Science & Technology

Report: While EPA Regions Enforce at Six Superfund Sites Reviewed, Four of Those Sites Remain in Significant Noncompliance, and Nationwide Reporting and Tracking Can Be Improved

Report #20-P-0011, October 24, 2019. The effectiveness of EPA headquarters' oversight of enforcement at Superfund sites was limited as headquarters was not aware of all SNCs and thus could not assess adequacy of regional actions.

Report: Tribal Pesticide Enforcement Comes Close to Achieving EPA Goals, but "Circuit Rider" Inspector Guidance Needed

Report #20-P-0012, October 29, 2019. Improvements in the "circuit rider" program can enable the EPA to better detect and prevent pesticide misuse and unnecessary risks to human health and the environment in Indian country.

Report: EPA Budget Systems Need Improved Oversight of Security Controls Testing

Report #20-P-0015, November 1, 2019. The OCFO lacks internal controls needed to make informed, risk based decisions regarding the security of the agency's budget systems.

Report: EPA's Fiscal Year 2019 First Quarter Compliance with the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014

Report #20-P-0026, November 8, 2019. The DATA Act requires the EPA to report accurate financial and award data on USAspending.gov.

Report: Management Alert - Unapproved Use of Slag at Anaconda Co. Smelter Superfund Site

Report #20-N-0030, November 18, 2019. While conducting work on an ongoing audit the EPA OIG decided to issue this management alert to inform the agency and the public of our discovery that a certain unapproved use of slag is taking place in Anaconda, Monta

Report: Audit of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board's Fiscal Years 2019 and 2018 Financial Statements

Report #20-F-0032, November 19, 2019. The CSB received an unmodified opinion on its fiscal years 2019 and 2018 financial statements.

Report: EPA's Fiscal Years 2019 and 2018 (Restated) Consolidated Financial Statements

Report #20-F-0033, November 19, 2019. We found the EPA's financial statements to be fairly presented and free of material misstatement.

Semiannual Report to Congress: April 1, 2019 - September 30, 2019

Report #EPA-350-R-19-004, November 27, 2019. The EPA OIG is pleased to present this semiannual report for the period ending September 30, 2019. Our investigative and audit activity was wide and deep—with accomplishments helping to "move the needle."

Report: EPA Failed to Develop Required Cost and Benefit Analyses and to Assess Air Quality Impacts on Children's Health for Proposed Glider Repeal Rule Allowing Used Engines in Heavy-Duty Trucks

Report #20-P-0047, December 5, 2019. The EPA's actions regarding the proposed Glider Repeal Rule lacked transparency and deprived the public of required information.

Report: Despite Requirements of Inspector General Act, Chief of Staff Refuses to Provide Agency Information for OIG Evaluation; EPA Whistleblower Training Does Not Address Interference with or Intimidation of Congressional Witnesses

Report #20-E-0053, December 10, 2019. By refusing to provide requested information to the OIG, the Chief of Staff is not complying with the Inspector General Act and the Administrator's memorandum on cooperating with the OIG...

Report: EPA Needs to Improve Its Emergency Planning to Better Address Air Quality Concerns During Future Disasters

Report #20-P-0062, December 16, 2019. Developing EPA guidance for collecting and communicating air quality data could improve public confidence in the agency during future disaster responses.

Report: Outdated EPA Leave Manual and Control Weaknesses Caused Irregularities in the Office of Air and Radiation's Timekeeping Practices

Report #20-P-0063, December 19, 2019. The Office of Air and Radiation needs policies to increase awareness of and controls to strengthen timekeeping practices.

Report: EPA Needs to Improve Management and Monitoring of Time-Off Awards

Report #20-P-0065, December 30, 2019. The EPA's time-off awards program needs to be held to the same standard as the agency's monetary awards program, both in execution and resource management.

Report: EPA Can Improve Incident Readiness with Better Management of Homeland Security and Emergency Response Equipment

Report #20-P-0066, Jan 3, 2020. The EPA needs to improve its management of its HS/ER equipment, worth over $40 million, so that it can adequately track the equipment it needs to fulfill its responsibilities during an incident in a cost-effective manner.

Report: EPA Should Improve Oversight of Mobile Phones

Report #20-P-0068, January 10, 2020. The EPA was billed at least $12,000 over 2 years for unused mobile phone services due to needed improvements in mobile phone oversight. These funds could have been put to better use.

Report: CSB's Information Security Program Is Defined, but Improvements Needed in Risk Management, Identity and Access Management, and Incident Response

Report #20-P-0077, February 12, 2020. The CSB lacks documented procedures to address information technology risks and threats from cybersecurity incidents.

Report: Management Controls Needed to Verify and Report Border 2020 Program Accomplishments

Report #20-P-0083, February 18, 2020. Border 2020 Program successes in improving environmental conditions and public health cannot be fully known or documented without stronger management controls.

OIG Annual Plan for the EPA and CSB - FY 2020

March 6, 2020. The Annual Plan identifies mandated and discretionary assignment topics continuing from FY 2019, as well as mandated and discretionary assignments scheduled to start during FY 2020.

Report: EPA Needs to Improve Its Risk Management and Incident Response Information Security Functions

Report #20-P-0120, March 24, 2020. Further implementation of risk management activities and incident response tools are needed to combat cybersecurity threats intended to steal and destroy confidential and sensitive information.

Report: EPA Did Not Accurately Report Under the Grants Oversight and New Efficiency Act and Needs to Improve Timeliness of Expired Grant Closeouts

Report #20-P-0126, March 31, 2020. As of September 2019, the EPA had $8.3 million in undisbursed balances for grant awards that expired one year or more prior. These funds could have been used to achieve EPA environmental goals.