Congressionally Requested OIG Reports

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Report: The EPA Was Not Transparent About Changes Made to a Long-Chain PFAS Rule After Administrator Signature

Report #22-E-0052, July 7, 2022. Because the EPA did not follow docketing procedures, the public was not notified of the changes to the final LCPFAC Significant New Use Rule.
EPA Delayed Risk Communication and Issued Instructions Hindering Region 5’s Ability to Address Ethylene Oxide Emissions

Report #21-P-0123, April 15, 2021. The EPA did not achieve its mission when senior leaders issued instructions to Region 5 that impacted the region’s ability to address ethylene oxide emissions and when the EPA delayed communicating health risks.
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: EPA Failed to Develop Required Cost and Benefit Analyses and to Assess Air Quality Impacts on Children's Health for Proposed Glider Repeal Rule Allowing Used Engines in Heavy-Duty Trucks

Report #20-P-0047, December 5, 2019. The EPA's actions regarding the proposed Glider Repeal Rule lacked transparency and deprived the public of required information.
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: Actions Needed to Strengthen Controls over the EPA Administrator's and Associated Staff's Travel

Report #19-P-0155, May 16, 2019. Actions need to be taken to strengthen controls over Administrator travel to help prevent the potential for fraud, waste and abuse.
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: 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 Region 5 Has Adequate Policies and Procedures for Addressing Sexual Harassment Allegations

Report #17-P-0343, July 31, 2017. Region 5 addressed complaints in accordance with agency policies and procedures. No recommendations are being made.
Report: Gold King Mine Release - Inspector General Response to Congressional Requests

Report #17-P-0250, June 12, 2017. Since causing the uncontrolled release of 3 million gallons of contaminated mine water, the EPA has taken steps to minimize the possibility of similar incidents at other mine sites.
Report: EPA-Funded What’s Upstream? Advocacy Campaign Did Not Violate Lobbying Prohibitions

Report #17-P-0183, April 24, 2017. The EPA and NWIFC complied with applicable laws, regulations and policies. The EPA’s oversight of the cooperative agreement and sub-award included communication.
Report: EPA Needs to Improve Processes for Preserving Text Messages as Federal Records

Report #17-P-0062, December 21, 2016. The EPA can better prevent deaths and serious injuries caused during residential fumigations by amending sulfuryl fluoride labels and monitoring compliance.
Report: Audit Follow-Up Process Needed for the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board

Report #13-P-0128, February 1, 2013. CSB does not have a follow-up process to allow for prompt implementation of agreed-to OIG audit recommendations.
Report: Response to Congressional Request on EPA Enforcement

Report #13-P-0168, February 28, 2013. EPA enforcement data show that the amount of monetary results EPA regions achieve from concluded enforcement cases varies from year to year and from region to region.
Report: EPA Can Better Document Resolution of Ethics and Partiality Concerns in Managing Clean Air Federal Advisory Committees

Report #13-P-0387, September 11, 2013. In general, the EPA managed the CASAC and Council in accordance with applicable statutes and regulations.
Report: Congressionally Requested Inquiry Into the EPA’s Use of Private and Alias Email Accounts

Report #13-P-0433, September 26, 2013. We found no evidence that the EPA used, promoted or encouraged the use of private “non-governmental” email accounts to circumvent records management responsibilities
Report: Early Warning Report: Internal Controls and Management Actions Concerning John C. Beale Pay Issues

Report #14-P-0036, December 11, 2013. The fraud committed by John C. Beale was enabled by ineffective internal controls and a lack of management attention.
Report: Early Warning Report: Internal Controls and Management Actions Concerning John C. Beale’s Travel

Report #14-P-0037, December 11, 2013. John C. Beale admitted to $45,094 in fraudulent travel expenses, and additional expenses are questionable.
Report: Response to Congressional Inquiry Regarding the EPA’s Emergency Order to the Range Resources Gas Drilling Company

Report #14-P-0044, December 20, 2013. The EPA withdrew its emergency order regarding Range Resources hydraulic fracturing operations, but continues to monitor the situation for evidence of widespread contamination.
Report: EPA Not Fully Compliant With Overtime Policies

Report #15-P-0293, September 22, 2015. The EPA may have incurred overtime charges without proper authorization and advance approval, and did not maintain overtime request forms as required.
Report: EPA Needs Better Management Controls for Approval of Employee Travel

Report #15-P-0294, September 22, 2015. Weak internal controls make EPA travel dollars vulnerable to fraud waste and misuse.
Report: Improvements to EPA Policies and Guidance Could Enhance Protection of Human Study Subjects

Report #14-P-0154, March 31, 2014. The EPA can enhance its human studies by improving how it obtains approval for studies; how it communicates risk to people who participate in EPA studies; and how it addresses adverse events in its guidance.
Report: Audit of EPA Passport Controls

Report #14-P-0243, May 1, 2014. EPA needs to strengthen controls for official passports to protect sensitive personally identifiable information.
Report: EPA OIG’s Compliance With EPA Passport Guidance

Report #14-B-0244, May 1, 2014. The EPA OIG needs to ensure that it complies with EPA passport guidance to protect sensitive PII.
Report: EPA Compliance With Retention Incentive Regulations and Policies

Report #14-P-0245, May 2, 2014. EPA did not comply with Office of Personnel Management regulations or agency policies on retention incentive pay.
Report: EPA OIG Compliance With Retention Incentive Regulations and Policies

Report #14-B-0246, May 2, 2014. Unauthorized retention incentive payments totaling $64,204 were made to EPA OIG employees due to a lack of adequate internal controls and agency follow-up.
Report: EPA Met or Exceeded Most Internal Climate Change Goals, But Data Quality and Records Management Procedures Need Improvement

Report #14-P-0325, July 29, 2014. Improving data quality and records management procedures can support confidence in the reliability of EPA's progress reports on its climate change goals.
Report: Improvements Needed to Ensure EPA Terminates Exceptions to Biweekly Pay Limits at Completion of Emergency Response Work

Report #15-P-0170, June 19, 2015. EPA made payments totaling $4,141 to employees in excess of biweekly pay limits because authorized exceptions were not terminated at the end of emergency response work.
Report: Improvements Needed by EPA to Reduce Risk in Employee Hiring Process

Report #15-P-0253, August 3, 2015. Without verification of prior employment or references, the potential exists that the EPA will not hire the best possible staff, or will hire an employee based on false statements.
Report: Response to Congressional Request Concerning Political Interference in Release of Documents Under the Freedom of Information Act

Report #15-N-0261, August 20, 2015. We did not find any indications of political interference or delay in the release of FOIA documents.