EPA OIG's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General is meeting the new challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic by initiating audits, evaluations and investigations related to the pandemic's impact on the EPA's and CSB's missions, and its impact on public health and the environment at the core of those missions. We have started examining and identifying how the pandemic has affected Agency programs and operations, from such concerns as water infrastructure worries to air quality enforcement to misconduct or criminal activity. We will work with our oversight partners, including other Federal OIGs, the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee under the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), and GAO, to coordinate our work and address matters of interagency or cross-jurisdictional concern.

Our office recognizes that we are facing unprecedented times and reinforce our commitment to conferring with congressional and Agency leadership; issuing reports; and investigating waste, fraud, and abuse.

In addition to this webpage, a report capturing the EPA OIG’s COVID-19 pandemic work is available.

Potential Audit or Evaluation Topics

Enforcement and regulatory waivers and flexibilities.
Fraud schemes taking advantage of crisis by marketing unsafe and non-EPA-approved products to the public.
Agency staffing shortfalls implicating oversight of critical environmental and public health programs.
Agency return to work and employee health and safety upon re-entry.
Maintaining strong cyber and IT protections while workforce teleworking.

Pandemic-Related Reports and Announced Projects

These specific OIG project notification memorandums are related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and inform EPA officials about the status of Office of Inspector General projects that may result in a full audit report. You can also view all of the project notification memorandums.

The Coronavirus Pandemic Caused Schedule Delays, Human Health Impacts, and Limited Oversight at Superfund National Priorities List Sites

Report #22-E-0049, June 23, 2022. The coronavirus pandemic caused schedule delays and changed or extended the exposure of human health and ecological receptors to hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants at 31 Superfund National Priorities List, or NPL, sites. The pandemic also prolonged such human health and environmental exposures, as well as contributed to disproportionate impacts on some communities. Furthermore, some communities that do not use or cannot access electronic communications were unable to participate in community involvement activities when the EPA changed to virtual modes of communication. The remedial project managers, or RPMs, responding to an OIG survey said that their oversight of Superfund NPL site work was also limited, in part, by the EPA’s pandemic-related restrictions. Conversely, the pandemic did steer some positive changes, such as improved health and safety protocols, increased community participation in virtual meetings, and reduced EPA travel costs.

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 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Office of Grants and Debarment tracked grants that received flexibilities through its issued class waivers and regulatory exceptions but did not track grants that received flexibilities and exceptions approved by program offices and regions. The lack of agencywide tracking of grant flexibilities and exceptions hindered the Agency’s ability to assess how the coronavirus pandemic impacted the grant process.

Report: Authorized State Hazardous Waste Program Inspections and Operations Were Impacted During Coronavirus Pandemic

Report #22-E-0009, December 1, 2021. Authorized state Resource Conservation and Recovery Act programs have continued operations, such as inspections and public meetings, during the pandemic. However, the number of inspections from March 2020 through February 2021 for RCRA treatment, storage, and disposal facilities decreased by 34 percent and for large quantity generators decreased by 47 percent when compared to the prior year. The number of violations found per inspection also decreased. Decreases in inspections during the pandemic may have been due to remote work difficulties and travel restrictions. RCRA inspections provide a deterrent effect that protects human health and the environment.

Report: Total National Reported Clean Air Act Compliance-Monitoring Activities Decreased Slightly During Coronavirus Pandemic, but State Activities Varied Widely

Report #22-E-0008, November 17, 2021. We assessed how the coronavirus pandemic impacted air compliance monitoring by EPA-delegated state and local agencies to confirm that facilities that emit air pollution comply with the Clean Air Act and federal air regulations. The pandemic marginally impacted the total number of nationwide compliance monitoring activities. However, activities varied widely among states and territories, with reported changes in activities at high-emitting sources in fiscal year 2020 ranging from an 88 percent decline to a 234-percent increase.

Report: Pandemic Highlights Need for Additional Tribal Drinking Water Assistance and Oversight in EPA Regions 9 and 10

Report #21-E-0254, September 27, 2021. The coronavirus pandemic negatively impacted the oversight and assistance that Regions 9 and 10 provide to the tribal drinking water systems under their purview, as well as the capacity of these systems to provide safe drinking water. The pandemic also underscored the limitations of both EPA resources and tribal drinking water system resiliency. As a result, tribal drinking water systems may be unable to operate safely and comply with drinking water regulations. Access to safe and clean water is critical at all times, but even more so during pandemic situations.

Report: EPA Effectively Planned for Future Remote Access Needs but Should Disconnect Unneeded Services in Timely Manner

Report #21-P-0241, September 20, 2021. Continuing operations under the duress of pandemics and natural disasters requires the Agency to adapt its network to support a virtual workforce. We found that, in its solicitation for network and telecommunications services under the GSA’s Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions contract, the EPA included a requirement that the selected vendor be able to support 12,500–20,000 concurrent remote users, which should meet the EPA’s future workforce needs. The EPA did not, however, disconnect unneeded network and telecommunications services in a timely manner, thus spending at least $7,850 for services it was not using.

Report: EPA’s Emergency Response Systems at Risk of Having Inadequate Security Controls

Report #21-E-0226, September 13, 2021. We evaluated whether the EPA’s System Security Plans provide sufficient details to allow the EPA to make decisions regarding network security during emergencies, including during remote telework conditions due to the coronavirus pandemic. The EPA did not follow guidance from the National Institute of Standards and Technology when determining the security categorization for five emergency response systems. EPA systems become more vulnerable to security threats and data compromises if the Agency does not follow the guidance, and the compromise of emergency response system data could impact the EPA’s ability to coordinate response efforts in environmental disasters.

Report: EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory Has Taken Steps to Mitigate Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic on Mobile Source Emission Compliance

Report #21-E-0158, June 7, 2021. We examined how the laboratory operations and testing at the EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality’s National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory, which addresses emissions from a range of mobile sources, was impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. NVFEL used virtual collaboration tools, conducted remote auditing, and implemented reporting flexibilities to mitigate the impact of the pandemic, which included closing the lab. We highlighted NVFEL’s efforts to minimize the potential for noncompliance during the pandemic as well as the importance of returning to full testing capacity to provide the most effective oversight of mobile sources.

Report: EPA Did Not Conduct Agencywide Risk Assessment of CARES Act Appropriations, Increasing Risk of Fraud, Waste, Abuse, and Mismanagement

Report #21-E-0128, May 4, 2021. We assessed the internal controls that the EPA implemented to mitigate risks of fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement over the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, known as the CARES Act, appropriations. We found that the Agency did not conduct an agencywide risk assessment of internal controls or incorporate requirements from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget or the U.S. Government Accountability Office into its internal control requirements. However, we also found that three of the EPA’s program offices designed internal controls to identify and mitigate fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement regarding the CARES Act funds.

Report: EPA Needs to Improve Processes for Updating Guidance, Monitoring Corrective Actions, and Managing Remote Access for External Users

Report #21-E-0124, April 16, 2021. Although we found that the EPA consistently met the requirements listed in the FY 2020 Inspector General Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA) Reporting Metrics, the deficiencies we found in the EPA’s information technology internal controls could exploit weaknesses in Agency applications and hinder the Agency’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging cyberthreats. Those deficiencies include not reviewing outdated procedures in a timely manner, not verifying whether corrective actions are completed, and not enforcing information system control requirements for the Agency’s web application directory system.

Notification: Pandemic Impact on Authorized State RCRA Programs

Project #OE-FY21-0124, February 18, 2021. The OIG plans to begin an evaluation to examine the EPA Resource Conservation Recovery Act Program’s operations.

Notification: EPA's Grant Flexibilities Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic

Project #OA-FY21-0108, February 8, 2021. The OIG plans to begin fieldwork on the subject audit to examine the EPA’s implementation of the grant flexibilities permitted by the Office of Management and Budget due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Notification: EPA's Oversight of Tribal Drinking Water Systems

Project #OA&E-FY20-0044, February 1, 2021. The OIG is adjusting the scope of this work to focus on EPA Regions 9 and 10, and on the Agency’s experiences working with tribal drinking water systems during the Coronavirus pandemic. The original notification was issued on May 29, 2020.

For More Information

View all Pandemic-Related Reports and Announced Projects
View all Reports
View all Project Notification Memorandums

Potential Investigation Targets

We take seriously our obligation to investigate fraud related to the coronavirus pandemic—that is, the SARS-CoV-2 virus and resultant COVID-19 disease. We are particularly committed to investigating fraud schemes involving criminal activity or misconduct that impact the American people or thwart the EPA’s ability to fulfill its mission, as well as investigating conduct that relies on, takes advantage of, or exploits a weakness or vulnerability in an EPA program or operation.

Different Types of Investigations that the OIG May Undertake

Fraud schemes relating to the EPA’s programs and operations.
Fraudulent claims for money that should be spent to advance an EPA program.
Improper avoidance of obligations to pay as required by an EPA program.
Misrepresentations of the EPA’s endorsement of products by fraudulently applying the Agency seal, identifier, or product registration numbers to product labels or advertisements.
Cyberscams targeting EPA employees, as well as security threats to the EPA.

Learn more about our investigative COVID-19 response or contact the OIG Hotline.

EPA OIG Hotline

Our office receives allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse concerning the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on EPA and CSB operations.

The EPA and public should be on the alert for some common practices:

Beware of companies placing the EPA seal or an EPA registration number on their products claiming that they meet EPA standards.
Be cautious of imported products marketed as proven to effectively block various epidemic viruses.
Be on the lookout for websites claiming their products contain EPA-approved active ingredients that kill 99.9 percent of all viruses and bacteria, including SAR-CoV-2 virus. These companies may put the EPA logo on their websites to falsely legitimize products. For a list of EPA-approved disinfectants, please visit EPA Official List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2.
Be wary of companies claiming that their services are endorsed or their equipment or material is certified by the EPA.

Prior OIG Reports Relevant to EPA’s Handling of Emergencies and Disasters

Report: EPA Needs to Improve Its Risk Management and Incident Response Information Security Functions

Report #20-P-0120, March 24, 2020. Further implementation of risk management activities and incident response tools are needed to combat cybersecurity threats intended to steal and destroy confidential and sensitive information.

Report: CSB's Information Security Program Is Defined, but Improvements Needed in Risk Management, Identity and Access Management, and Incident Response

Report #20-P-0077, February 12, 2020. The CSB lacks documented procedures to address information technology risks and threats from cybersecurity incidents.

Report: EPA Needs to Improve Its Emergency Planning to Better Address Air Quality Concerns During Future Disasters

Report #20-P-0062, December 16, 2019. Developing EPA guidance for collecting and communicating air quality data could improve public confidence in the agency during future disaster responses.

Report: EPA Adequately Managed Hurricane Harvey Funding Received from FEMA

Report #20-P-0010, October 23, 2019. The EPA had policies and procedures in place for efficient and effective management of over $11 million in FEMA Disaster Relieve Funding for the Hurricane Harvey response.

Report: Region 4 Quickly Assessed Water Systems After Hurricane Irma but Can Improve Emergency Preparedness

Report #20-P-0001, October 7, 2019. EPA staff training with state partners and development of standard operating procedures could improve emergency response.

View all Prior OIG Reports Relevant To EPA’s Handling Of Emergencies And Disasters

What is the EPA OIG?

The Office of Inspector General is an independent organization that performs audits and investigations of the EPA to detect and prevent fraud, waste and abuse. Learn more

OIG Independence of EPA

The EPA's Office of Inspector General is a part of the EPA, although Congress provides our funding separate from the agency, to ensure our independence. We were created pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended.

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OIG Hotline: 1-888-546-8740.