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Office of Inspector General

OIG Reports

Following is a listing of all reports issued by the Office of Inspector General.

Congressionally Requested and Chemical Safety Board Reports

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

Our Audit and Evaluation Reports

The EPA OIG conducts financial and performance audits to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of agency operations and programs. Audits identify potential fraud, waste and abuse; assess program compliance and management of agency processes; identify opportunities to improve human health and the environment; and offer recommendations for cost savings and other efficiencies. 

The EPA OIG also conducts evaluations of EPA programs and activities that support clean air, clear water, safer chemicals, cleaner communities, and scientific research. The office assesses the design, implementation, and measurement of EPA programs, including evidence of program effectiveness and results.

Audits and evaluations differ from our investigations in that they do not deal with criminal activities and generally look at groups, processes, controls or structures, not individual employees. Also, when initiated, most audits are announced publicly, and upon their conclusion, a final report is posted here on the Reports page.

2021 OIG Reports

Date Title Publication Number Environmental Goal(s) Report Teams
Jan 6, 2021 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 21-N-0052   W
Jan 5, 2021 EPA's Fiscal Years 2019 and 2018 Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System Fund Financial Statements 21-F-0045 Operating efficiently and effectively FA


2020 OIG Reports are available.

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GAGAS and Non-GAGAS Reports

Reports from October 2016 and later marked with a P, F or A in their report number follow GAGAS, Exitofficial examination standards established by the federal government. This sign of quality ensures the integrity, objectivity and independence of our work. 

Reports marked with an N, E, B or S signify the limited “non-GAGAS” work that reflects back on our recent recommendations to highlight the impact of our oversight mission.

Report Type Middle Character (i.e., 20-X-001)
GAGAS-compliant performance audit P
GAGAS-compliant financial statement audit F
GAGAS-compliant attestation audit A
Non-GAGAS or Non-QSIE-compliant report N
QSIE -compliant evaluation E
Internal report B
Single audit report S

Report Teams

  • A - Air 
  • CSB - US Chemical Safety Board 
  • C - Contracts and Assistance Agreement
  • EF - Efficiency
  • FA - Financial
  • FO - Forensic
  • IRM - Information Resources Management
  • L - Land Cleanup and Waste Management
  • OM - Office of Management
  • SP - Special Programs (prev SPR)
  • ER - Environmental Research (prev ERP)
  • T - Toxics, Chemical Management and Pollution Prevention 
  • W - Water

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 Exit.

Environmental Protection Agency  |  Office of Inspector General
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2410T)  |  Washington, DC 20460  |  (202) 566-2391
OIG Hotline: 1-888-546-8740.