Laws & Regulations

Report: Downriver Community Conference Achieved Results and Expended Funds Under Brownfields Agreement, but Unallowable Costs Were Claimed

Report #17-P-0204, May 3, 2017. By claiming unallowable costs totaling $26,901, DCC reduced the amount of funds available for Brownfields restorations.

Report: EPA Has Adequate Controls to Manage Advice From Science and Research Federal Advisory Committees, but Transparency Could Be Improved

Report #17-P-0124, March 13, 2017. Science plays an integral role in the EPA's mission. The EPA has an adequate system of controls to manage recommendations from its science and research federal advisory committees.

Report: EPA’s Purchase Order Process Needs to Improve and Achieve Better Value

Report #17-P-0001, October 13, 2016. We estimate that the agency could save approximately $592,000 annually by using purchase cards instead of purchase orders.

Report: CSB's Fiscal Year 2016 Management Challenges

Report #16-N-0221, June 29, 2016. Attention to CSB management challenges could result in stronger results and protection for the public, and increased confidence in management integrity and accountability.

Report: EPA's Fiscal Year 2016 Management Challenges

Report #16-N-0206, June 16, 2016. Attention to agency management challenges could result in stronger results and protection for the public and increased confidence in management integrity and accountability.

Report: CSB Needs to Continue to Improve Agency Governance and Operations

Report #16-P-0179, May 23, 2016. The lack of internal guidance and implementation of controls puts the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board's (CSB) $11 million budget at risk.

Report: EPA Complied With Improper Payment Legislation, but Stronger Internal Controls Are Needed

Report #16-P-0167, May 10, 2016. Improvement to processes for preventing and detecting improper payments will result in better use of funds for environmental and supporting programs.

Report: EPA Region 9 Needs to Improve Oversight Over Guam’s Consolidated Cooperative Agreements

Report #16-P-0166, May 9, 2016. More than $67 million in CCA funds may not be administered efficiently and effectively. As a result, the EPA needs to enhance its internal controls accordingly.

Report: Clean Air Act Facility Evaluations Are Conducted, but Inaccurate Data Hinder EPA Oversight and Public Awareness

Report #16-P-0164, May 3, 2016. Accurate enforcement databases and updated CMS plans promote effective and efficient EPA oversight of compliance programs, and help to protect the public from harmful air pollutants.

Report: EPA Needs to Assess Environmental and Economic Benefits of Completed Clean Water State Revolving Fund Green Projects

Report #16-P-0162, May 2, 2016. The EPA needs to collect and evaluate data on the environmental and economic benefits of over $3.24 billion in public funds invested in green projects from 2009 through 2014.

Report: EPA Should Timely Deobligate Unneeded Contract, Purchase and Miscellaneous Funds

Report #16-P-0135, April 11, 2016. When the EPA does not deobligate unliquidated obligations timely, the funds cannot be used for other EPA environmental activities that would benefit human health and the environment.

Report: EPA Offices Are Aware of the Agency’s Science to Achieve Results Program, but Challenges Remain in Measuring and Internally Communicating Research Results That Advance the Agency’s Mission

Report #16-P-0125, March 30, 2016. Although the EPA awards an average of over $46 million annually in STAR grants, challenges remain in measuring and communicating research results.

Report: EPA's Fiscal Year 2015 Purchase Card and Convenience Check Program Assessed as Low Risk

Report #16-P-0124, March 29, 2016. We determined the EPA's purchase card and convenience check program for FY 2015 to be at a low risk for illegal, improper or erroneous purchases and payments due to strengthened internal controls.

Report: No Intent to Underestimate Costs Was Found, but Supporting Documentation for EPA’s Final Rule Limiting Sulfur in Gasoline Was Incomplete or Inaccurate in Several Instances

Report #16-P-0122, March 29, 2016. Inaccurate or incomplete documentation of the EPA's cost modeling could prevent a third party from obtaining a full and accurate understanding of how the EPA arrived at its cost estimate for the Tier 3 rule.

Report: CSB Did Not Follow Federal Guidance While Managing the Vantage Contract

Report #16-P-0112, March 24, 2016. By not following Federal Acquisition Regulation requirements, the CSB’s $125,000 Vantage contract was at risk for mismanagement.

Report: Management of Overtime Improved at EPA’s Immediate Office of Air and Radiation

Report #16-P-0111, March 24, 2016. An OAR employee may have incurred unnecessary overtime costs, and incurred improper administrative leave charges, Request for Overtime Authorization forms (EPA Form 2560-7)

Report: CSB Complied With Improper Payment Legislation Requirements for Fiscal Year 2015

Report #16-P-0109, March 23, 2016. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is fully compliant with the reporting requirements of improper payments legislation.

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.

Report: Positioning EPA for the Digital Age Requires New Mindsets Toward Printing

Report #16-P-0107, March 21, 2016. The EPA’s main authoritative guidance for printing operations (Printing Management Manual) is over 20 years old and outdated.

Report: EPA Has Not Met Statutory Requirements for Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility Inspections, but Inspection Rates Are High

Report #16-P-0104, March 11, 2016. Although the EPA’s overall inspection completion rate is high, the agency did not fully meet the legal requirement for inspecting 100 percent of operating TSDFs for fiscal year 2014.