Laws & Regulations

Report: EPA Paid $1.5 Million for Subsidized and Unoccupied Parking Spaces Over a 2-Year Period

Report #18-P-0036, November 8, 2017. The EPA paid $840,000 for subsidized parking and $690,000 for unoccupied parking spaces over a 2-year period.

Report: EPA Telework Program Is Consistent With U.S. Office of Personnel Management Guidance

Report #18-P-0024, October 16, 2017. The EPA’s telework policies have resulted in nearly all managers being trained to supervise their teleworking employees.

Report: EPA Can Better Reduce Risks From Illegal Pesticides by Effectively Identifying Imports for Inspection and Sampling

Report #17-P-0412, September 28, 2017. Low rates of inspections and sampling can create a risk that the EPA may not be identifying and deterring the import of pesticides harmful to people or the environment.

Report: Management Alert - Controls Failed to Prevent Employee From Receiving Payment in Excess of Statutory Limit

Report #17-P-0410, September 27, 2017. Our audit identified an unauthorized pay adjustment of $23,413 for a Protective Service Detail agent.

Report: Management Alert - EPA Has Not Initiated Required Background Investigations for Information Systems Contractor Personnel

Report #17-P-0409, September 27, 2017. Not vetting contractor personnel before granting them network access exposes the EPA to risks. Contractor personnel with potentially questionable backgrounds who access sensitive agency data could cause harm.

Report: EPA Needs to Improve Oversight of Its Audio Conference Services

Report #17-P-0408, September 26, 2017. The EPA is unable to substantiate whether its audio conference service usage totaling $8.4 million was cost-effective.

Report: Region 2 Needs to Improve Its Internal Processes Over Puerto Rico’s Assistance Agreements

Report #17-P-0402, September 25, 2017. Region 2 may have inefficiently used over $217,000 in taxpayer funds by not confirming equipment was used as intended or obtaining support for requested fringe benefit costs.

Report: Eleven Years After Agreement, EPA Has Not Developed Reliable Emission Estimation Methods to Determine Whether Animal Feeding Operations Comply With Clean Air Act and Other Statutes

Report #17-P-0396, September 19, 2017. Until the EPA develops sound methods to estimate emissions, the agency cannot reliably determine whether animal feeding operations comply with applicable Clean Air Act requirements.

Report: EPA Needs to Manage Pesticide Funds More Efficiently

Report #17-P-0395, September 18, 2017. With improved funds management, the EPA may achieve maximum use of its FIFRA and PRIA Funds and will reduce the reliance on appropriated funds.

Report: Improved Management of the Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Program Is Required to Maximize Cleanups

Report #17-P-0368, August 23, 2017. For 10 of the 20 closed Brownfields RLF cooperative agreements reviewed, approximately $10.9 million available to clean up brownfields is not being used as intended.

Report: EPA’s Voluntary WaterSense Program Demonstrated Success

Report #17-P-0352, August 1, 2017. The EPA estimated that consumers saved over 1.5 trillion gallons of water through use of WaterSense-labeled products. Consumers saved an estimated $1,100 for every federal dollar spent on the program.

Report: OIG Response to Congressional Request on Superfund Administrative Costs

Report #2004-S-00004, September 15, 2004. Administrative expenditures for Superfund personnel increased inthe last 5 years while programmatic expenditures decreased.

Report: Lack of Final Guidance on Vapor Intrusion Impedes Efforts to Address Indoor Air Risks

Report #10-P-0042, December 14, 2009. EPA’s efforts to protect human health at sites where vapor intrusion risks may occur have been impeded by the lack of final Agency guidance on vapor intrusion risks.

Report: Review of Hotline Complaint Concerning Cost and Benefit Estimates for EPA’s Lead-Based Paint Rule

Report #12-P-0600, July 25, 2012. EPA used limited data to develop its cost and benefit estimates for the Lead Rule.

Report: Management Alert: EPA Region 5 Needs to Implement Effective Internal Controls to Strengthen Its Records Management Program

Report #20-E-0247, August 31, 2020. Federal law requires agency heads to establish and maintain a records program that includes safeguards against the removal or loss of agency records.