Science & Technology

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Report: Outdated EPA Leave Manual and Control Weaknesses Caused Irregularities in the Office of Air and Radiation's Timekeeping Practices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

Report: Management Alert - Prompt Action Needed to Inform Residents Living Near Ethylene Oxide-Emitting Facilities About Health Concerns and Actions to Address Those Concerns

Report #20-N-0128, March 31, 2020. The EPA needs to inform residents who live near facilities with significant ethylene oxide emissions about their elevated estimated cancer risks so they can manage their health risks.

Report: EPA's Compliance Monitoring Activities, Enforcement Actions, and Enforcement Results Generally Declined from Fiscal Years 2006 Through 2018

Report #20-P-0131, March 31, 2020. This report focuses on national trends in the EPA's enforcement efforts, including inspections, enforcement actions, and enforcement results.

Report: EPA May Have Overpaid for Its $13 Million Time and Attendance System by Not Following Information Technology Investment Requirements

Report #20-P-0134, April 13, 2020. By not performing cost and alternative analyses, the EPA missed the opportunity to save taxpayer funds.

Report: Fiscal Years 2018 and 2017 Financial Statements for the Pesticide Registration Fund

Report #20-F-0135, April 14, 2020. We rendered an unmodified opinion on the EPA's FY 2018 PRIA Fund financial statements and a qualified opinion on the FY 2017 PRIA Fund financial statements.

Report: EPA's Processing Times for New Source Air Permits in Indian Country Have Improved, but Many Still Exceed Regulatory Time Frames

Report #20-P-0146, April 22, 2020. Delays in processing tribal-NSR permits could impact construction projects and increase the risk that existing facilities awaiting a permit could be emitting more pollution.

Report: EPA Complied with Improper Payments Legislation, but Internal Controls Need Substantial Improvement to Ensure More Accurate Reporting

Report #20-P-0167, May 13, 2020. Improvement to processes for preventing and detecting improper payments will result in better use of funds for environmental and supporting programs.

Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gas Emission Projections & Mitigation

This is a summary report of an economic analysis of global mitigation options of non-CO2 greenhouse gases for 20 economic sectors.

Report: EPA Toxic Substances Control Act Consent Orders Need Better Coordination

Report #20-E-0177, May 28, 2020. Regions need to be aware of the TSCA Section 5(e) Consent Orders in their region, and the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance should approve, in advance, the terms and conditions of each consent order