Laws & Regulations

Report: EPA Helps States Reduce Trash, Including Plastic, in U.S. Waterways but Needs to Identify Obstacles and Develop Strategies for Further Progress

Report #21-P-0130, May 11, 2021. The EPA and states can reduce the volume of trash, including plastics, in U.S. waterways by evaluating barriers to implementing the Clean Water Act and developing strategies to overcome those barriers.

Report: Staffing Constraints, Safety and Health Concerns at EPA's National Enforcement Investigations Center May Compromise Ability to Achieve Mission

Report #21-P-0131, May 12, 2021. Safety, health, and attrition issues may compromise NEIC’s ability to support the EPA’s civil and criminal enforcement efforts.

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 Complies with Payment Integrity Information Act but Needs to Determine Cost Allowability When Testing for Improper Grant Payments

Report #21-P-0135, May 14, 2021. Improved review methods when considering the allowability of costs for grant funds will aid the EPA in identifying estimated improper payments.

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: EPA Has Reduced Its Backlog of State Implementation Plans Submitted Prior to 2013 but Continues to Face Challenges in Taking Timely Final Actions on Submitted Plans

Report #21-E-0163, June 14, 2021. Delays in EPA SIP actions increase the risk that state or local air agencies are not implementing plans sufficient to achieve or maintain the NAAQS.

Report: EPA Should Conduct More Oversight of Synthetic-Minor-Source Permitting to Assure Permits Adhere to EPA Guidance

Without clear and enforceable limitations in synthetic-minor-source permits, facilities may emit excess pollution that would otherwise subject them to the more stringent requirements of the Clean Air Act major-source permitting programs.

Management Implication Report Concerning Lack of Information Security Protection of Off-Network EPA Device

The EPA OIG has identified a critical control issue concerning the information security and scientific integrity of an environmental air sensor device. This critical control issue highlights the need for safeguards on remote devices procured, implemented,

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

Case Summary: EPA Recovers $2.6 million in Past Costs and Defers the Capitol City Plume Superfund Site to Alabama

Case summary of cleanup agreement for Capitol City Plume Superfund Site

Report: Compendium of Open and Unresolved Recommendations: Data as of March 31, 2021

Report #21-N-0191, August 4, 2021. This compendium analyzes the open and unresolved recommendations listed in the semiannual report covering our work from October 1, 2020, through March 31, 2021.

EPA Announces $918,000 to Protect Waterways from Sewage Overflows in Tennessee  

Release Date: April 30, 2026

EPA Announces $2.1 Million to Protect Waterways from Sewage Overflows in Georgia

Release Date: April 30, 2026

EPA Announces $560,000 to Protect Waterways from Sewage Overflows in Mississippi   

Release Date: April 30, 2026

Report: EPA Should Improve Compliance with Blanket Purchase Agreement Requirements

Report #21-P-0192, August 9, 2021. The EPA could achieve cost savings and potentially put Agency funds to better use by improving compliance with BPA requirements.

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.

Management Implication Report: Failure to Follow Agency Procedure to Report Cyber Incident

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office oflnspector General has identified a failure to follow Agency procedure-specifically EPA Classification No. CIO 2150-P-08.2, EPA Information Procedure, Information Security.

Report: EPA’s Office of Land and Emergency Management Lacked a Nationally Consistent Strategy for Communicating Health Risks at Contaminated Sites

Report #21-P-0223, September 9, 2021. As part of its mission to protect human health, the EPA communicates risks from contaminated sites to the public.

Water Quality Standards Regulations: Pulikla Tribe of Yurok People (formerly known as Resighini Rancheria)

Information about water quality standards for the Resighini Rancheria.