GAO sort GAO investigates *Environmental and Energy Issues* Remember “Blah Blah Blah, room for improvement” is often an understatement. Read highlights first, to help decide if you want to look at the gory details. Climate Engineering: Technical Status, Future Directions, and Potential Responses, GAO-11-71, July 28 (135 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-71 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d1171high.pdf Climate Monitoring: NOAA Can Improve Management of the U.S. Historical Climatology Network, GAO-11-800, August 31 (47 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-800 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11800high.pdf Department of Energy: Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Furnaces and Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps, GAO-11-884R, August 30 (5 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-884R Disaster Recovery: Federal Contracting in the Aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, GAO-11-942T, September 15 (14 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-942T Energy Development and Water Use: Impacts of Potential Oil Shale Development on Water Resources, GAO-11-929T, August 24 (17 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-929T Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11929thigh.pdf Energy Policy Act of 2005: BLM's Use of Section 390 Categorical Exclusions for Oil and Gas Development, GAO-11-941T, September 9 (17 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-941T Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11941thigh.pdf Energy Star: Providing Opportunities for Additional Review of EPA's Decisions Could Strengthen the Program, GAO-11-888, September 30 (48 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-888 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11888high.pdf Environmental Health: Action Needed to Sustain Agencies' Collaboration on Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water, GAO-11-346, August 8 (57 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-346 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11346high.pdf Environmental Litigation: Cases against EPA and Associated Costs over Time, GAO-11-650, August 1 (55 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-650 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11650high.pdf Environmental Protection Agency: Federal Implementation Plans: Interstate Transport of Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone and Correction of SIP Approvals, GAO-11-914R, August 17 (4 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-914R Environmental Protection Agency: To Better Fulfill Its Mission, EPA Needs a More Coordinated Approach to Managing Its Laboratories, GAO-11347, July 25 (54 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-347 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11347high.pdf Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles, GAO-11-955R, September 30 (5 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-955R Firms Reported in Open Sources as Having Commercial Activity in *Iran's* Oil, Gas, and Petrochemical Sectors, GAO-11-855R, August 3 (26 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-855R Forest Service Business Services: Further Actions Needed to Re-examine Centralization Approach and to Better Document Associated Costs, GAO11-769, August 25 (57 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-769 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11769high.pdf Green Information Technology: Agencies Have Taken Steps to Implement Requirements, but Additional Guidance on Measuring Performance Needed, GAO-11-638, July 28 (31 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-638 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11638high.pdf Hazardous Waste: Early Goals Have Been Met in EPA's Corrective Action Program, but Resource and Technical Challenges Will Constrain Future Progress, GAO-11-514, July 22 (49 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-514 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11514high.pdf Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Temporary Emergency Impact Aid Provided Education Support for Displaced Students, GAO-11-839, September 7 (47 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-839 Maritime Security: Progress Made, but Further Actions Needed to Secure the Maritime Energy Supply, GAO-11-883T, August 24 (28 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-883T Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11883thigh.pdf Polar Satellites: Agencies Need to Address Potential Gaps in Weather and Climate Data Coverage, GAO-11-945T, September 23 (16 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-945T Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11945thigh.pdf GAO recent investigations of *FDIC* and *Wall Street* related topics Remember “Blah Blah Blah, room for improvement” is often an understatement. Read highlights first, to help decide if you want to look at the gory details. Commodity Futures Trading Commission: Swap Data Repositories: Registration Standards, Duties and Core Principles, GAO-11-945R, September 16 (5 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-945R Commodity Futures Trading Commission: Whistleblower Incentives and Protection, GAO-11-934R, September 9 (4 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-934R Defined Benefit Pension Plans: Plans Face Challenges When Investing in Hedge Funds and Private Equity, GAO-11-901SP, August 31 (17 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-901SP Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11901sphigh.pdf DOD Financial Management: Improved Controls, Processes, and Systems Are Needed for Accurate and Reliable Financial Information, GAO-11-933T, September 23 (27 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-933T Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11933thigh.pdf DOD Financial Management: Improvement Needed in DOD Components' Implementation of Audit Readiness Effort, GAO-11-851, September 13 (54 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-851 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11851high.pdf DOD Financial Management: Marine Corps Statement of Budgetary Resources Audit Results and Lessons Learned, GAO-11-830, September 15 (75 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-830 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11830high.pdf DOD Financial Management: Ongoing Challenges in Implementing the Financial Improvement and Audit Readiness Plan, GAO-11-932T, September 15 (25 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-932T Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11932thigh.pdf DOD Financial Management: Weaknesses in Controls over the Use of Public Funds and Related Improper Payments, GAO-11-950T, September 22 (33 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-950T Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11950Thigh.pdf Federal Reserve System: Debit Card Interchange Fees and Routing, GAO11-896R, August 11 (5 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-896R Federal Reserve System: Debit Card Interchange Fees and Routing, GAO11-895R, August 11 (4 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-895R Homeownership Counseling: Although Research Suggests Some Benefits, Implementation and Evaluation Challenges Exist, GAO-11-925T, September 14 (17 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-925T Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11925thigh.pdf Information Technology: HUD's Expenditure Plan Satisfies Statutory Conditions, and Implementation of Management Controls Is Under Way, GAO-11-762, September 7 (59 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-762 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11762high.pdf Information Security: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Has Made Progress, but Further Actions Are Needed to Protect Financial Data, GAO-11-708, August 12 (33 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-708 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11708high.pdf Management Report: Opportunities for Improvements in FDIC's Internal Controls and Accounting Procedures, GAO-11-687R, August 5 (31 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-687R Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation: Asset Management Needs Better Stewardship, GAO-11-271, June 30 (105 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-271 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11271high.pdf Recovery Act Education Programs: Funding Retained Teachers, but Education Could More Consistently Communicate Stabilization Monitoring Issues, GAO-11-804, September 22 (82 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-804 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11804high.pdf Recovery Act Education Programs: Survey of School Districts' Uses of Funds (GAO-11-885SP, September 2011), an E-supplement to GAO-11-804, GAO-11-885SP, September 22 http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-885SP Securities and Exchange Commission: Large Trader Reporting, GAO-11912R, August 16 (5 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-912R Small Business Contracting: Opportunities to Improve the Effectiveness of Agency and SBA Advocates and Mentor-Protege Programs, GAO-11-844T, September 15 (21 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-844T Small Business Innovation Research: SBA Should Work with Agencies to Improve the Data Available for Program Evaluation, GAO-11-698, August 15 (44 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-698 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11698high.pdf Streamlining Government: Key Practices from Select Efficiency Initiatives Should Be Shared Governmentwide, GAO-11-908, September 30 (77 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-908 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11908high.pdf Tax Whistleblowers: Incomplete Data Hinders IRS's Ability to Manage Claim Processing Time and Enhance External Communication, GAO-11-683, August 10 (39 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-683 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11683high.pdf Troubled Asset Relief Program: Status of GAO Recommendations to Treasury, GAO-11-906R, September 16 (20 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-906R U.S. Postal Service: Actions Needed to Stave off Financial Insolvency, GAO-11-926T, September 6 (22 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-926T Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11926thigh.pdf GAO recent investigations of *Health Care* and related topics Antibiotic Resistance: Agencies Have Made Limited Progress Addressing Antibiotic Use in Animals, GAO-11-801, September 7 (82 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-801 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11801high.pdf DOD Health Care: Cost Impact of Health Care Reform and the Extension of Dependent Coverage, GAO-11-837R, September 26 (15 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-837R Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: Medicare Program; Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System for Federal Fiscal Year 2012; Changes in Size and Square Footage of Inpatient Rehabilitation Units and Inpatient Psychiatric Units, GAO-11-913R, August 18 (4 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-913R Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities for FY 2012, GAO-11-916R, August 18 (4 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-916R Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: Medicare Program; Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Benefit Programs, GAO-11-947R, September 16 (4 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-947R Department of Veterans Affairs: Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program--Changes to Subsistence Allowance, GAO-11-911R, August 16 (4 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-911R Drug Pricing: Manufacturer Discounts in the 340B Program Offer Benefits, but Federal Oversight Needs Improvement, GAO-11-836, September 23 (54 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-836 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11836high.pdf Drug Safety: FDA Faces Challenges Overseeing the Foreign Drug Manufacturing Supply Chain, GAO-11-936T, September 14 (19 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-936T Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11936thigh.pdf Environmental Health: Action Needed to Sustain Agencies' Collaboration on Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water, GAO-11-346, August 8 (57 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-346 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11346high.pdf Indian Health Service: Increased Oversight Needed to Ensure Accuracy of Data Used for Estimating Contract Health Service Need, GAO-11-767, September 23 (57 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-767 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11767high.pdf Incapacitated Adults: Oversight of Federal Fiduciaries and CourtAppointed Guardians Needs Improvement, GAO-11-678, July 22 (32 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-678 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11678high.pdf Long-Term Care Insurance: Carrier Interest in the Federal Program, Changes to Its Actuarial Assumptions, and OPM Oversight, GAO-11-630, July 11 (54 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-630 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11630high.pdf Medicare Integrity Program: CMS Used Increased Funding for New Activities but Could Improve Measurement of Program Effectiveness, GAO11-592, July 29 (37 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-592 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11592high.pdf Medicare Part D Formularies: CMS Conducts Oversight of Mid-Year Changes; Most Mid-Year Changes Were Enhancements, GAO-11-366R, June 30 (19 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-366R Medicare Physician Feedback Program: CMS Faces Challenges with Methodology and Distribution of Physician Reports, GAO-11-720, August 12 (38 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-720 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11720high.pdf Nursing Homes: Private Investment Homes Sometimes Differed from Others in Deficiencies, Staffing, and Financial Performance, GAO-11-571, July 15 (73 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-571 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11571high.pdf Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plans: Program Features, Early Enrollment and Spending Trends, and Federal Oversight Activities, GAO11-662, July 27 (44 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-662 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11662high.pdf Prescription Drug Control: DEA Has Enhanced Efforts to Combat Diversion, but Could Better Assess and Report Program Results, GAO-11744, August 26 (55 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-744 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11744high.pdf Private Health Insurance: Early Experiences Implementing New Medical Loss Ratio Requirements, GAO-11-711, July 29 (28 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-711 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11711high.pdf Private Health Insurance: State Oversight of Premium Rates, GAO-11-701, July 29 (50 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-701 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11701high.pdf Private Health Insurance: State Oversight of Premium Rates and Changes in Response to Federal Rate Review Grants, GAO-11-878T, August 2 (7 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-878T Social Security Disability: Participation in the Ticket to Work Program Has Increased, but More Oversight Needed, GAO-11-828T, September 23 (19 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-828T Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: Update on Families Served and Work Participation, GAO-11-880T, September 8 (23 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-880T Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11880thigh.pdf Veterans Disability Benefits: Clearer Information for Veterans and Additional Performance Measures Could Improve Appeal Process, GAO-11-812, September 29 (66 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-812 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11812high.pdf Veterans Health Care: Monitoring Is Needed to Determine the Accuracy of Veteran Copayment Charges, GAO-11-795, August 29 (41 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-795 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11795high.pdf World Trade Center Health Program: Potential Effects of Implementation Options, GAO-11-735R, August 4 (24 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-735R