Science & Technology

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.

Report: EPA Is at Risk of Not Achieving Special Local Needs Program Goals for Pesticides

Report #21-E-0072, February 10, 2021. Without a sufficient management-control system and other improvements, the SLN program will not effectively promote risk reduction and pollution prevention.

Report: CSB's Information Security Program Is Not Consistently Implemented; Improvements Are Needed to Address Four Weaknesses

Report #21-E-0071, February 9, 2021. The CSB has not consistently implemented its information security program’s policies, procedures, and strategies.

Report: EPA Mostly Adheres to Regulations When Assessing Risks of New Pesticides but Should Improve Internal Controls

Report #21-P-0070, February 8, 2021. By implementing stronger internal controls, the EPA can decrease the risk of issuing a pesticide registration that does not comply with regulatory requirements.

Report: Office of Research and Development Initiatives to Address Threats and Risks to Public Health and the Environment from Plastic Pollution Within the Waters of the United States

Report #21-N-0052, January 6, 2021. The OIG completed an audit to identify the extent to which the EPA's Office of Research and Development research initiatives address threats and risks to public health and the environment from plastic pollution.

Report: EPA's Fiscal Years 2019 and 2018 Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System Fund Financial Statements

Report #21-F-0045, January 5, 2021. We found the fund's financial statements to be fairly presented and free of material misstatement.

Report: EPA Needs to Improve Its Planning and Management of Laboratory Consolidation Efforts

Report #21-E-0033, December 7, 2020. Without improved management controls, EPA risks cost overruns and delays in laboratory consolidation efforts. These will reduce their potential avoided costs and savings of approximately $409 million over 30 years.

Report: Region 2's Hurricanes Irma and Maria Response Efforts in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Show the Need for Improved Planning, Communications, and Assistance for Small Drinking Water Systems

Report #21-P-0032, December 3, 2020. Enhancements to water system capacity and emergency preparation for island response could better protect the health of communities impacted by hurricanes and other disasters.

Report: EPA Needs to Improve Oversight of Invoice Reviews and Contractor Performance Evaluation

Report #21-E-0031, December 1, 2020. Effective contract management practices safeguard the EPA from remitting costs that are not allowable, allocable, and reasonable.

Report: EPA's Fiscal Years 2020 and 2019 (Restated) Consolidated Financial Statements

Report #21-F-0014, November 16, 2020. We found the EPA's financial statements to be fairly presented and free of material misstatement.