Laws & Regulations

Report: Benefits of EPA Initiative to Promote Renewable Energy on Contaminated Lands Have Not Been Established

Report #15-P-0198, July 16, 2015. EPA does not know the benefits realized from its efforts to promote siting renewable energy on contaminated lands. As a result, the agency is unable to demonstrate benefits realized for the $4 million it stated it has inve

Report: Enhanced EPA Oversight and Action Can Further Protect Water Resources From the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing

Report #15-P-0204, July 16, 2015. Enhanced EPA oversight of the permitting process for diesel fuel use during hydraulic fracturing can further EPA efforts to protect water resources, and establishment of a plan for determining whether to propose a chemical

Report: Internal Controls Needed to Control Costs of Superfund Technical Assessment & Response Team Contracts, as Exemplified in Region 7

Report #15-P-0215, July 20, 2015. Lack of oversight led to unallowable billings of $82,322 and noncompliance with contract terms and conditions.

Report: Independent Environmental Sampling Shows Some Properties Designated by EPA as Available for Use Had Some Contamination

Report #15-P-0221, July 21, 2015. Some OIG sampling results showed contamination was still present at sites designated by the EPA as ready for reuse. This was unexpected and could signal a need to implement changes to ensure human health protection.

Report: CSB Needs to Improve Its Acquisition Approvals and Other Processes to Ensure Best Value for Taxpayers

Report #15-P-0245, July 31, 2015. CSB's acquisition process is at risk and may have ineffective operations without a strategy to implement controls. Further, CSB has limited evidence it contracted at the best value.

Report: Improvements Needed by EPA to Reduce Risk in Employee Hiring Process

Report #15-P-0253, August 3, 2015. Without verification of prior employment or references, the potential exists that the EPA will not hire the best possible staff, or will hire an employee based on false statements.

Report: Follow-Up Report: EPA Proposes to Streamline the Review, Management and Disposal of Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals

Report #15-P-0260, August 19, 2015. EPA states that it intends to issue a proposed rule, Management Standards for Hazardous Waste, which will attempt to streamline the approach to managing and disposing of hazardous and nonhazardous pharmaceutical waste.

Risk Management for Asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos

Risk management page for final risk evaluation for asbestos, part 1: chrysotile asbestos

Report: EPA Can Increase Impact of Environmental Justice on Agency Rulemaking by Meeting Commitments and Measuring Adherence to Guidance

Report #15-P-0274, September 3, 2015. Continued delays in issuing or finalizing EJ guidance limits the EPA’s ability to broadly and consistently consider EJ during the rulemaking process.

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: EPA Can Reduce Risk of Undetected Clean Air Act Violations Through Better Monitoring of Settlement Agreements

Report #15-P-0277, September 10, 2015. Adequate tracking of consent decrees by the EPA reduces the risk of violations going undetected, which could impact human health and the environment.

Report: EPA’s Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards Program Lacks Adequate Support and Transparency and Should Be Assessed for Continuation

Report #15-P-0279, September 15, 2015. Without data verification and transparency, the EPA risks reporting Green Chemistry Award results that are unreliable.

Report: EPA Needs to Track Whether Its Major Municipal Settlements for Combined Sewer Overflows Benefit Water Quality

Report #15-P-0280, September 16, 2015. By tracking environmental results, the EPA can show how the $32 billion that communities are spending to address discharges of untreated sewage and contaminated storm water improves water quality.

Report: Incomplete Contractor Systems Inventory and a Lack of Oversight Limit EPA’s Ability to Facilitate IT Governance

Report #15-P-0290, September 21, 2015. The EPA risks being unable to protect its resources and data from undue harm.

Report: EPA Needs to Improve Recording Information Technology Investments and Issue a Policy Covering All Investments

Report #15-P-0292, September 22, 2015. The EPA management of its $334 million in IT investments is noncompliant with its current policy. Thus, the EPA is at risk of not managing taxpayer dollars properly.

Report: EPA Not Fully Compliant With Overtime Policies

Report #15-P-0293, September 22, 2015. The EPA may have incurred overtime charges without proper authorization and advance approval, and did not maintain overtime request forms as required.

Report: EPA Needs Better Management Controls for Approval of Employee Travel

Report #15-P-0294, September 22, 2015. Weak internal controls make EPA travel dollars vulnerable to fraud waste and misuse.

Report: EPA Needs to Improve the Recognition and Administration of Cloud Services for the Office of Water’s Permit Management Oversight System

Report #15-P-0295, September 24, 2015. Inadequate contract oversight jeopardized information security and government transparency.

Early Warning Report: EPA Region 9 Should Withhold Award of the Fiscal Year 2015 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Grant to the Hawaii Department of Health

Report #15-P-0298, September 28, 2015. Due to a Notice of Non-Compliance issued to the Hawaii DOH and lack of adequate progress on a corrective action plan, the EPA should withhold about $8.8 million in FY 2015 DWSRF capitalization grant funds.

Report: Unused Earmark Funds for Water Projects Totaling $6.2 Million Could Be Put to Better Use

Report #15-P-0299, September 30, 2015. SAAP grant funds should either be used for water and wastewater facilities as intended or, with congressional rescission, be returned to the U.S. Treasury.