Science & Technology

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.

Report: EPA Needs to Substantially Improve Oversight of Its Military Leave Processes to Prevent Improper Payments

Report #21-P-0042, December 28, 2020. The EPA paid 124 reservists about $1.4 million in military leave pay from January 2017 through June 2019. We identified potential improper payments of $129,000 related to 104 of the 1,628 payroll transactions audited.

Report: EPA Needs to Improve Oversight of How States Implement Air Emissions Regulations for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills

Report #20-P-0236, July 30, 2020. Effective EPA oversight of state implementation of landfill air emissions requirements helps achieve air quality, public health, and environmental goals set by the Clean Air Act.

Report: Despite Requirements of Inspector General Act, Chief of Staff Refuses to Provide Agency Information for OIG Evaluation; EPA Whistleblower Training Does Not Address Interference with or Intimidation of Congressional Witnesses

Report #20-E-0053, December 10, 2019. By refusing to provide requested information to the OIG, the Chief of Staff is not complying with the Inspector General Act and the Administrator's memorandum on cooperating with the OIG...

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.

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: U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board's Compliance for Fiscal Year 2018 with Improper Payments Legislation and Guidance

Report #19-N-0070, February 12, 2019. Pursuant to our role under the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act (IPERA) of 2010, we reviewed the CSB's compliance for fiscal year 2018 with improper payments legislation and guidance.

Report: EPA Completed OIG Recommendations for the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards Program but Lacks Controls over Use of Unverified Results

Report #18-P-0222, July 20, 2018. The EPA discontinued the use of unverified PGCCA results in agency performance metrics, but a lack of documented controls presents risk that these data may be used in the future.

Report: EPA Complied with the Statement of Federal Financial Accounting Standards No. 47 and Treasury Financial Manual, Part 2, Chapter 4700

Report #18-P-0220, July 12, 2018. Based on our audit, in our opinion, the EPA's classification as a consolidating entity is proper and complete.

Report: Quality Assurance Review of EPA OIG Reports Issued in Fiscal Year 2017

Report #18-N-0219, July 9, 2018. Our audit reports issued in FY 2017 demonstrated high levels of compliance with OIG quality assurance procedures and received compliance scores of nearly 94 percent. Issues identified in FY 2016 have been addressed.

Report: CSB Purchase Card Program at Low Risk for Unauthorized Purchases

Report #18-P-0218, July 3, 2018. The CSB's purchase card program, through which the agency spent $321,241 in FY 2017, is at low risk for unauthorized purchases.

Report: Atlanta Is Largely in Compliance with Its Combined Sewer Overflow Consent Decree, but Has Not Yet Met All Requirements

Report #18-P-0206, May 30, 2018. Decreases in sewage overflows from Atlanta's wastewater treatment facilities and sewage transmission pipes reduce the risk of city residents being exposed to pathogens.

Report: EPA Implemented Prior OIG Recommendations, but Additional Guidance Could Strengthen the Human Subjects Research Program

Report #17-P-0350, August 1, 2017. The EPA can take additional measures to track its HSR guidance and provide greater public transparency of the agency’s HSR studies.

Report: EPA Has Sufficiently Managed Emergency Responses During the Pandemic but Needs to Procure More Supplies and Clarify Guidance

Report #20-E-0332, September 28, 2020. On-scene coordinators may not be safe deploying during the COVID-19 pandemic without sufficient personal protective equipment and clear guidance.