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<br />OG2:185 <br /> <br />increases which would accompany development of the R"ver in the upper <br />basin. Congress authorized the appropriation of $125,1 ~illion (at Apr"l <br />1973 prices) fo~ construction of facilities to control :our specific salt <br />sources. In addition. the Secretary was directed to investigate and <br />submit planning reports to Congress on the potential for constructing <br />salinity control projects at 12 other locations. Project investigations <br />are funded by the Bureau's General Investigations Program. A 1984 <br />amendment to the Salinity Control Act increased the number of authorized <br />projects to five by deauthorizing one of the original control projects <br />and authorizing two new ones. <br /> <br />As of September 30, 1987. $47 million had been spent by the Bureau for <br />Title II investigative activities while expenditures for construction <br />totaled $95 million. The Title II salinity control program is unique in <br />that its duration and eventual total cost are not determinable, As long <br />as development of the River basin water continues, additional salinity <br />control proj ec ts wi 11 be needed. The Bureau estimates that by fiscal <br />year 2010 its construction costs for the currently authorized projects <br />and other projects anticipated to be authorized will be about $398 <br />million. The status of the Bureau's effor~s on Title II projects <br />specifically authorized for construction or investigation is in <br />Appendix 3. <br /> <br />OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE <br /> <br />The objective of our surv:ey \o1as to determine if the salinity control <br />program was operated in compliance with legislative, regulatory, and <br />Bureau of Reclamation requirements. In addition, we reviewed the <br />Bureau's progress toward accomplishing Title I and II salinity control <br />objectives, To accomplish our audit objectives. we (1) interviewed <br />Bureau program personnel at the local, regional, and ~eadquarters level <br />and other interested parties; (2) reviewed program reports and related <br />material; (3) reviewed planning reports and supporting documentation; and <br />(4) inspected four salinity control features either under construction or <br />in advanced planning stages, <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />""" <br /> <br />Our survey was conducted between ~ay 1988 and February 1989 primarily at <br />the Bureau's headquarters in Washington. D.C., and at the six field <br />locations identified in Appendix 4. Our survey was made, as applicable. <br />in accordance with the "Standards for Audit of Governmental <br />Organizations. Programs, Activities, and Functions,M issued bv the <br />Comptroller General of the United States. Accordingly, we included such <br />tests of records and other auditing procedures that were considered <br />necessary under the circumstances. <br /> <br />As part: of our survey, we made a limited evaluation of the Bureau's <br />system of internal controls related to salinity control program plann:~g. <br />execution, and reporting. Our survey identified ar, internal con:r~l <br />weakness related to planning projects to control salinity from irrigation <br />sources. This weakness is addressed in the Finding and Recommendations <br />section of this report. Our recommendations, if i::plemented, should <br />improve internal controls in this area. <br /> <br />4 <br />