Keystone XL Pipeline Project Compliance Follow-up Review: The Department of State’s Choice of Environmental Resources Management, Inc., To Assist in Preparing the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, in coordination with the Office of the Legal Adviser, enhance its Guidance to more fully articulate its third-party contractor selection and conflicts of interest processes.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, in coordination with the Office of the Legal Adviser, enhance its Guidance to explain in greater detail the definition of organizational conflict of interest relied upon by the Department.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, in coordination with the Office of the Legal Adviser, specify in its Guidance the documentation required during the deliberative process for selecting third-party contractors and assessing organizational conflicts of interest and establish standard operating procedures to consistently capture and retain this information.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, in coordination with the Office of the Legal Adviser, enhance its Guidance to integrate a process for public disclosure of appropriate information.