Laws & Regulations

Report: EPA Is at Risk of Not Achieving Special Local Needs Program Goals for Pesticides

Report #21-E-0072, February 10, 2021. Without a sufficient management-control system and other improvements, the SLN program will not effectively promote risk reduction and pollution prevention.

Report: CSB's Information Security Program Is Not Consistently Implemented; Improvements Are Needed to Address Four Weaknesses

Report #21-E-0071, February 9, 2021. The CSB has not consistently implemented its information security program’s policies, procedures, and strategies.

Report: EPA Mostly Adheres to Regulations When Assessing Risks of New Pesticides but Should Improve Internal Controls

Report #21-P-0070, February 8, 2021. By implementing stronger internal controls, the EPA can decrease the risk of issuing a pesticide registration that does not comply with regulatory requirements.

Report: Office of Research and Development Initiatives to Address Threats and Risks to Public Health and the Environment from Plastic Pollution Within the Waters of the United States

Report #21-N-0052, January 6, 2021. The OIG completed an audit to identify the extent to which the EPA's Office of Research and Development research initiatives address threats and risks to public health and the environment from plastic pollution.

Report: EPA's Fiscal Years 2019 and 2018 Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System Fund Financial Statements

Report #21-F-0045, January 5, 2021. We found the fund's financial statements to be fairly presented and free of material misstatement.

Report: EPA Needs to Improve Its Planning and Management of Laboratory Consolidation Efforts

Report #21-E-0033, December 7, 2020. Without improved management controls, EPA risks cost overruns and delays in laboratory consolidation efforts. These will reduce their potential avoided costs and savings of approximately $409 million over 30 years.

Report: Region 2's Hurricanes Irma and Maria Response Efforts in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Show the Need for Improved Planning, Communications, and Assistance for Small Drinking Water Systems

Report #21-P-0032, December 3, 2020. Enhancements to water system capacity and emergency preparation for island response could better protect the health of communities impacted by hurricanes and other disasters.

Report: EPA Needs to Improve Oversight of Invoice Reviews and Contractor Performance Evaluation

Report #21-E-0031, December 1, 2020. Effective contract management practices safeguard the EPA from remitting costs that are not allowable, allocable, and reasonable.

Report: EPA's Fiscal Years 2020 and 2019 (Restated) Consolidated Financial Statements

Report #21-F-0014, November 16, 2020. We found the EPA's financial statements to be fairly presented and free of material misstatement.

Report: Audit of EPA's Toxic Substances Control Act Service Fee Fund Financial Statements for the Period from Inception (June 22, 2016) through September 30, 2018

Report #20-F-0342, September 30, 2020. We found the fund's financial statements to be fairly presented and free of material misstatement.

Report: Data Used for Annual Toxics Release Inventory National Analysis Are 99 Percent Complete, but EPA Could Improve Certain Data Controls

Report #20-P-0337, September 30, 2020. The EPA's efforts to follow up with late reporters prior to “freezing” the data contributed to more complete data.

Report: Regions 1 and 5 Need to Require Tribes to Submit More Detailed Work Plans for Grants

Report #20-E-0335, September 29, 2020. Inadequate work plans in Regions 1 and 5 put tribal grants at risk for unsupported costs.

Report: EPA's Lack of Oversight Resulted in Serious Issues Related to an Office of Water Contract, Including Potential Misallocation of Funds

Report #20-P-0331, September 25, 2020. Improved contract management will help the EPA become a better fiscal steward and potentially save millions of taxpayer dollars.

Report: Fiscal Years 2019 and 2018 Financial Statements for the Pesticide Registration Fund

Report #20-F-0328, September 23, 2020. We found the EPA's PRIA Fund financial statements to be fairly presented and free of material misstatements.

Report: Fiscal Years 2019 and 2018 Financial Statements for the Pesticides Reregistration and Expedited Processing Fund

Report #20-F-0308, September 8, 2020. Federal law requires agency heads to establish and maintain a records program that includes safeguards against the removal or loss of agency records.

Report: Management Alert: EPA Region 5 Needs to Implement Effective Internal Controls to Strengthen Its Records Management Program

Report #20-E-0247, August 31, 2020. Federal law requires agency heads to establish and maintain a records program that includes safeguards against the removal or loss of agency records.

Report: Lack of Planning Risks EPA’s Ability to Meet Toxic Substances Control Act Deadlines

Report #20-P-0247, August 17, 2020. The EPA did not complete a significant TSCA deadline on June 19, 2020, and the Agency is at risk of missing future deadlines due to a lack of staff and resource planning.

Report: EPA Needs to Strengthen Controls Over Required Documentation and Tracking of Intergovernmental Personnel Act Assignments

Report #20-P-0245, August 10, 2020. The Agency lacks controls to verify that documents are submitted and maintained as required, as well as a reliable system to track employees on IPA assignment.

Report: EPA's Fiscal Years 2018 and 2017 Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System Fund Financial Statements

Report #20-F-0244, August 10, 2020. We found the fund's financial statements to be fairly presented and free of material misstatement.

Report: EPA Needs to Improve Oversight of Research Assistance Agreements

Report #20-P-0204, June 30, 2020. The EPA’s lack of compliance with assistance agreement oversight requirements can put EPA research funds at risk.