Science & Technology

Report: EPA Demonstrates Effective Controls for Its On-Road Heavy-Duty Vehicle Compliance Program; Further Improvements Could Be Made

Report #19-P-0168, June 3, 2019. The EPA's HD vehicle compliance program currently has controls to effectively detect and prevent noncompliance—a precursor to potential fraud.

Report: Quality Assurance Review of EPA OIG Audit Assignments Completed in Fiscal Year 2018

Report #19-N-0167, June 4, 2019. OIG audit reports issued in FY 2018 demonstrated high levels of compliance with OIG quality assurance procedures, receiving average compliance scores of 94 percent.

Report: Management Implication Report Concerning the EPA's Process for Certifying that EPA Attorneys Possess an Active Bar Membership

June 20, 2019 - The EPA OIG has identified a control issue concerning the EPA's annual process of confirming that its attorneys maintain an active bar membership. This report resulted from an investigation, rather than an audit or evaluation.

Report: Pesticide Registration Fee, Vulnerability Mitigation and Database Security Controls for EPA’s FIFRA and PRIA Systems Need Improvement

Report #19-P-0195, June 21, 2019. Proper vulnerability testing, fee registration and database controls are essential to the security of the EPA's FIFRA and PRIA systems.

Report: EPA Complied with Applicable Laws and Rules for the July 2017 Superfund Task Force Report but Could Improve Transparency

Report #19-P-0201, June 24, 2019. Emphasizing the role of EPA career staff in the Superfund Task Force would have enhanced the transparency of the project and perhaps alleviated public concerns about the process.

Report: EPA Effectively Screens Air Emissions Data from Continuous Monitoring Systems but Could Enhance Verification of System Performance

Report #19-P-0207, June 27, 2019. Data from CEMS are used to determine whether sources, such as power plants, comply with emissions limits designed to improve air quality and achieve environmental and public health goals.

Collaborative Approaches to Reducing Excess Nutrients

Information related to Market-based Approaches to Reducing Excess Nutrients

Report: Management Alert - Certain Risk Communication Information for Community Not Up to Date for Amphenol/Franklin Power Products Site in Franklin, Indiana

Report #19-N-0217, June 27, 2019. The OIG issued a management alert informing the EPA of our discovery that the "Cleanups in My Community" public website is not depicting the most up-to-date risk information for the Amphenol/Franklin Power Products site.

Report: Fiscal Years 2017 and 2016 (Restated) Financial Statements for the Pesticide Registration Fund

Report #19-F-0215, June 28, 2019. We rendered a modified opinion on the EPA's FY 2017 PRIA financial statements and a disclaimer of opinion on the FY 2016 (restated) PRIA Fund financial statements.

Report: EPA's Fiscal Year 2019 Management Challenges

Report #19-N-0235, July 15, 2019. Attention to agency management challenges could result in program improvements and protection for the public, and increased confidence in management integrity and accountability.

Report: Chemical Safety Board Purchase Card Program at Low Risk for Unauthorized Purchases During Fiscal Year 2018

Report #19-P-0245, July 26, 2019. The Chemical Safety Board (CSB) purchase card program, through which the agency spent $326,859 in FY 2018, is at low risk for unauthorized purchases.

Report: More Effective EPA Oversight Is Needed for Particulate Matter Emissions Compliance Testing

Report #19-P-0251, July 30, 2019. Effective EPA oversight of stack testing improves data quality for compliance determinations and other uses.

Report: EPA's 2017 Glider Vehicle Testing Complied with Standard Practices

Report #19-P-0252, July 31, 2019. The EPA's 2017 glider vehicle testing complied with EPA standard practices.

Report: EPA Needs to Determine Strategies and Level of Support for Overseeing State Managed Pollinator Protection Plans

Report #19-P-0275, August 15, 2019. Honey bee pollination adds more than $15 billion in value to U.S. agricultural crops each year. The number of managed honey bee colonies in the U.S. has declined significantly.

Report: EPA Office of Research and Development Needs to Address Barriers to Gathering External Feedback

Report #19-P-0277, August 19, 2019. Surveying non-federal external customers will widen the ORD's reporting under the strategic measure on whether research products meet customer needs.

Report: EPA Oversight over Enterprise Customer Service Solution Needs Improvement

Report #19-P-0278, August 19, 2019. Ineffective project oversight limits the agency's ability to balance IT investments at the lowest cost while addressing agency needs.

Report: EPA's Use of Administratively Determined Positions is Consistent with Its Authority Under the Safe Drinking Water Act

Report #19-P-0279, August 21, 2019. Since 2009, the EPA has made 119 appointments to AD positions consistent with the authority provided by the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Report: Follow-Up Audit - EPA Took Steps to Improve Records Management

Report #19-P-0283, August 27, 2019. The EPA's FOIA guidance needs updating to comply with federal requirements.

Track 2: Mid-Format Batteries – Report-Out Webinar on the In-Person Working Session on Exploring Collection Best Practices and Labeling Guidelines

Report: EPA Not Effectively Implementing the Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule

Report #19-P-0302, September 9, 2019. Effective oversight and enforcement are needed to further reduce lead exposures from renovation, repair and painting activities.