Science & Technology

EPA Announces $1.1 Million to Protect Waterways from Sewage Overflows in Kentucky

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of approximately $80 million through the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program to help communities address stormwater and sewer infrastructure needs.

• Release Date: April 30, 2026

Report: Evaluation of EPA’s Compliance with Executive Order 13950 on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping

Report #21-E-0044, December 29, 2020. In response to the EPA’s request, the OIG for the EPA completed an evaluation of the EPA’s compliance with Executive Order 13950, Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping.

Report: EPA's Fiscal Years 2019 and 2018 Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System Fund Financial Statements

Report #21-F-0045, January 5, 2021. We found the fund's financial statements to be fairly presented and free of material misstatement.

Report: Office of Research and Development Initiatives to Address Threats and Risks to Public Health and the Environment from Plastic Pollution Within the Waters of the United States

Report #21-N-0052, January 6, 2021. The OIG completed an audit to identify the extent to which the EPA's Office of Research and Development research initiatives address threats and risks to public health and the environment from plastic pollution.

Report: EPA Mostly Adheres to Regulations When Assessing Risks of New Pesticides but Should Improve Internal Controls

Report #21-P-0070, February 8, 2021. By implementing stronger internal controls, the EPA can decrease the risk of issuing a pesticide registration that does not comply with regulatory requirements.

Report: CSB's Information Security Program Is Not Consistently Implemented; Improvements Are Needed to Address Four Weaknesses

Report #21-E-0071, February 9, 2021. The CSB has not consistently implemented its information security program’s policies, procedures, and strategies.

Report: EPA Is at Risk of Not Achieving Special Local Needs Program Goals for Pesticides

Report #21-E-0072, February 10, 2021. Without a sufficient management-control system and other improvements, the SLN program will not effectively promote risk reduction and pollution prevention.

Report: U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board's Compliance in Fiscal Year 2020 with Improper Payments Legislation and Guidance

Report #21-E-0084, February 23, 2021. The OIG found that the CSB was fully compliant with improper payments legislation and guidance during fiscal year 2020.

Report: EPA OIG's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

This report captures the EPA OIG's work to meet the new challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to include audits, evaluations, and investigations.

Report: EPA Improperly Awarded and Managed Information Technology Contracts

Report #21-P-0094, March 10, 2021. The Agency needs to improve its oversight of long-standing contractors, like CGI Federal, to improve operations and be a better steward of taxpayer dollars.

Report: EPA Does Not Consistently Monitor Hazardous Waste Units Closed with Waste in Place or Track and Report on Facilities That Fall Under the Two Responsible Programs

Report #21-P-0114, March 29, 2021. The EPA’s inspection frequency of TSDFs with RCRA units closed with waste in place does not meet the EPA’s statutory requirement or policy.

Report: EPA Does Not Always Adhere to Its Established Action Development Process for Rulemaking

Report #21-P-0115, March 31, 2021. ADP goals are to deliver actions that are based on sound science, promote economic efficiency, and are implementable and enforceable.

EPA Delayed Risk Communication and Issued Instructions Hindering Region 5’s Ability to Address Ethylene Oxide Emissions

Report #21-P-0123, April 15, 2021. The EPA did not achieve its mission when senior leaders issued instructions to Region 5 that impacted the region’s ability to address ethylene oxide emissions and when the EPA delayed communicating health risks.

Report: EPA Needs to Improve Processes for Updating Guidance, Monitoring Corrective Actions, and Managing Remote Access for External Users

Report #21-E-0124, April 16, 2021. Deficiencies in the EPA’s information technology internal controls could be used to exploit weaknesses in Agency applications and hinder the EPA’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging cyberthreats.

Report: Concerns About the Process Used for the SAFE Vehicles Rule Demonstrate the Need for a Policy on EPA’s Role in Joint Rulemakings

Report #21-E-0125, April 20, 2021. The EPA’s actions in the final SAFE Vehicles Rule undercut the rule’s quality.

Report: Improved Review Processes Could Advance EPA Regions 3 and 5 Oversight of State-Issued National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits

Report #21-P-0122, April 21, 2021. Improved EPA oversight could ensure that state NPDES programs are protecting human health and the environment.

Semiannual Report to Congress: October 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021

Report #EPA-350-R-21-00, May 28, 2021.

Report: EPA Did Not Conduct Agencywide Risk Assessment of CARES Act Appropriations, Increasing Risk of Fraud, Waste, Abuse, and Mismanagement

Report #21-E-0128, May 4, 2021. The OIG documented and assessed the internal controls that the EPA implemented to mitigate risks of fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement over the CARES Act appropriations.

Report: EPA Should Conduct New Residual Risk and Technology Reviews for Chloroprene- and Ethylene Oxide-Emitting Source Categories to Protect Human Health

Report #21-P-0129, May 6, 2021. The EPA should conduct new RTRs for chloroprene- and ethylene oxide-emitting source categories to address elevated individual lifetime cancer risks impacting over 464,000 people, and to achieve environmental justice.

Report: EPA Helps States Reduce Trash, Including Plastic, in U.S. Waterways but Needs to Identify Obstacles and Develop Strategies for Further Progress

Report #21-P-0130, May 11, 2021. The EPA and states can reduce the volume of trash, including plastics, in U.S. waterways by evaluating barriers to implementing the Clean Water Act and developing strategies to overcome those barriers.