Laws & Regulations

Report: CSB Discontinued Information Recovery Testing and Off-Site Backup Storage During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Report #21-E-0016, November 18, 2020. The CSB was at risk of not being able to readily restore information technology operations if they were disrupted during the coronavirus pandemic.

Report: Chemical Fume Hood Testing Improvements Needed to Reduce Health and Safety Risk to EPA Employees

Report #13-P-0363, August 28, 2013. We found that the EPA complied with applicable regulations and guidance in procuring both the chemical fume hood retrofit kits and fume hood testing contracts.

Report: EPA Can Better Document Resolution of Ethics and Partiality Concerns in Managing Clean Air Federal Advisory Committees

Report #13-P-0387, September 11, 2013. In general, the EPA managed the CASAC and Council in accordance with applicable statutes and regulations.

Report: EPA Has Sufficiently Managed Emergency Responses During the Pandemic but Needs to Procure More Supplies and Clarify Guidance

Report #20-E-0332, September 28, 2020. On-scene coordinators may not be safe deploying during the COVID-19 pandemic without sufficient personal protective equipment and clear guidance.

Report: Early Warning Report: Internal Controls and Management Actions Concerning John C. Beale Pay Issues

Report #14-P-0036, December 11, 2013. The fraud committed by John C. Beale was enabled by ineffective internal controls and a lack of management attention.

Report: EPA Needs Accurate Data on Results of Pollution Prevention Grants to Maintain Program Integrity and Measure Effectiveness of Grants

Report #15-P-0276, September 4, 2015. Inaccurate reporting of results misrepresents the impacts of pollution prevention activities provided to the public, and misinforms EPA management on the effectiveness of its investment in the program.

Report: Early Warning Report: Internal Controls and Management Actions Concerning John C. Beale’s Travel

Report #14-P-0037, December 11, 2013. John C. Beale admitted to $45,094 in fraudulent travel expenses, and additional expenses are questionable.

Report: EPA's FYs 2020–2021 Top Management Challenges

Report #20-N-0231, July 21, 2020. Identifying and resolving top management challenges is essential to the EPA's protection of human health and the environment.

Report: EPA Needs to Improve Processes for Updating Guidance, Monitoring Corrective Actions, and Managing Remote Access for External Users

Report #21-E-0124, April 16, 2021. Deficiencies in the EPA’s information technology internal controls could be used to exploit weaknesses in Agency applications and hinder the EPA’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging cyberthreats.

Report: EPA Did Not Conduct Agencywide Risk Assessment of CARES Act Appropriations, Increasing Risk of Fraud, Waste, Abuse, and Mismanagement

Report #21-E-0128, May 4, 2021. The OIG documented and assessed the internal controls that the EPA implemented to mitigate risks of fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement over the CARES Act appropriations.

Report: EPA Complied With Improper Payment Legislation, But Opportunities for Improvement Exist

Report #15-P-0152, May 1, 2015. The EPA can improve the accuracy of its annual report through changes to its improper payment identification and reporting procedures.

Report: Resource Constraints, Leadership Decisions, and Workforce Culture Led to a Decline in Federal Enforcement

Report #21-P-0132, May 13, 2021. A decline in the EPA's enforcement activities may expose the public and the environment to undetected harmful pollutants.

Report: EPA Deviated from Typical Procedures in Its 2018 Dicamba Pesticide Registration Decision

Report #21-E-0146, May 24, 2021. The EPA needs to document and follow established procedures to ensure scientifically sound decisions regarding pesticides.

Report: EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory Has Taken Steps to Mitigate Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic on Mobile Source Emission Compliance

Report #21-E-0158, June 7, 2021. The OIG determined how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted laboratory operations and testing at the EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Report: Improvements Needed to Ensure EPA Terminates Exceptions to Biweekly Pay Limits at Completion of Emergency Response Work

Report #15-P-0170, June 19, 2015. EPA made payments totaling $4,141 to employees in excess of biweekly pay limits because authorized exceptions were not terminated at the end of emergency response work.

Report: EPA’s Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program Has Made Limited Progress in Assessing Pesticides

Report #21-E-0186, July 28, 2021. Without the required testing and an effective system of internal controls, the EPA cannot make measurable progress toward complying with statutory requirements or safeguarding human health and the environment against risks

Report: EPA Needs to Measure and Track Performance of Programs Eliminated in President’s Budget but Later Funded by Congress

Report #21-E-0219, September 2, 2021. Without internal controls to track ETF program performance, the EPA risks underreporting environmental and human health outcomes.