March 2003
“South Florida Ecosystem Restoration:
Task Force Needs to Improve Science Coordination to
Increase the Likelihood of Success” (GAO-03-345).
U.S. Department of the Interior
Office of the Secretary
Washington, D.C. 20240
Mr. Barry T. Hill
Director, Natural Resources and Environment Team
U.S. General Accounting Office
441 G Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20548
Dear Mr. Hill:
The Department of the Interior appreciates the opportunity to review the General Accounting Office (GAO) draft report entitled “South Florida Ecosystem Restoration: Task Force Needs to Improve Science Coordination to Increase the Likelihood of Success” (GAO-03-345). To assist the Corps’ efforts to implement CERP, as well as implement other ongoing projects to achieve Everglades restoration goals concerning habitat restoration and recovery of endangered species, we are improving the coordination of our own science programs through the development of a Department of the Interior Science Plan. Our science plan is a direct result of improved coordination among the Interior bureaus.
Last year, the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department executed a Memorandum of Understanding to coordinate Everglades science programs. The Department’s science plan will support the needs of the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service – our land managing agencies – in implementing Everglades restoration programs including CERP. The science plan is being developed under the leadership of the Geological Survey and will identify the issues that must be resolved through further scientific inquiry for each restoration project underway. Once the issues are identified, the plan will describe the adequacy of the scientific information gathered to date, any gaps that remain, and a strategy to acquire sufficient scientific knowledge so that agency decisions may be based upon a strategy to acquire sufficient scientific knowledge so that agency decisions may be based upon sound science.
As part of this effort, the Geological Survey will coordinate our science with our federal, tribal, and state partners by establishing the Greater Everglades Science Coordination Council. The Council’s first meeting is this month and we hope to have the science plan completed by the end of the first half of this year. If se are successful, our science plan may serve as a model to other Task Force agencies who also manage science program contributing to the restoration effort. Additionally, to improve coordination among Interior bureaus, the FY 2004 President’s Budget proposes to consolidate our Everglades science program under the Geological Survey.
(Continued)
Sincerely,
Lynn Scarlett
Assistant Secretary
Policy, Management and Budget
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