Laws & Regulations

Report: Management Alert - Concerns Over Compliance, Accountability and Consistency Identified With EPA’s Biweekly Pay Cap Waiver Process

Report #17-P-0355, August 9, 2017. We identified issues with documentation of biweekly pay cap waivers at Region 10, as well as matters that pertained to EPA headquarters offices.

Report: EPA Needs to Institutionalize Its “Lean” Program to Reap Cost and Time Benefits

Report #17-P-0346, July 31, 2017. Tight and dwindling resources necessitate more efficient use of the EPA’s multibillion dollar budget.

Report: EPA Is Taking Steps to Improve State Drinking Water Program Reviews and Public Water Systems Compliance Data

Report #17-P-0326, July 18, 2017. The EPA is taking action to improve oversight tools used to determine whether public water systems are monitoring and reporting drinking water quality in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Report: Over $774 Million of Puerto Rico State Revolving Funds at Risk

Report #17-P-0186, April 26, 2017. Over $774 million of state revolving funds is at risk due to Puerto Rico’s ongoing financial crisis. Restoration of the revolving funds in the near future is highly unlikely.

Report: Backlog of Leaking Underground Storage Tank Cleanups in Indian Country Has Been Reduced, but EPA Needs to Demonstrate Compliance With Requirements

Report #17-P-0118, March 6, 2017. Without documentation and controls for the prioritization of UST cleanups in Indian country, the sites with the greatest health and environmental risks may not be addressed.

Report: Certain State, Local and Tribal Data Processing Practices Could Impact Suitability of Data for 8-Hour Ozone Air Quality Determinations

Report #17-P-0106, February 6, 2017. There is a risk that multiple air-monitoring agencies are not always implementing the EPA’s recommended quality assurance practices for ozone data.

Report: Drinking Water: EPA Needs to Take Additional Steps to Ensure Small Community Water Systems Designated as Serious Violators Achieve Compliance

Report #16-P-0108, March 22, 2016. The EPA can better protect the public from contaminated drinking water, including nearly 200,000 people in Puerto Rico still lacking safe drinking water.

Report: The EPA Should Determine What Interim Actions Can Be Taken to Immediately Notify the Public When Lead in Drinking Water Exceeds the Agency’s Action Level

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Report and Podcast: The EPA Should Update Its Strategy, Goals, Deadlines, and Accountability Framework to Better Lead Chesapeake Bay Restoration Efforts

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Report: EPA Budget Systems Need Improved Oversight of Security Controls Testing

Report #20-P-0015, November 1, 2019. The OCFO lacks internal controls needed to make informed, risk based decisions regarding the security of the agency's budget systems.

Report: Fiscal Years 2017 and 2016 (Restated) Financial Statements for the Pesticide Registration Fund

Report #19-F-0215, June 28, 2019. We rendered a modified opinion on the EPA's FY 2017 PRIA financial statements and a disclaimer of opinion on the FY 2016 (restated) PRIA Fund financial statements.

Report: Fiscal Years 2017 and 2016 (Restated) Financial Statements for the Pesticides Reregistration and Expedited Processing Fund

Report #19-F-0214, June 28, 2019. We rendered a modified opinion on the EPA's FY 2017 FIFRA Fund financial statements and a disclaimer of opinion on the FY 2016 (restated) FIFRA Fund financial statements.

Report: EPA Effectively Screens Air Emissions Data from Continuous Monitoring Systems but Could Enhance Verification of System Performance

Report #19-P-0207, June 27, 2019. Data from CEMS are used to determine whether sources, such as power plants, comply with emissions limits designed to improve air quality and achieve environmental and public health goals.

Report: Management Alert - To Minimize Risk of Environmental Harm, the Security Categorization of Electronic Manifest System Data Needs to Be Re-Evaluated

Report #18-P-0217, June 21, 2018. A breach of hazardous material information within e-Manifest may facilitate terrorist or other criminal activities.

Report: Fiscal Years 2015 and 2014 Financial Statements for the Pesticide Registration Fund

Report #17-F-0315, July 10, 2017. Due to the material weakness in internal controls noted, the agency cannot provide reasonable assurance that financial data provided for the PRIA Fund accurately reflect the agency’s financial activities and balances.

Report: Fiscal Years 2015 and 2014 Financial Statements for the Pesticides Reregistration and Expedited Processing Fund

Report #17-F-0314, July 10, 2017. Due to the material weakness in internal controls noted, the agency cannot provide reasonable assurance that financial data provided for the FIFRA Fund accurately reflect the agency’s financial activities and balances.

Report: EPA Should Assess Needs and Implement Management Controls to Ensure Effective Incorporation of Chemical Safety Research Products

Report #17-P-0294, June 23, 2017. With management controls that ensure the collaborative development of research products and prioritize chemical safety research needs, the EPA would be better able to conduct faster chemical risk assessments.

Report: Downriver Community Conference Achieved Results and Expended Funds Under Brownfields Agreement, but Unallowable Costs Were Claimed

Report #17-P-0204, May 3, 2017. By claiming unallowable costs totaling $26,901, DCC reduced the amount of funds available for Brownfields restorations.

Report: EPA Has Adequate Controls to Manage Advice From Science and Research Federal Advisory Committees, but Transparency Could Be Improved

Report #17-P-0124, March 13, 2017. Science plays an integral role in the EPA's mission. The EPA has an adequate system of controls to manage recommendations from its science and research federal advisory committees.

Report: EPA’s Purchase Order Process Needs to Improve and Achieve Better Value

Report #17-P-0001, October 13, 2016. We estimate that the agency could save approximately $592,000 annually by using purchase cards instead of purchase orders.