Monthly Report on EPA OIG Activities for Recovery Act | Office of Inspector General

Monthly Report on EPA OIG Activities for Recovery Act
April 1 - May 1, 2009

Recovery Act Funds Used on Recovery Act Activity - Cumulative
Total Funding Available	Total Obligations	Total Gross Outlays
$20,000,000	$198,911	$182,775

Major Actions Taken to Date with Recovery Act Funds
Initiated the assignment: Audit of EPA's Assessment of Past Performance and Determination of Responsibility for Contractors Awarded Recovery Act Funds Issued a report on open audit recommendations affecting Recovery Act activities. Assistant Inspector General for Audit testified on April 29, 2009, before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on OIG oversight of Recovery Act funding Assisted EPA in identifying risks and mitigation strategies for stimulus funds Participated in EPA Stimulus Steering Committee and Subcommittees Met with all offices receiving Recovery Act funds to gain an understanding of how they plan to use the funds Presented common findings from EPA grantee audits at EPA's National Grant and Interagency Agreement Management Training Conference Initiated a Modification of an Interagency Agreement with Office of Personnel Management for recruitment of Recovery Act staffing (also reported by EPA Grants Administration Div.) Participated on Agency Stimulus Sub-Committee on Performance Measurement - provided advisory comments on risk assessment Established accounting and funding codes for the all remaining OIG components Updated the Fiscal Year 2009 OIG Annual Plan posted on the public Website to include an appendix with an overview of Recovery Act plans Refined investigative strategy Finalized educational materials Reviewed and refined analysis of EPA spending plans Participated in EPA Recovery Act subcommittees Assistant Inspector General for Investigations did briefing at Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities annual meeting Briefed Los Angeles, California, Clean Water State Revolving Fund staff Briefed Los Angeles, California, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund staff Briefed Office of Transportation and Air Quality on clean diesel program Briefed Region 6 on clean diesel program Coordinated with Federal Bureau of Investigation, Dayton, Ohio, on Recovery Act taskforce Coordinated with Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Dayton, Ohio, on Recovery Act and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Briefed Region 8 Underground Storage Tank program office Briefed Region 5 Tribal programs office Webcast to Office of Water on Recovery Act fraud Attended fraud training to develop methodology for Recovery Act recipient reporting audit . Issued report recommending that EPA update its Fiscal Year 2009 Federal Managers' Financial Integrity Act guidance to require respective offices to emphasize reviews of business processes that affected Recovery Act activities, integrated Recovery Act internal control reviews into their multi-year strategies, and certified how well internal controls are working in Fiscal Year 2009 assurance statements to the EPA Administrator.

Major Actions Taken to Date with Recovery Act Funds

Initiated the assignment: Audit of EPA's Assessment of Past Performance and Determination of Responsibility for Contractors Awarded Recovery Act Funds
Issued a report on open audit recommendations affecting Recovery Act activities.
Assistant Inspector General for Audit testified on April 29, 2009, before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on OIG oversight of Recovery Act funding
Assisted EPA in identifying risks and mitigation strategies for stimulus funds
Participated in EPA Stimulus Steering Committee and Subcommittees
Met with all offices receiving Recovery Act funds to gain an understanding of how they plan to use the funds
Presented common findings from EPA grantee audits at EPA's National Grant and Interagency Agreement Management Training Conference
Initiated a Modification of an Interagency Agreement with Office of Personnel Management for recruitment of Recovery Act staffing (also reported by EPA Grants Administration Div.)
Participated on Agency Stimulus Sub-Committee on Performance Measurement - provided advisory comments on risk assessment
Established accounting and funding codes for the all remaining OIG components
Updated the Fiscal Year 2009 OIG Annual Plan posted on the public Website to include an appendix with an overview of Recovery Act plans
Refined investigative strategy
Finalized educational materials
Reviewed and refined analysis of EPA spending plans
Participated in EPA Recovery Act subcommittees
Assistant Inspector General for Investigations did briefing at Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities annual meeting
Briefed Los Angeles, California, Clean Water State Revolving Fund staff
Briefed Los Angeles, California, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund staff
Briefed Office of Transportation and Air Quality on clean diesel program
Briefed Region 6 on clean diesel program
Coordinated with Federal Bureau of Investigation, Dayton, Ohio, on Recovery Act taskforce
Coordinated with Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Dayton, Ohio, on Recovery Act and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Briefed Region 8 Underground Storage Tank program office
Briefed Region 5 Tribal programs office
Webcast to Office of Water on Recovery Act fraud
Attended fraud training to develop methodology for Recovery Act recipient reporting audit
. Issued report recommending that EPA update its Fiscal Year 2009 Federal Managers' Financial Integrity Act guidance to require respective offices to emphasize reviews of business processes that affected Recovery Act activities, integrated Recovery Act internal control reviews into their multi-year strategies, and certified how well internal controls are working in Fiscal Year 2009 assurance statements to the EPA Administrator.

Major Actions Planned to Date with Recovery Act Funds
Initiate an assignment reviewing State intended use plans for Recovery Act State Revolving Fund monies Issue a report on assistance agreement and contract recipients with open recommendations potentially affecting Recovery Act activities Review EPA's draft Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund compliance supplement revisions, as they apply to Recovery Act funding Review Office of Management and Budget’s proposed Recovery Act compliance supplement and provide comments to Office of Management and Budget before finalization and issuance of the supplement Brief EPA's program and administrative offices on OIG planned oversight activities. Issue the OIG unified Agency-program oversight plan Finalize investigative strategy. Due May 15. Procure printing contract for educational materials Train the Trainer on outreach/briefings - Chicago/May Develop data collection methodologies for Recovery Act funding Participate in EPA Recovery Act subcommittees Coordinate investigative strategy with other OIGs and Federal Bureau of Investigation Brief State Revolving Fund staff in top 10 States Brief EPA State Revolving Fund staff As funding is set, develop mailing lists for educational materials Maintain recurring contact with federal, State, and local liaisons Conduct investigations relative to Recovery Act funds Refine investigative strategy for non-State Revolving Fund Recovery Act funds Develop Business Intelligence Team strategy Complete necessary administrative actions relative to Fraud Investigative Teams

Major Actions Planned to Date with Recovery Act Funds

Initiate an assignment reviewing State intended use plans for Recovery Act State Revolving Fund monies
Issue a report on assistance agreement and contract recipients with open recommendations potentially affecting Recovery Act activities
Review EPA's draft Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund compliance supplement revisions, as they apply to Recovery Act funding
Review Office of Management and Budget’s proposed Recovery Act compliance supplement and provide comments to Office of Management and Budget before finalization and issuance of the supplement
Brief EPA's program and administrative offices on OIG planned oversight activities.
Issue the OIG unified Agency-program oversight plan
Finalize investigative strategy. Due May 15.
Procure printing contract for educational materials
Train the Trainer on outreach/briefings - Chicago/May
Develop data collection methodologies for Recovery Act funding
Participate in EPA Recovery Act subcommittees
Coordinate investigative strategy with other OIGs and Federal Bureau of Investigation
Brief State Revolving Fund staff in top 10 States
Brief EPA State Revolving Fund staff
As funding is set, develop mailing lists for educational materials
Maintain recurring contact with federal, State, and local liaisons
Conduct investigations relative to Recovery Act funds
Refine investigative strategy for non-State Revolving Fund Recovery Act funds
Develop Business Intelligence Team strategy
Complete necessary administrative actions relative to Fraud Investigative Teams

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Monthly Report on EPA OIG Activities for Recovery Act April 1 - May 1, 2009

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Monthly Report on EPA OIG Activities for Recovery Act
April 1 - May 1, 2009