Laws & Regulations

Report: Improvements in Air Toxics Emissions Data Needed to Conduct Residual Risk Assessments

Report #08-P-0020, October 31, 2007. EPA’s National Emissions Inventory (NEI) data indicate an overall decline in air toxic emissions concurrent with implementation of the MACT standards.

Report: Audit of EPA’s Fiscal 2007 and 2006 (Restated) Consolidated Financial Statements

Report #08-1-0032, November 15, 2007. We noted one material weakness with EPA’s Implementation of the “Currently Not Collectible” policy for accounts receivable that caused a Material Understatement of Asset Value.

Report: Village of Laurelville, Ohio – Unallowable Costs Claimed Under EPA Grant XP97579701

Report #08-2-0039, December 5, 2007. The Village of Laurelville (grantee) did not maintain an acceptable financial management system in accordance with Federal regulations to support drawdown requests submitted to EPA for $278,448 in grant funds.

Report: Unallowable Federal Funds Drawn on EPA Grant No. XP98247201 Awarded to the Wayne County Water and Sewer Authority, New York

Report #08-2-0045, December 17, 2007. The Wayne County Water and Sewer Authority (grantee) claimed and was reimbursed for preaward costs of $276,268 that are unallowable under Federal regulations and the grant terms and conditions.

Report: Despite Progress, EPA Needs to Improve Oversight of Wastewater Upgrades in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Report #08-P-0049, January 8, 2008. Chesapeake Bay waste water treatment facilities risk not meeting the 2010 deadline for nutrient reductions if key facilities are not upgraded in time.

Report: EPA Should Continue to Improve Its National Emergency Response Planning

Report #08-P-0055, January 9, 2008. We found that EPA’s Emergency Response Business Plan did not disclose the basis for EPA’s resource estimates.

Report: City of Elizabeth, New Jersey -Excess Clean Water State Revolving Funds Claimed

Report #08-2-0062, January 23, 2008. The grantee claimed and was reimbursed under its Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan in excess of actual costs incurred, contrary to the requirements of Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 35.3155 (d)(2).

Report: EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation Needs to Improve Compliance with Audit Followup Process

Report #08-P-0080, February 12, 2008. EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) had generally taken corrective actions to implement the recommendations for the five air-related reports we reviewed.

Report: Framework for Developing Tribal Capacity Needed in the Indian General Assistance Program

Report #08-P-0083, February 19, 2008. The purpose of IGAP grants is to help tribes develop environmental programs, and over 70% of tribes have met at least one of EPA’s strategic goals for improving human health and the environment in Indian country.

Report: Borough of Carteret, New Jersey -Unallowable Costs Claimed Under EPA Grant XP98247001

Report #08-2-0084, February 20, 2008. The Borough of Carteret, New Jersey (grantee), did not meet the Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 31 requirements for financial management systems.

Report: EPA Should Further Limit Use of Cost-Plus-Award-Fee Contracts

Report #08-P-0093, February 26, 2008. EPA has no assurance that the use of CPAF contracts facilitates a higher level of performance than other types of contracts.

Report: City of Bad Axe, Michigan -Unallowable Costs Claimed Under EPA Grant XP98578301

Report #08-2-0095, February 27, 2008. The City of Bad Axe (grantee) purchased two parcels of land totaling $51,297 without obtaining prior approval as required by Federal regulations.

Report: Followup on Information Concerning Superfund Cooperative Agreements with New York and New Jersey

Report #08-2-0099, March 4, 2008. We found that EPA Region 2 had deobligated $7.3 million from four of the six sites in New York and New Jersey cited in our prior report.

Report: Making Better Use of Superfund Special Accounts in Region 8

Report #08-P-0102, March 17, 2008. Region 8 can reclassify, or transfer to the Trust Fund, approximately $8 million from the special accounts for the Portland Cement site in Utah.

Report: EPA Can Recover More Federal Superfund Money

Report #08-P-0116, March 26, 2008. We found that EPA regions have recovered $165 million of $294 million (56 percent) of the total Superfund costs from the sites we reviewed.

Evaluation Program for Aftermarket Retrofit Devices

EPA conducts a voluntary program to evaluate aftermarket devices and fuel additives that manufacturers claim will improve fuel economy and/or reduce exhaust emissions for passenger cars and trucks.

Report: Summary of Recent Developments in EPA’s Drinking Water Program and Areas for Additional Focus

Report #08-P-0120, March 31, 2008. OGWDW addressed or is addressing all of the EPA OIG drinking water program-related evaluation report recommendations made from September 2003 to May 2007.

Volkswagen (VW) Settlement: DERA Option

State and Tribal DERA options to use funds available from the Volkswagen (VW) Settlement

Final Rule for Control of Hazardous Air Pollutants from Mobile Sources

Need sentence.

Report: Improvements Needed to Ensure Grant Funds for U.S.-Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Program Are Spent More Timely

Report #08-P-0121, March 31, 2008. From 2005 to 2007, EPA took actions to implement timeframes for Border Program projects, reduce the scope of projects, and reduce unliquidated obligations of projects.