The Proposed Carter Presidential Library

GAO discussed issues relating to the proposed Carter Presidential Library. The General Services Administration (GSA) has submitted a report to Congress on the proposed Carter Library pursuant to the requirements of the Presidential Libraries Act of 1955. GSA is working with a nonprofit corporation in designing the Carter Library. GSA has the responsibility to ensure that plans for the library adequately consider the general requirements for the library on the basis of past experience. GAO believes that, while the size, uses, and costs of presidential libraries exceed what was envisioned when the Act was passed, the proposed Carter Library would be more modest than the four previous presidential libraries, although initial and annual costs are only estimated at this time. The library is to be constructed on land currently held by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), which will exchange the land with other land to be procured by the nonprofit corporation. GDOT is preparing an environmental impact statement for a proposed parkway which will provide access to the library. Delays and uncertainties surrounding the environmental impact statement for the parkway could cause the nonprofit corporation to choose another site for the library.