Coast Guard

In a March 1990 report (GAO/RCED-90-98) on the Guard's proposal to close or curtail operations at 15 small boat stations, GAO found that the Coast Guard had neither developed comprehensive criteria nor applied a sound, methodical decision-making process. Small boat stations have been established near U.S. coastal waters, the Great Lakes, and inland lakes and waterways to perform rescue missions and to protect and save property. In its current report, GAO indicates that the Coast Guard's new process for determining the need for station changes is reasonable and responds to the deficiencies noted in the 1990 report. The current process, for example, includes detailed criteria for considering such factors as a station's workload, the availability of alternative resources, boating and economic trends, and necessary upgrades to the facility. Using the new process, Coast Guard officials have done a comprehensive analysis of small boat stations, which they plan to complete by April 15, 1994. As a result of this evaluation, they expect to recommend closure, consolidation, or substantial downsizing of some stations. Coast Guard officials also expect a net reduction of about 100 jobs at small boat stations to meet fiscal year 1995 budget cuts being imposed agencywide. Coast Guard officials project that small boat stations' operating and facilities costs would be cut by nearly $4.5 million annually if the proposed changes are implemented.

GAO found that: (1) the Coast Guard's new process for determining station changes is reasonable and corrects prior deficiencies; (2) the new process provides a formal, consistent method of evaluating small boat stations which documents decisions based on relevant criteria and the best available data; (3) the new process includes detailed criteria for considering certain factors in determining station changes and requires that the Coast Guard apply the criteria to all small boat stations under consideration; (4) to improve data accuracy, the Coast Guard has revised its information system software, informed personnel of the importance of data accuracy, and revised the information system's manual to provide better guidance on its use; (5) the Coast Guard expects to complete its comprehensive analysis of small boat stations by April 15, 1994 and recommend closure, consolidation, or substantial downsizing of some stations; (6) the Coast Guard expects to eliminate about 100 positions at small boat stations to meet fiscal year (FY) 1995 budget cuts; (7) the proposed changes will reduce the stations' operating and facilities costs by about $4.4 million annually by FY 1997; and (8) additional station consolidations could occur in the future as a result of technological advancements.