Laws & Regulations

Report: Incomplete Oversight of State Hazardous Waste Rule Authorization Creates Regulatory Gaps and Human Health and Environmental Risks

Report #18-P-0227, July 31, 2018. The lack of timely authorization of hazardous waste rules by states creates human health and environmental risk.

Report: Without E-Invoicing and Stronger Payment Process Controls, EPA Is Placing $1.2 Billion at Risk Annually

Report #18-P-0231, August 16, 2018. The EPA places an annual average of $1.2 billion in taxpayer funds at greater risk by not using an e-invoicing process, not taking advantage of prompt payment discounts and not performing critical oversight duties.

Report: EPA Paid $14.5 Million to Foreign Fellows that Could Have Funded Research by U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents

Report #18-P-0288, September 26, 2018. We found that 64 percent of EPA fellowships awarded to NAS were to foreign nationals.

EPA OIG Strategic Plan: 2019-2023

October 4, 2018 - We plan our work with the goals of influencing resolution of the EPA’s major management challenges, reducing risk, improving program operations, and saving taxpayer dollars, leading to positive human health and environmental impacts.

Report: EPA's Fiscal Years 2018 and 2017 Consolidated Financial Statements

Report #19-F-0003, November 14, 2018. We found the EPA's financial statements to be fairly presented and free of material misstatement

Report: Audit of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board's Fiscal Years 2018 and 2017 Financial Statements

Report #19-F-0004, November 14, 2018. The CSB received an unmodified opinion on its fiscal years 2018 and 2017 financial statements

Semiannual Report to Congress: April 1, 2018 - September 30, 2018

Report #EPA-350-R-18-003, November 00, 2018. The EPA OIG is pleased to present this semiannual report for the period ending September 30, 2018. The work produced by our office in the past 6 months was broad in scope and deep in rigor.

Commenting on EPA Dockets

Tips for effective comments on EPA Dockets.

Report: City of Houston Complied with Clean Water State Revolving Fund Requirements

Report #19-P-0041, December 4, 2018. We questioned whether point repairs to address customer complaints under four Houston contracts were eligible under the CWSRF, and EPA Region 6 concluded that they were.

Annual Plan for the EPA and CSB - FY 2019

December 12, 2018. This OIG Annual Plan identifies mandated and discretionary assignment topics continuing from FY 2018, as well as mandated and discretionary assignments scheduled to start during FY 2019.

Notification and Report: Crow Tribe Public Water Systems Concerns

Project #OA&E-FY19-0087, Report #19-N-0044. Dec 13, 2018. The Crow Tribe in Montana is experiencing challenges in complying with fundamental Safe Drinking Water Act requirements, and the OIG has concerns about potential human health threats.

NPDES Permit for Table Rock Minerals TRM#1 Mine in Utah

Under National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit number MT0031835, the Town of Browning is authorized to discharge from from its wastewater treatment facility in Glacier County to Depot Creek.

Semiannual Report: Oct 1, 2016 - March 31, 2017

Semiannual Report #EPA-350-R-17-001, May, 2017. During the semiannual period, the OIG issued various audit and program evaluation reports with recommendations to help the EPA improve efficiency, as well as better protect people and the environment.

Report: CSB Purchase Card Program at Low Risk for Unauthorized Purchases

Report #17-P-0303, July 5, 2017. The Chemical Safety Board's purchase card program, for which it spent $238,390 in FY 2016, is at low risk for unauthorized purchases.

Report: FY 2017 U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board Management Challenge

Report #17-N-0342, July 27, 2017. Continued CSB management attention on human resources should help CSB maximize its limited funding.

Report: Analysis of Toxics Release Inventory Data Identifies Few Noncompliant Facilities

Report #18-P-0001, October 5, 2017. Noncompliance among facilities that must comply with multiple environmental laws or programs can be reduced by making minimal enhancements to EPA reporting software.

Report: Improvements Needed in CSB’s Identity and Access Management and Incident Response Security Functions

Report #18-P-0030, October 30, 2017. Weaknesses in the Identity and Access Management and Incident Response metric domains leave the CSB vulnerable to attacks occurring and not being detected in a timely manner.

Annual Plan for the EPA and CSB - FY 2018

Nov 9, 2017. FY 2018 plan reflects the priority work that the OIG believes is necessary to keep the EPA Administrator, the CSB, and Congress fully informed about problems and deficiencies relating to the administration of agency programs and operations.

Semiannual Report: April 1, 2017 - September 30, 2017

Semiannual Report: #EPA-350-R-17-002, November 17, 2017. During this 6-month period (April 1, 2017 - September 30), the OIG issued a variety of audit and evaluation reports to help the EPA meet its mission to protect human health and the environment.

Summary Report: Fiscal Year 2015 Reviews of EPA's Measurement of Environmental Program Performance and Outcomes

Report #16-N-0180, May 19, 2016. The agency's need to measure performance and benefits of environmental programs or activities was a theme in several OIG reports issued in the past year.