The National Park Service Should Increase Monitoring and Oversight To Protect the Integrity and Recreational Value of the Land and Water Conservation Fund State Side Program

Submitting OIG:

Department of the Interior OIG

Report Description:

We found that the NPS did not adequately monitor States’ administration of LWCF funds.

Short / Alternative Report Title:

The NPS Should Increase Monitoring and Oversight of the LWCF State Side Program

Date Issued:

Monday, December 4, 2023

Agency Reviewed / Investigated:

Department of the Interior

Submitting OIG-Specific Report Number:

2021–ER–026

Component, if applicable:

National Park Service

Location(s):

Agency-Wide

Type of Report:

Inspection / Evaluation

Questioned Costs:

$227,250

Funds for Better Use:

Number of Recommendations:

Report updated under NDAA 5274:

View Document:

Attachment	Size
Final-Evaluation-ReportLWCFMonitoring-State-Side-ProgramPublic.pdf	5.38 MB

Recommendation Number	Recommendation Status	Significant Recommendation
2021-ER-026-01	Open	Yes
We recommend that the National Park Service comply with DOI–PGM–POL Reference No. 0003, which requires the National Park Service to maintain a record, such as a list, of Land and Water Conservation Fund Federal interest properties. At a minimum, the record must include the Federal award identifier number and information sufficient to document interest, authorized purpose, legal description, location, and size of the land parcel.
2021-ER-026-02	Open	Yes
We recommend that the National Park Service determine the number of Land and Water Conservation Fund sites that are overdue for post-completion inspection reporting and require that States conduct inspections to ensure Land and Water Conservation Fund sites are operated and maintained for public outdoor recreation as required by the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act section 6(f)(3).
2021-ER-026-03	Open	No
We recommend that the National Park Service develop and implement a process to ensure and verify that States submit mandatory post-completion inspection reports to ensure Land and Water Conservation Fund sites are operated and maintained for public outdoor recreation as required by the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act section 6(f)(3).
2021-ER-026-04	Open	No
We recommend that the National Park Service conduct the required program review for all States in accordance with the National Park Service Land and Water Conservation Fund Manual and complete and distribute the required report to the National Park Service headquarters and State Governors in a timely manner.
2021-ER-026-06	Open	No
We recommend that the National Park Service conduct an assessment of all open State Side grants to determine which are missing financial and performance reports from FYs 2017 through 2022.
2021-ER-026-07	Open	No
We recommend that the National Park Service require States to submit all missing financial and performance reports and verify submission for open State Side grants.
2021-ER-026-08	Open	No
We recommend that the National Park Service standardize the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan extension provision across regions.
2021-ER-026-09	Open	No
We recommend that the National Park Service consistently monitor and notify States when Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plans are nearing expiration and ensure each State’s eligibility to receive Land and Water Conservation Funds.
2021-ER-026-10	Open	No
We recommend that the National Park Service in coordination with the Appraisal and Valuation Services Office, develop and implement a process to ensure internal appraisal reviews comply with the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions in accordance with 2 C.F.R. part 1402.
2021-ER-026-11	Open	No
We recommend that the National Park Service resolve the $227,250 in questioned costs associated with Grant No. P18AP00130.

Recommendation Number

Recommendation Status

Significant Recommendation

Additional Details

2021-ER-026-01

Open

Yes

We recommend that the National Park Service comply with DOI–PGM–POL Reference No. 0003, which requires the National Park Service to maintain a record, such as a list, of Land and Water Conservation Fund Federal interest properties. At a minimum, the record must include the Federal award identifier number and information sufficient to document interest, authorized purpose, legal description, location, and size of the land parcel.

2021-ER-026-02

Open

Yes

We recommend that the National Park Service determine the number of Land and Water Conservation Fund sites that are overdue for post-completion inspection reporting and require that States conduct inspections to ensure Land and Water Conservation Fund sites are operated and maintained for public outdoor recreation as required by the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act section 6(f)(3).