Soil and Wetlands Conservation: Soil Conservation Service Making Good Progress But Cultural Issues Need Attention
- ISBN-10
- 1289118752
- ISBN-13
- 9781289118754
- Pages
- 44
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2013-06
- Publisher
- BiblioGov
- Authors
- U. S. Government Accountability Office, U S Government Accountability Office
Description
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Soil Conservation Service's (SCS) conservation compliance and swampbuster programs, focusing on whether: (1) recent SCS reforms will help it better manage the two programs; and (2) additional improvements are needed to ensure effective program management. GAO found that: (1) although SCS has initiated extensive reforms to effectively manage its conservation compliance and swampbuster programs, additional reforms are needed; (2) although SCS substantially revised its guidance to county offices to provide better technical instructions on how to develop conservation plans and identify wetlands, it has not instituted a follow-up system to ensure that county offices revise deficient plans; (3) SCS has developed new enforcement procedures, but its oversight staff lack the authority to require these offices to follow their recommendations; (4) although SCS is developing an information system to track violations, it has not established performance goals for the conservation compliance and swampbuster programs; (5) one of the barriers that inhibits the effective implementation of SCS reforms is the conflict between traditional and new SCS regulatory roles; (6) SCS county office staff are reluctant to cite farmers for violations because citations could result in their loss of farm program benefits; (7) SCS has historically worked with farmers to provide technical assistance and foster voluntary conservation programs; (8) SCS is often in the conflicting position of acting as adviser and regulator; and (9) SCS needs to change its corporate culture if it is to effectively administer its regulatory responsibilities.
