Science & Technology

Report: EPA Region 6 Quickly Assessed Water Infrastructure after Hurricane Harvey but Can Improve Emergency Outreach to Disadvantaged Communities

Report #19-P-0236, July 16, 2019. Enhancements to environmental justice outreach efforts during emergencies could improve the public health protections of communities impacted by hurricanes or other disasters.

Report: Further Efforts Needed to Uphold Scientific Integrity Policy at EPA

Report #20-P-0173, May 20, 2020. Improving implementation of the SI Policy will enable the EPA to more effectively carry out its mission to protect human health and the environment.

Report: Management Alert: EPA Region 5 Needs to Implement Effective Internal Controls to Strengthen Its Records Management Program

Report #20-E-0247, August 31, 2020. Federal law requires agency heads to establish and maintain a records program that includes safeguards against the removal or loss of agency records.

Report: Lack of Planning Risks EPA’s Ability to Meet Toxic Substances Control Act Deadlines

Report #20-P-0247, August 17, 2020. The EPA did not complete a significant TSCA deadline on June 19, 2020, and the Agency is at risk of missing future deadlines due to a lack of staff and resource planning.

Report: EPA Needs to Improve Oversight of Research Assistance Agreements

Report #20-P-0204, June 30, 2020. The EPA’s lack of compliance with assistance agreement oversight requirements can put EPA research funds at risk.

Report: EPA's Safer Choice Program Would Benefit from Formal Goals and Additional Oversight

Report #20-P-0203, June 30, 2020. Enhancements in the Safer Choice audit process will ensure that consumers and businesses are purchasing products that are safer for people and the environment.

Report: EPA Needs to Address Internal Control Deficiencies in the Agencywide Quality System

Report #20-P-0200, June 22, 2020. After five years and $1.3 million towards the development of an agencywide tracking system, the OMS does not know the status of the agencywide Quality System.

Report: EPA's Office of the Chief Financial Officer Lacks Authority to Make Decisions on Employee-Debt Waiver Requests

Report #20-P-0194, June 15, 2020. The OCFO made unauthorized decisions for employee-debt waiver requests totaling $53,539.

Report: EPA Needs to Conduct Risk Assessments When Designing and Implementing Programs

Report #20-P-0170, May 18, 2020. By not conducting risk assessments for 20 programs that collectively cost over $5.7 billion in FY 2018, the EPA cannot be certain it has the proper procedures in place to address internal & external risks to these programs.

Report: EPA Oversight Provided Reasonable Controls to Deter and Minimize Trespassing at the Fort Ord Superfund Site

Report #20-E-0169, May 14, 2020. The steps taken by the Army with EPA oversight, combined with planned follow-up actions moving forward, represent a reasonable effort to deter and minimize trespassing.

Report: External Peer Review Report on the EPA OIG Audit Organization

June 29, 2018 - DoD OIG has reviewed the system of quality control for the EPA OIG audit organization in effect for the year ended September 30, 2017.

Report of Investigation: Mr. Ryan Jackson, Senior Executive Service, and Mr. Charles Munoz, GS-15

This report of investigation pertains to the actions of former EPA Chief of Staff Ryan Jackson and former Senior Advisor to the Region 9 Administrator Charles Munoz.

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: CSB Discontinued Information Recovery Testing and Off-Site Backup Storage During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Report #21-E-0016, November 18, 2020. The CSB was at risk of not being able to readily restore information technology operations if they were disrupted during the coronavirus pandemic.

Report: EPA's 2018 BEACH Act Report to Congress Does Not Fully Meet Statutory Requirements

Report #20-E-0246, August 13, 2020. EPA issuance of informative BEACH Act reports would allow Congress to make informed program decisions, improve program oversight, and enhance transparency.

Report: Regional Research Programs Address Agency Needs but Could Benefit from Enhanced Project Tracking

Report #19-P-0123, April 18, 2019. Updates to the RSP tracking system would improve how ORD documents and communicates the benefits of regional research programs.

Report: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Findings for Consideration in the Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

Report #23-N-0004, December 8, 2022. This report presents selected findings and three lessons developed from prior OIG reports on EPA programs that received funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Consideration of these lessons may help

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: 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 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.