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<br />. <br /> <br />032334 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />program activities were performed by program personnel from Service <br />headquarters. <br /> <br />Since 1986, the Service has administered the endangered species program <br />through a decentralized line-staff system. Under this system, regional <br />direc tors, reporting to the Director, are respons ible for adminis cering <br />the endangered species program within their respective regions. The <br />Division of Endangered Species and Habitat Conservation, located at <br />Service headquarters, provides support to the Director by administering <br />the program through the individual regional offices. This support is <br />principally in the areas of internal and external coordination, internal <br />support, and preparation of policy and guidance. <br /> <br />Under the line- staff system, the Service has performed overall <br />evaluations of regional operations which have included aspects of the <br />endangered species program. These reviews were personally conducted by <br />the Director and/or his special assistants and were focused on selected <br />aspects of all regional administrative and program activities. The <br />reviews, however, were not performed under the direction of endangered <br />species program headquarters personnel and did not include detailed <br />examinations of endangered species program administration, policy <br />compliance, and program ex.ecution, all of which were formerly included <br />under the program management system. We also noted that regional reviews <br />of field offices, when performed. were generally oriented toward overall <br />management evaluations rather than program detail. During our review, at <br />least one field office supervisor stated that his office had not had any <br />type of internal review since August 1985 and that he believed such <br />reviews were worthwhile in keeping programs on t.rack. The responsible <br />regional endangered species program official stated that although <br />specific program reviews of field offices were not performed since the <br />changeover to the line-staff system in 1986, overall operational reviews <br />had been performed at some of the field offices. <br /> <br />Since the endangered species program impacts the survival of the nation's <br />animal and plant species, it has generated and we believe will continue <br />to generate a high degree of controversy and media attention. In <br />addition, the Congress has been interested in the program's executive <br />direction, as evidenced by specific requirements included in the <br />Endange.xe.d Species Act and its amendments. We t.herefore believe that <br />whether the endangered species program management system is centralized <br />at Service headquarters or decentralized at the regional level, there is <br />sufficient national and Congressional interest in the program to merit <br />periodic management reviews on a consistent basis. Headquarters program <br />personnel should review regional operations, and regional program <br />personnel should review field operations to ensure that national <br />priorities are being followed and that overall adherence to national <br />policies and procedures is being maintained. <br /> <br />Recommendations <br /> <br />We recommend that the Director. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, instruct <br />appropriate officials to take the following actions: <br /> <br />20 <br />