The National Park Service Needs to Improve Oversight of Residential Environmental Learning Centers

We audited the National Park Service’s (NPS’) Residential Environmental Learning Centers (RELCs) to determine to what extent the NPS ensures the RELCs comply with agreements, statutes, and regulations. We found that the NPS did not ensure that all activities and services provided by the RELCs complied with agreements, statutes, and regulations. Specifically, we found that the NPS did not consistently use the correct type of agreement or legal vehicle to authorize the RELCs. In addition, we found that the NPS allowed the RELCs to provide services and activities outside the scope of their agreements. We also found that the NPS did not monitor the RELCs to ensure they complied with financial assistance rules and regulations. We questioned costs of more than $3.7 million in funding received from financial assistance that was not reduced for program income the RELCs received. We make 12 recommendations that, if implemented, will help the NPS improve oversight of its RELC partnerships. The NPS concurred with all 12 recommendations. We consider one recommendation resolved and implemented, nine recommendations resolved but not implemented, and two recommendations unresolved. We will refer the recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget for resolution and to track implementation. This report was updated with a technical correction on December 30, 2019. The original version was issued on December 17, 2019.