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This report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) examines federal efforts to reduce and monitor unintentional catch and harm in fisheries management. Bycatch, which refers to fish and other marine species that are unintentionally caught or harmed, is a complex issue that threatens the sustainability of fishing communities and ocean ecosystems. The report highlights the individualized measures used by fishers to reduce bycatch, the challenges with collecting data on bycatch, and the need for better tracking and reporting of bycatch estimates. The GAO makes several recommendations to improve the management of bycatch, including identifying resource needs for observer programs and updating the bycatch reduction implementation plan with measurable goals. [Extracted from the article]

The United States Forest Service is planning to increase its use of prescribed fire to reduce wildfire risk. However, there are still gaps in certain areas of the agency's prescribed fire program, such as establishing goals and outcomes, strategic workforce planning, managing and monitoring, and leadership focus and attention. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducted an analysis of the Forest Service's program and found contributing factors to prescribed fire escapes. The Forest Service has implemented reforms in response to incidents in New Mexico in 2022, but the extent of implementation of remaining actions is yet to be determined. The agency is facing challenges in implementing some recommendations, such as a lack of qualified staff, but is taking steps to address them. The Forest Service has partially addressed leading practices for agency reforms but needs to develop outcome-oriented goals and performance measures. The agency is also facing challenges in training and qualifications for prescribed fire roles. The document provides recommendations for the Chief of the Forest Service to improve the prescribed fire program, including developing an implementation plan and assessing resources needed. The Forest Service generally agrees with the findings and recommendations and plans to implement the suggested reforms. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on the U.S. Government Accountability Office's (GAO) highlights on the rise in deferred maintenance of public lands assets by five federal agencies, including the National Park Service and U.S. Bureau of Land Management, from 2019 to 2022. It reports that the highest deferred maintenance was attributed to roads and transportation assets. It highlights the challenges faced, including construction supply chain issues, inflation.

The article informs that water quality impairments, such as elevated temperatures and toxic chemicals, pose threats to Puget Sound salmon, with a focus on the challenges faced in addressing these issues. Topics include the impact of impairments on salmon, missed deadlines in developing impaired waters lists, and the challenges EPA and Ecology encounter in improving water quality in Puget Sound, particularly regarding nonpoint source pollution.

The article presents the discussion on targeting efforts having monitoring incoming seafood imports that fit a pattern of concern. Topics include CBP and NMFS share information with each other through several mechanisms including a data analysis tool and a CBP interagency coordination center; and undermine the economic and environmental sustainability of fisheries, jeopardize food and economic security, and benefit transnational crime.

The article discusses the cost estimating practices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for major acquisitions. Topics include the decentralized approach to cost estimating within NOAA, the misalignment of cost estimating procedures with best practices, and the need for agency-wide policy and guidance to ensure reliable and consistent cost estimates.

The article presents the discussion on human health and the environment leaking toxic chemicals, such as arsenic into nearby waterways. Topics include USDA budget materials not communicating the known information about implicit exposures related to abandoned hardrock mines; and cleanup costs for abandoned hardrock mines where decision makers not being able to make fully informed cleanup decisions.

The article reports on the U.S. Government Accountability Office's review of federal agencies' efforts in hiring and retaining wildland firefighters. Topics discussed include the composition of the federal wildland firefighting workforce, in the size and severity the barriers to hiring and retaining federal wildland firefighters, and actions made by agencies to address these barriers.

The article examines an award process followed by the U.S. Department of Interior, that is generally consistent with relevant federal grant regulations. Topics include a review of the Department of Interior's grant award process done by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO); the grant programs across the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and U.S. Geological Survey lacking documentation to support some award decisions, and some recommendations for Executive Action.

The article reports that fisheries managers comprised of eight Regional Fishery Management Councils and the National Marine Fisheries Service's Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Division have generally used climate information to a limited extent in fisheries management activities. Topics include examines many fisheries managers are leading initiatives that could advance the use of climate information in management.

The article informs on the U.S. Government Accountability Office report on the ability of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to provide safe, reliable, efficient, and environmentally sustainable waterborne transportation systems. It mentions the Corps' ability to consider impacts not directly related to navigation when determining which existing coastal navigation structures to maintain and repair.

The article discusses, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has a large civilian workforce that is highly specialized. The Corps faces workforce challenges, such as recruiting and retaining employees, due to competition from the private sector and other agencies. To address its civilian workforce challenges, the Corps implemented three successive strategic human capital plans during fiscal years 2010 through 2018.

The article focuses on The U.S. works with other nations through multilateral agreements to collectively manage high seas fisheries., department of defense DOD could continue efforts to support African partner nations capability to enforce fisheries laws and regulations, which in turn helps them work to counter illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

A report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office to congressional requesters about the reform efforts of the Department of Commerce's National Weather Service is presented. Topics include the Evolve Program initiated by the NWS in 2017 to carry out a series of agency reforms, overview of NWS's weather forecast process, and recommendations for executive action.

The article presents the discussion on sexual assault and sexual harassment having harmful effects on the individual employees as well as the workplace by undermining employee morale. Topics include EEOC overseeing federal agencies' adherence to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) program requirements and providing leadership; and assisting employers in preventing and addressing harassment in the workplace.