Science & Technology

Semiannual Report to Congress: April 1, 2021–September 30, 2021

Report #EPA-350-R-21-002, November 24, 2021

Report: EPA's Fiscal Year 2020 Fourth-Quarter Compliance with the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014

Report #22-P-0001, November 8, 2021. The DATA Act requires the EPA to report accurate financial and award data on USAspending.gov.

Contractor-Produced Report: U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board Independent Auditor’s Report on Compliance with the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 Submission Requirements for Fiscal Year 2021

Report #22-P-0002, November 8, 2021. The DATA Act requires the CSB to report accurate financial and award data on USAspending.gov.

Report: Fiscal Year 2022 U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board Management Challenges

Report #22-N-0003, November 10, 2021. The lack of board members continues to be the biggest risk to CSB operations.

Report: EPA’s Fiscal Year 2022 Top Management Challenges

Report #22-N-0004, November 12, 2021. The OIG is required by statute to prepare an annual report summarizing what the OIG considers the “most serious management and performance challenges facing the agency.”

Contractor-Produced Report: U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board Fiscal Years 2021 and 2020 Financial Statement Audit

Report #22-F-0005, November 15, 2021. Allmond & Company found the CSB’s financial statements to be fairly presented and free of material misstatements.

Report: EPA’s Fiscal Years 2021 and 2020 (Restated) Consolidated Financial Statements

Report #22-F-0007, November 15, 2021. We found the EPA’s financial statements to be fairly presented and free of material misstatement.

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.