Science & Technology

Report: Total National Reported Clean Air Act Compliance-Monitoring Activities Decreased Slightly During Coronavirus Pandemic, but State Activities Varied Widely

Report #22-E-0008, November 17, 2021. Compliance-monitoring activities are important to ensure that facilities comply with applicable Clean Air Act requirements and air regulations to protect human health and the environment.

Report: Authorized State Hazardous Waste Program Inspections and Operations Were Impacted During Coronavirus Pandemic

Report #22-E-0009, December 1, 2021. The coronavirus pandemic impacted RCRA state program operations and resulted in fewer inspections.

Report: EPA Generally Adheres to Information Technology Audit Follow-Up Processes, but Management Oversight Should Be Improved

Report #22-P-0010, December 8, 2021. The EPA’s goal to provide its workforce and the public with accurate information is undermined when the Agency does not correct deficiencies in a timely manner, which weakens the integrity of its systems and data.

Management Implication Report: Allowing Remote Access to Threat Actors

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Inspector General has identified a critical vulnerability concerning software installations on EPA-furnished computers.

Report: Fiscal Year 2022 Oversight Plan

December 14, 2021. The Fiscal Year 2022 Oversight Plan reflects the priority work that the OIG believes is necessary to keep the EPA, the CSB, and Congress fully informed about issues relating to the administration of Agency programs and operations.

Report: EPA Has Not Performed Agencywide Risk Assessments, Increasing the Risk of Fraud, Waste, Abuse, and Mismanagement

Report #21-E-0011, December 15, 2021. The OCFO cannot provide reasonable assurance that crosscutting risks are identified and mitigated and that Agency resources are directed to the most critical strategic needs.

Report: EPA Established a Web Management Program, but Improvements Are Needed in Deploying Web Analytics

Report #22-P-0013, December 20, 2021. Without fully implementing web analytics, the EPA could be without vital usage information to meet the needs of the public, regulatory agencies, industries, and other stakeholders when conveying environmental issues.

Report: EPA’s Fiscal Years 2020 and 2019 (Restated) Financial Statements for the Pesticides Reregistration and Expedited Processing Fund

Report #21-F-0012, December 21, 2021. We found the fund’s financial statements to be fairly presented and free of material misstatement.

Report: EPA’s Fiscal Years 2020 and 2019 Financial Statements for the Pesticide Registration Fund

Report #22-F-0014, December 21, 2021. We found the fund’s financial statements to be fairly presented and free of material misstatement.

Management Implication Report: Annual Performance Rating of Senior Executive Service Employees at U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Inspector General has identified several concerns regarding the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board’s compliance with U.S. Office of Personnel

Report: Hotline: EPA Is Taking Steps to Update Its Federal Radiation Guidance

Report #22-E-0016, January 6, 2022.

Report: EPA’s Title V Program Needs to Address Ongoing Fee Issues and Improve Oversight

Report #22-E-0017, January 12, 2022. Lack of consistent oversight and persistent Title V fee challenges may undermine Title V program implementation.

Management Implication Report: Inappropriate Manipulation of Air Filter Data by Office of Research and Development Contractor

The OIG confirmed that an Office of Research and Development laboratory contractor’s inappropriate manipulation of air filter data and failure to follow applicable EPA and project guidance resulted in data for 95 air filter samples being rendered unusable.

Report: EPA Should Consistently Track Coronavirus Pandemic-Related Grant Flexibilities and Implement Plan for Electronic Grant File Storage

Report #22-P-0018, February 22, 2022. The EPA Office of Grants and Debarment does not know the full extent to which program offices and regions have implemented grant flexibilities and exceptions permitted by the Office of Management and Budget.

Report: U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board's Compliance in Fiscal Year 2021 with Improper Payments Legislation and Guidance

Report #22-E-0020, March 15, 2022. The OIG found that the CSB was fully compliant with improper payments legislation and guidance during fiscal year 2021.

Contractor-Produced Report: CSB Is at Increased Risk of Losing Significant Data and Is Vulnerable to Exploitation

Report #22-E-0025, March 29, 2022. SB & Company found that the lack of off-site data backups increases the CSB’s risk of losing significant data.

Report: The EPA Needs to Develop a Strategy to Complete Overdue Residual Risk and Technology Reviews and to Meet the Statutory Deadlines for Upcoming Reviews

Report #22-E-0026, March 30, 2022. As of November 1, 2021, the EPA had 93 overdue RTRs or TRs, almost half of which were overdue by more than five years. These reviews are used to establish limits for air toxics emissions and to protect public health.

Report: The EPA Lacks Documented Procedures for Detecting and Removing Unapproved Software on the Agency’s Network

Report #22-E-0028, March 30, 2022. Without documented procedures governing software management and vulnerability remediation processes, the EPA continues to be at risk of outsiders gaining access to compromise and exploit Agency systems and data.

Report: The EPA Did Not Follow Agency Policies in Managing the Northbridge Contract and Potentially Violated Appropriations Law

Report #22-E-0027, March 31, 2022. Because key accounting policies were not adhered to, the EPA cannot ensure that $6.8 million in appropriated dollars went toward their intended purposes, potentially violating laws.

Report: Brownfields Program-Income Monitoring Deficiencies Persist Because the EPA Did Not Complete All Certified Corrective Actions

Report #22-P-0033, March 31, 2022. The OBLR did not complete all certified corrective actions and still lacks current and accurate information needed to monitor an estimated $46.6 million of program income.