Coast Guard

Better Process Needed to Justify Closing Search and Rescue Stations Gao ID: RCED-90-98 March 6, 1990

Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO assessed the Coast Guard's process and criteria for closing search and rescue stations.

GAO found that the Coast Guard: (1) developed a list of 34 candidate stations for closure or reduction, basing its recommendations on past studies; (2) did not complete or maintain information on alternative sources of search and rescue assistance; (3) used misleading data in assessing stations' effectiveness in saving lives; and (4) used incorrect information on stations' ability to maintain a 2-hour response time. GAO noted that the Coast Guard's decisions regarding station closures and reductions have historically been politically sensitive and difficult to defend.

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: Team: Phone:


The Justia Government Accountability Office site republishes public reports retrieved from the U.S. GAO These reports should not be considered official, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Justia.