Science & Technology

Report: Inconsistencies With EPA Policy Identified in Region 10's Biweekly Pay Cap Waiver Process

Report #18-P-0068, January 12, 2018. We identified issues with documentation and review of biweekly pay cap waivers at Region 10, resulting from a lack of an internal policy or process. Region 10 recently issued a new procedure that addresses our concerns.

Report: Self-Insurance for Companies With Multiple Cleanup Liabilities Presents Financial and Environmental Risks for EPA and the Public

Report #18-P-0059, December 22, 2017. The EPA's ability to oversee self-insurance instruments is impaired, leaving the agency and taxpayers vulnerable to billions of dollars in financial risk and the public vulnerable to environmental risk.

Report: Audit of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board’s Fiscal Years 2017 and 2016 Financial Statements

Report #18-F-0040, November 15, 2017. The CSB received an unmodified opinion on its fiscal years 2017 and 2016 financial statements.

Report: EPA's Fiscal Years 2017 and 2016 Consolidated Financial Statements

Report #18-F-0039, November 15, 2017. We found the EPA’s financial statements to be fairly presented and free of material misstatements.

Report: Improved Acquisition Planning Will Help EPA Reduce Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in High-Risk Contracts

Report #18-P-0038, November 15, 2017. Without improving its acquisition planning process, the EPA may continue to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on high-risk contracts that waste taxpayer resources.

Report: EPA Reported Its Fiscal Year 2017 Second Quarter Financial and Award Data in Accordance With the DATA Act

Report #18-P-0037, November 9, 2017. The DATA Act requires the EPA to report and display accurate financial and award data on USASpending.gov.

Report: EPA Paid $1.5 Million for Subsidized and Unoccupied Parking Spaces Over a 2-Year Period

Report #18-P-0036, November 8, 2017. The EPA paid $840,000 for subsidized parking and $690,000 for unoccupied parking spaces over a 2-year period.

Report: EPA Telework Program Is Consistent With U.S. Office of Personnel Management Guidance

Report #18-P-0024, October 16, 2017. The EPA’s telework policies have resulted in nearly all managers being trained to supervise their teleworking employees.

Report: EPA Can Better Reduce Risks From Illegal Pesticides by Effectively Identifying Imports for Inspection and Sampling

Report #17-P-0412, September 28, 2017. Low rates of inspections and sampling can create a risk that the EPA may not be identifying and deterring the import of pesticides harmful to people or the environment.

Report: Management Alert - Controls Failed to Prevent Employee From Receiving Payment in Excess of Statutory Limit

Report #17-P-0410, September 27, 2017. Our audit identified an unauthorized pay adjustment of $23,413 for a Protective Service Detail agent.

Report: Management Alert - EPA Has Not Initiated Required Background Investigations for Information Systems Contractor Personnel

Report #17-P-0409, September 27, 2017. Not vetting contractor personnel before granting them network access exposes the EPA to risks. Contractor personnel with potentially questionable backgrounds who access sensitive agency data could cause harm.

Report: EPA Needs to Improve Oversight of Its Audio Conference Services

Report #17-P-0408, September 26, 2017. The EPA is unable to substantiate whether its audio conference service usage totaling $8.4 million was cost-effective.

Report: Region 2 Needs to Improve Its Internal Processes Over Puerto Rico’s Assistance Agreements

Report #17-P-0402, September 25, 2017. Region 2 may have inefficiently used over $217,000 in taxpayer funds by not confirming equipment was used as intended or obtaining support for requested fringe benefit costs.

Report: Eleven Years After Agreement, EPA Has Not Developed Reliable Emission Estimation Methods to Determine Whether Animal Feeding Operations Comply With Clean Air Act and Other Statutes

Report #17-P-0396, September 19, 2017. Until the EPA develops sound methods to estimate emissions, the agency cannot reliably determine whether animal feeding operations comply with applicable Clean Air Act requirements.

Report: EPA Needs to Manage Pesticide Funds More Efficiently

Report #17-P-0395, September 18, 2017. With improved funds management, the EPA may achieve maximum use of its FIFRA and PRIA Funds and will reduce the reliance on appropriated funds.

Report: Improved Management of the Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Program Is Required to Maximize Cleanups

Report #17-P-0368, August 23, 2017. For 10 of the 20 closed Brownfields RLF cooperative agreements reviewed, approximately $10.9 million available to clean up brownfields is not being used as intended.

Report: EPA’s Voluntary WaterSense Program Demonstrated Success

Report #17-P-0352, August 1, 2017. The EPA estimated that consumers saved over 1.5 trillion gallons of water through use of WaterSense-labeled products. Consumers saved an estimated $1,100 for every federal dollar spent on the program.

Report: EPA Complies with Payment Integrity Information Act but Needs to Determine Cost Allowability When Testing for Improper Grant Payments

Report #21-P-0135, May 14, 2021. Improved review methods when considering the allowability of costs for grant funds will aid the EPA in identifying estimated improper payments.

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.

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.