[env-trinity] GAO: Federal Agencies' Efforts Related to Harmful Algae

[Sari Sommarstrom]

http://gao.gov/products/GAO-17-119

 

Information on Federal Agencies' Expenditures and Coordination Related to
Harmful Algae

 

Why GAO Did This Study

Harmful algal blooms are an environmental problem in all 50 states,
according to EPA. While algae are essential to the ecosystem, providing food
for all types of animals, these blooms can produce toxins that hurt the
environment and local economies. Specifically, they can cause human illness
or death from the consumption of seafood or water contaminated by toxic
algae; harm aquatic and other animal species through neurological or liver
damage or severe oxygen depletion; and hurt the seafood industry,
recreation, and tourism. Harmful algal blooms occur naturally, but their
prevalence, frequency, and severity are increasing-and this increase is
influenced by climate, pollution, and human activities such as agriculture
and wastewater, according to an interagency working group report. The
Drinking Water Protection Act included a provision for GAO to review
federally funded activities related to harmful algal blooms. 

This report examines (1) how much federal agencies expended on these
activities from fiscal years 2013 through 2015 and (2) how federal agencies
coordinate their activities with each other and with nonfederal
stakeholders. GAO collected information from federal agencies by using a
questionnaire and interviewing agency officials.   GAO provided a draft of
this report to the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Health and
Human Services, and the Interior; EPA; NASA; and the Executive Office of the
President for comment. Most of the agencies provided technical comments,
which were incorporated as appropriate.  

 

What GAO Found 

Twelve federal agencies reported expending an estimated total of roughly
$101 million from fiscal years 2013 through 2015 to fund various research,
monitoring, and other activities related to harmful algae-overgrowths of
algae that can create toxic "blooms" in marine or freshwater environments.
The agencies provided a mix of actual and estimated expenditure data and
used different methods for collecting the data, making comparisons among
agencies, and a federal total, inexact. Based on the data, the 5 agencies
with the largest expenditures related to harmful algal blooms for this
period-totaling roughly $86 million-were the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, $39.4 million; National Science Foundation
(NSF), $15.4 million; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), $14.5 million;
U.S. Geological Survey, $9 million; and the National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), $8 million. According to agency
officials, these 5 agencies funded efforts to research and analyze harmful
algal blooms; forecast, monitor, and respond to their occurrence; and
investigate human and ecological health effects. 

In addition, other agencies expended millions of dollars funding activities
to address harmful algae. For example, from fiscal years 2013 through 2015,
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration reported expending nearly
$2 million on research to improve the detection of algal blooms using
satellite imagery. Federal officials reported that their agencies coordinate
in a variety of ways with each other and with nonfederal stakeholders to
share information, expertise, and opportunities for collaboration on
activities to address harmful algae. For example, since 2014, an interagency
working group has been the primary, government-wide mechanism through which
federal agencies coordinate such activities, develop plans for future work,
and identify any gaps in federal activities and capabilities. In addition,
federal officials reported that agencies participate in numerous groups,
task forces, and other coordination efforts led by federal agencies, states,
international organizations, or academics. Furthermore, federal officials
reported a number of interagency partnerships directly related to their
harmful algae work, such as NIEHS' and NSF's collaboration since 2005 to
jointly fund research projects. 

  

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