Summary: Of the various remedies that are available to close the gaps in the energy decisionmaking process, the recommended remedy is to create a Department of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR). The creation of a separate administration having statutory jurisdiction for energy data is advisable. Congress should utilize the Professional Audit Review Team (PART) in order to gather vital information on energy data. The proposed DENR should have the responsibility for automobile fuel economy standards and energy conservation performance standards. An energy health and safety regulatory organization will be needed, which will be either completely independent of the DENR or, if included within the Department, will be carefully insulated from its promotional activities. A clarification of the administration's proposed treatment of the relationship between Federal land management policy and energy policy would be helpful. A high-level council, headed by the Secretary of the DENR, should be formed to coordinate all Federal activities related to energy. The General Accounting Office should carefully monitor the activities of the DENR to provide Congress with information for assessing its performance.
