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other regulators have recently identified two significant types of trading abuses--market timing and late trading--in the mutual fund industry. The more widespread abuse was market timing, which involved situations where investment advisers (firms that may manage mutual funds) entered into undisclosed arrangements with favored customers who were permitted to trade frequently in contravention of stated trading limits. These arrangements harmed long-term mutual fund shareholders by increasing transaction costs and lowering fund returns. Late trading, a significant but less widespread abuse, occurs when investors place trades after the mutual fund has calculated the price of its shares, usually at the 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time close of financial markets, but receive that day's fund share price. Investors who late trade have an opportunity to profit, which is not available to other investors. To assess SEC's efforts to impose penalties on violators, this report (1) discusses SEC's civil penalties in settled trading abuse cases, (2) provides information on related criminal enforcement actions, and (3) evaluates SEC's criminal referral procedures."
Date: May 16, 2005
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Nuclear Nonproliferation: IAEA Has Made Progress in Implementing Critical Programs but Continues to Face Challenges (open access)

Nuclear Nonproliferation: IAEA Has Made Progress in Implementing Critical Programs but Continues to Face Challenges

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has taken several steps to strengthen its safeguards program since GAO's 2005 report, including increasing the number of countries that are subject to a broader range of safeguards measures, upgrading its analytical laboratories, and producing its first long-term strategic plan. However, the agency faces two critical challenges in further improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the safeguards program. First, several countries have raised concerns about IAEA's plans to expand implementation of what it calls the "state-level concept" to all countries with safeguards agreements by 2014. The state-level concept is an approach in which the agency considers a broad range of information about a country's nuclear capabilities and tailors its safeguards activities in each country accordingly. IAEA officials told GAO that broader implementation of this approach would allow the agency to better allocate resources by reducing safeguards activities where there is no indication of undeclared nuclear activities and to focus its efforts on any issues of safeguards concern. However, IAEA has not clearly defined and communicated how it will implement the state-level concept. As a result, several countries are concerned that …
Date: May 16, 2013
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Management Report: Opportunities for Improvement in the Federal Housing Finance Agency's Internal Controls (open access)

Management Report: Opportunities for Improvement in the Federal Housing Finance Agency's Internal Controls

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "During our audit of FHFA’s fiscal years 2011 and 2010 financial statements, we identified one internal control issue and a continuing issue related to information systems controls that could adversely affect FHFA’s ability to meet its internal control objectives. We do not consider these issues to represent material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in relation to FHFA’s financial statements. Nonetheless, we believe they warrant management’s attention and action."
Date: May 16, 2012
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Department of Veterans Affairs' Lack of Timely and Accurate Information on Unexpended Balances Limits Effective Management and Congressional Oversight (open access)

Department of Veterans Affairs' Lack of Timely and Accurate Information on Unexpended Balances Limits Effective Management and Congressional Oversight

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) holds about 5 percent of the real property owned by the federal government in terms of building floor area, including such facilities as hospitals and office buildings. VA's responsibility for managing its real property includes the construction of its facilities and cemeteries. Because these construction projects can span several years, VA is authorized to carry forward fund balances from year to year in its construction accounts. VA is responsible for keeping track of and managing these balances to ensure that any unexpended balances that remain after construction projects are completed are redirected to other construction project needs within the agency. VA's budgets for new construction exist in two accounts--Major Construction and Minor Construction--which are funded as separate line items within the appropriation. For purposes of this report, we refer to the Major and Minor Construction accounts as VA's construction accounts. Construction projects undertaken to replace existing facility components are funded through the Non-Recurring Maintenance (NRM) portion of the Medical Facilities budget account. For purposes of this report, we refer to the NRM as VA's facility account. Under the Comptroller General's authority to …
Date: May 16, 2007
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Funds: Fiscal Year 2001 Expenditures by Selected Organizations Involved in Health-Related Activities (open access)

Federal Funds: Fiscal Year 2001 Expenditures by Selected Organizations Involved in Health-Related Activities

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "This report responds to a Congressional request that we provide information on expenditures of federal funds by several organizations and their affiliates--the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Population Council, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, The Alan Guttmacher Institute, Advocates for Youth, and the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS)--all of which are involved in health-related activities. Specifically, we identified (1) fiscal year 2001 expenditures of federal funds that supported the domestic health-related activities of the organizations, the federal agencies that provided the funds, and the congressional committees with jurisdiction over legislation authorizing or appropriating the federal funds, and (2) fiscal year 2001 expenditures of federal funds that supported the international health-related activities of the organizations, the federal agencies that provided the funds, and the congressional committees with jurisdiction over legislation authorizing or appropriating the federal funds. This information updates our November 13, 2001, report that provided expenditure information for fiscal years 1999 and 2000."
Date: May 16, 2003
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Environmental Satellites: Polar-orbiting Satellite Acquisition Faces Delays; Decisions Needed on Whether and How to Ensure Climate Data Continuity (open access)

Environmental Satellites: Polar-orbiting Satellite Acquisition Faces Delays; Decisions Needed on Whether and How to Ensure Climate Data Continuity

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) is a triagency acquisition--managed by the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)--that has experienced escalating costs, schedule delays, and technical difficulties. These factors led to a June 2006 decision to restructure the program by reducing the number of satellites and sensors, increasing estimated costs to $12.5 billion, and delaying the first two satellites by 3 to 5 years. Among other objectives, GAO was asked to evaluate progress in restructuring the acquisition, assess the status of key program components and risks, and assess NASA's, NOAA's, and DOD's plans for obtaining the data originally planned to be collected by NPOESS sensors, but eliminated by the restructuring. To do so, GAO analyzed program and contractor data, attended program reviews, and interviewed agency officials."
Date: May 16, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
MSHA's Revised Hiring Process Has Improved the Agency's Recruiting Efforts, but Its Human Capital Strategic Plan Does Not Adequately Project or Address Its Future Workforce Needs (open access)

MSHA's Revised Hiring Process Has Improved the Agency's Recruiting Efforts, but Its Human Capital Strategic Plan Does Not Adequately Project or Address Its Future Workforce Needs

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In 2003, GAO recommended that the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) develop a plan for addressing anticipated shortages in the number of qualified inspectors due to upcoming retirements, including considering options such as streamlining the agency's hiring process and offering retention bonuses. As you requested, we conducted follow-up work on the implementation of this recommendation. We reviewed MSHA's human capital planning documents and obtained data on the number of inspectors employed by MSHA and the number of them eligible for retirement. In addition, we interviewed officials responsible for MSHA's human resources department, officials in MSHA's district offices, and officials at the National Mine Health and Safety Academy. We completed our work between June 2006 and March 2007 in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards. In 2004, MSHA began a new process for hiring mine inspectors under the auspices of the Federal Career Intern Program (FCIP)--a federal program designed to recruit and retain high caliber candidates and develop their professional abilities. The use of the FCIP has led to a number of improvements in inspector recruiting and hiring, such as being able to identify applicants with the …
Date: May 16, 2007
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Warfighter Support: Improved Joint Oversight and Reporting on DOD's Prepositioning Programs May Increase Efficiencies (open access)

Warfighter Support: Improved Joint Oversight and Reporting on DOD's Prepositioning Programs May Increase Efficiencies

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Department of Defense (DOD) prepositions equipment to help ensure combat-ready forces receive equipment in days rather than the weeks it would take if it had to be moved from the United States to their location. Prepositioned stocks may also support activities including disaster relief and humanitarian assistance. As GAO's third report in response to Congress's annual reporting requirement, GAO assessed the extent to which DOD has (1) met the six reporting requirements in the annual report to Congress on its prepositioned stocks, and whether additional information may be needed related to those requirements; (2) developed effective departmentwide guidance on prepositioned stocks to achieve national military objectives; and (3) organized effectively to provide joint oversight over its prepositioning programs and achieve efficiencies. To meet these objectives, GAO reviewed relevant DOD reports, strategies, and policies, and met with DOD and service officials in the U.S., Kuwait, and Qatar."
Date: May 16, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Information Technology: Agriculture Needs to Strengthen Management Practices for Stabilizing and Modernizing Its Farm Program Delivery Systems (open access)

Information Technology: Agriculture Needs to Strengthen Management Practices for Stabilizing and Modernizing Its Farm Program Delivery Systems

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has experienced significant problems with its information technology systems that support the delivery of benefits programs to farmers. In October 2006, these systems began experiencing considerable delays while attempting to process a large number of transactions, and by January 2007, the systems became inoperable for 1 month. In response to these issues, USDA developed a near-term stabilization plan and long-term plans to modernize its delivery of these programs. GAO was asked to determine (1) the extent to which USDA's stabilization plan addresses key management issues, including consistently tracking reported problems, establishing performance metrics and goals, and defining roles and responsibilities and (2) the adequacy of USDA's assessment of existing product capabilities, as well as cost and schedule estimates for its new, long-term modernization investment. To address these objectives, GAO, among other things, compared USDA's plans with industry best practices. On March 25, 2008, GAO briefed the requesters' staff on the results of this review."
Date: May 16, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library