Science & Technology

Report: Management Alert - Hotline Concerns over Region 9 Regional Administrator's Duty Station and Travel

Report #19-N-0087, March 21, 2019. The EPA OIG initiated an assignment to address a hotline complaint regarding Michael Stoker, the Region 9 Regional Administrator.

Report: The EPA Needs to Fully Address the OIG’s 2018 Flint Water Crisis Report Recommendations by Improving Controls, Training, and Risk Assessments

Report #22-P-0046, May 17, 2022. Without complete oversight of the drinking water program, the public’s health is still at risk from lead in drinking water.

Report: EPA’s Fiscal Year 2023 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.”

Report: The EPA’s Fiscal Years 2022 and 2021 Consolidated Financial Statements

Report #23-F-0002, November 15, 2022. We rendered an unmodified opinion on the EPA’s consolidated financial statements for fiscal years 2022 and 2021, meaning that they were fairly presented and free of material misstatement.

Report: U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board's Compliance in Fiscal Year 2019 with Improper Payments Legislation and Guidance (revised)

Report #20-N-0064, Jan 23, 2020. We found that the CSB was fully compliant with improper payments legislation and guidance during fiscal year 2019.

Report: Management Alert - Unapproved Use of Slag at Anaconda Co. Smelter Superfund Site

Report #20-N-0030, November 18, 2019. While conducting work on an ongoing audit the EPA OIG decided to issue this management alert to inform the agency and the public of our discovery that a certain unapproved use of slag is taking place in Anaconda, Monta

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: EPA Finalized a Study of the Historical Applications of Coal Ash as Structural Fill

Report #19-N-0084, March 8, 2019. The ORCR determined that no further EPA action is warranted to address historical structural fill applications.

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: 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: 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.

Report: Staffing Constraints, Safety and Health Concerns at EPA's National Enforcement Investigations Center May Compromise Ability to Achieve Mission

Report #21-P-0131, May 12, 2021. Safety, health, and attrition issues may compromise NEIC’s ability to support the EPA’s civil and criminal enforcement efforts.

Report: EPA Exceeded the Deregulatory Goals of Executive Order 13771

Report #19-P-0267, August 9, 2019 - In FYs 2017 and 2018, the number of EPA deregulatory actions was more than double the number of EPA regulatory actions.

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.

Report: EPA Needs to Complete Implementation of Religious Compensatory Time Training for Supervisors and Employees

Report #22-P-0019, March 7, 2022. Providing training on religious compensatory time to all EPA supervisors and employees would decrease the potential for employee misuse, as well as the Agency’s monetary liability.

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: Management Alert - EPA's Incident Tracking System Lacks Required Controls to Protect Personal Information

Report #18-P-0298, September 28, 2018. The EPA's incident tracking system lacks the required privacy and security controls to protect PII and SPII, which could lead to identity theft.

Report: EPA Should Improve Oversight of Mobile Phones

Report #20-P-0068, January 10, 2020. The EPA was billed at least $12,000 over 2 years for unused mobile phone services due to needed improvements in mobile phone oversight. These funds could have been put to better use.

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.