Summary: Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed recent management changes and program delays in the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP).
Through fiscal year 1985, NAPAP spent $6.7 million developing its research results for the general public; however, it delayed its first assessment report because management underestimated the time and staff needed to review and approve the document. GAO found that centralized management made the research program stronger; however, management changes contributed to communication problems between NAPAP task groups and hampered program effectiveness. GAO also found that: (1) NAPAP reduced its efforts to evaluate the economic effects of acid rain since 1985 and included only minimal economic effects information in its first assessment; (2) disagreements among participating agencies on major issues and the large number of agency reviews contributed to delays in issuing key assessments; and (3) NAPAP annual reports were issued late and did not include policy recommendations.
