Open Recommendations

We recommend the Office of Administration conduct refresher training on required travel card usage requirements for travel cardholders and approvers to ensure compliance with the Federal Travel Regulations.

We recommend the Bureau of Fiscal Operations conduct refresher training for travelers and travel approvers on the Federal Travel Regulations and Railroad Retirement Board travel policies and procedures to ensure that travel documentation is properly uploaded and maintained in E2.

Implement a process for headquarters and district personnel to manage the ERP program more effectively by periodically (e.g., quarterly or semi-annually) reviewing reports from the tracking system.

Maintain an ERP review checklist on MSHA’s website that is updated when requirements change.

Issue additional guidance and provide refresher training on how to enter ERP data into the tracking system and use the tracking system to provide oversight.

Issue regulations or guidance to make mine operators aware of tools currently available on MSHA’s website they can use when developing their ERPs and clarify when mine operators should submit an ERP and whether mine operators can exclude certain information from the ERP.

Standardize the ERP review and approval processes and tools across MSHA districts. At minimum, the procedures should specify the a. type of reviews (specialist and/or inspector) the districts should be completing and the frequency for each type of review, b. steps the reviewer should take for a specialist review versus an inspector review and the tools (e.g., standardized review checklist) to use during each review, and c. dates (e.g., Date Received and Decision Date) to enter into the tracking system and instructions on where to obtain each date.

Reissue PPL P16-V-01 to clarify the mine operators' responsibility for local coordination under the MINER Act. The revision should:a. Inform mine operators to insert language in their ERP referencing the call lists posted at the mine if the ERP does not include them.b. Clarify how a mine operator establishes procedures for coordination and communication between the operator, mine rescue teams, and local emergency response personnel and makes provisions for familiarizing local rescue personnel with surface functions that may be required in the course of mine rescue work.

We recommend that OSMRE require States to review and certify that coal projects in e-AMLIS are accurate and complete.

Formalize agreements that enable I&A field officials to develop intelligence reporting with DHS components in the field, based on pilot program results.

Develop and implement guidance for intelligence reporting in the field.

Develop and implement a formal mechanism for reviewing I&A intelligence reporting from the field, including a logging and tracking process.

Develop and implement guidance for field officials granting them local release authority for intelligence reporting.

Review and update the reachback policy for the CGF program to be consistent with actual practice and reduce the need for waivers. In reviewing and updating the reachback policy, the Bank should analyze the case-by-case determination of a reachback relative to the average policy date (i.e., operative date); consider establishing limits on the utilization of the facility for reachback transactions; set requirements for communicating analysis of reachback issues to decision makers including the Board; and establish procedures for consideration of waivers to the policy. This would include documenting the supporting evidence in the credit file.

We recommend that OSMRE obtain authoritative Federal guidance from GAO for the disposition of interest earned.

We recommend that OSMRE ensure appropriate treatment of interest earned.

We recommend that OSMRE resolve the $2.1 million in earned interest.

Ensure that the Government complies with the Equipment and Real Property Management Requirements.

Provide documentation to show that costs totaling $942,636 for activity 7099 were for employees' actual time spent benefiting the activity or repay its program from non-Federal funds for any amount that it cannot support.

Provide documentation to show that costs totaling $100,000 for activity 6865 benefited the activity or repay its program from non-Federal funds for any amount that it cannot support.

The NARA CIO should conduct and document a risk assessment specific to NARA’s implementation of cloud computing in coordination with NARA's Chief Risk Officer.