Continuation of the Resource Conservation and Development Program Raises Questions

GAO reviewed the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) program and the administrative and legislative changes needed to improve the control and operation of the program.

GAO was unable to develop a clear picture or measure of overall benefits under the program because program accomplishments are not clearly distinguishable at either the project or measure level. The principal problems involved lack of useful data, the intangible nature of some benefits, and varying or unknown degrees of project involvement. GAO was able to obtain cost information on the program overall and on each project but not on individual project measures. Pertinent technical assistance costs were not shown for individual measures. The omission of technical assistance costs in reporting completed measures seriously limited any attempt to evaluate the program's benefits in relation to its costs. Funds appropriated for cost sharing with local sponsors under the program have been used to finance many measures for which other federal programs have been established. Once projects are authorized, they remain on the rolls indefinitely. Federally assisted sub-state planning organizations have the potential to become an alternative delivery system for activities carried out under the program because they perform many of the same functions. Some projects' area plans which specify goals, objectives, and measures to be undertaken have not been updated as required by program procedures.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: Brian P. Crowley Team: General Accounting Office: Community and Economic Development Division Phone: (202) 512-9450