Federal Independent Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies
Featured Stories
Statement from Amtrak President Roger Harris on the Confirmation of David Fink as Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 -- Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corp.) issued the following news:
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Statement from Amtrak President Roger Harris on the Confirmation of David Fink as Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration
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"We commend the Senate and Administration for confirming David Fink as Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration. His deep experience in freight and passenger rail operations positions him well to lead the FRA in its critical oversight role.
During his tenure at Pan Am Railways, he worked with Amtrak to advance safety, improve service reliability,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 -- Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corp.) issued the following news:
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Statement from Amtrak President Roger Harris on the Confirmation of David Fink as Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration
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"We commend the Senate and Administration for confirming David Fink as Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration. His deep experience in freight and passenger rail operations positions him well to lead the FRA in its critical oversight role.
During his tenure at Pan Am Railways, he worked with Amtrak to advance safety, improve service reliability,and strengthen coordination between passenger and freight interests. We look forward to continuing that partnership as we focus on running a safe and efficient national passenger railroad.
Working together with Administrator Fink, Secretary Duffy, President Trump, and Congress, Amtrak remains committed to delivering safe and dependable service to the American public and to maintaining the highest standards of operational excellence."
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Original text here: https://media.amtrak.com/2025/10/statement-from-amtrak-president-roger-harris-on-the-confirmation-of-david-fink-as-administrator-of-the-federal-railroad-administration/
EPA to hold public hearing on the City of Asheboro's wastewater treatment plant proposed permit
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA to hold public hearing on the City of Asheboro's wastewater treatment plant proposed permit
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ATLANTA, Georgia (Oct. 8, 2025) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public hearing on October 22, 2025 regarding EPA's specific objection to a North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ) proposed National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the City of Asheboro's Wastewater Treatment Plant. In 2023, the City of Asheboro applied for the permit,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA to hold public hearing on the City of Asheboro's wastewater treatment plant proposed permit
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ATLANTA, Georgia (Oct. 8, 2025) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public hearing on October 22, 2025 regarding EPA's specific objection to a North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ) proposed National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the City of Asheboro's Wastewater Treatment Plant. In 2023, the City of Asheboro applied for the permit,which NC DEQ issued in 2024.
The City of Asheboro challenged NC DEQ's authority to include a 1,4-dioxane water quality limit in the permit. A state administrative judge voided the 1,4-dioxane effluent discharge limitation in the NPDES permit. EPA sent a Specific Objection Letter Exit EPA's website supporting the state's NPDES permit and inviting anyone to request a public hearing on the matter, and the City of Asheboro made this request.
When:
October 22, 2025
6 - 9 p.m. ET
Doors open at 5 p.m. ET
Please note: EPA may close the hearing 15 minutes after the last pre-registered speaker has commented if there are no additional speakers present.
Where:
Randolph Community College: JB and Claire Davis Corporate Training Center
413 Industrial Park Ave.
Asheboro, NC 27205
Registration:
To participate in the hearing virtually, register here Exit EPA's website. People attending virtually may not present oral comments during the hearing, but they may submit written comments prior to the October 31, 2025 deadline.
Anyone wishing to speak in person at the public hearing should register Exit EPA's website at least 72 hours in advance. The hearing will begin with brief presentations by EPA and a neutral process facilitator, followed by oral comments, which will be limited to three minutes.
Go here for additional information and supporting documents.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-hold-public-hearing-city-asheboros-wastewater-treatment-plant-proposed-permit
EPA IG: Management Implication Report - Unauthorized Use of Software on EPA Computers
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 25-N-0049) on Sept. 22, 2025, entitled "Management Implication Report: Unauthorized Use of Software on EPA Computers:"
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September 22, 2025
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Management Implication Report: Unauthorized Use of Software on EPA Computers
FROM: Nic Evans, Acting Assistant Inspector General, Office of Investigations
TO: Carter Farmer, Chief Information Officer and Deputy Assistant Administrator for Information Technology and Information Management, Office of Mission Support
PURPOSE
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 25-N-0049) on Sept. 22, 2025, entitled "Management Implication Report: Unauthorized Use of Software on EPA Computers:"
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September 22, 2025
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Management Implication Report: Unauthorized Use of Software on EPA Computers
FROM: Nic Evans, Acting Assistant Inspector General, Office of Investigations
TO: Carter Farmer, Chief Information Officer and Deputy Assistant Administrator for Information Technology and Information Management, Office of Mission Support
PURPOSEAND OVERVIEW: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General has identified concerns regarding the installation and use of unauthorized software, specifically jiggler software, on EPA computers and networks. Commonly referred to as "mouse jigglers," jiggler software simulates activity on a laptop, preventing the laptop from entering sleep mode and locking out its user. The EPA has a clear, consistent, and uniform policy that prohibits the download, installation, and execution of unauthorized software on the Agency's computers and networks. EPA policy also requires unauthorized software to be immediately removed upon detection. Furthermore, the EPA uses several tools to enforce this policy, including Microsoft Windows Installer to prevent the installation of unauthorized software and network scans to detect the presence of unauthorized software./1
The EPA has not authorized any jiggler software for any use on its computers or systems. After running network scans in two EPA regions in November and December 2024, however, the Agency discovered 120 employees and contractors using jiggler software. Our investigation found that jiggler software could bypass the Agency's Windows Installer settings, that some of the EPA's information technology specialists believed they were exempt from the policy, and that other EPA employees and contractors installed the software without authorization. Furthermore, we discovered inconsistencies in how quickly the regional offices acted to remove the jiggler software after it was detected. The installation and use of unauthorized software on EPA computers and networks represent critical cybersecurity risks and ethics violations for the Agency.
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1 Windows Installer is a component of the Microsoft Windows operating system that manages the installation, maintenance, and removal of software.
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We conducted this investigation in accordance with the Quality Standards for Investigation published in November 2011 by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency. Those standards require that we conduct investigations in a timely, efficient, thorough, and objective manner.
BACKGROUND: According to the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, 5 U.S.C. Sec.Sec. 401-424, OIGs are charged with preventing and detecting fraud, waste, and abuse related to the programs and operations of their agencies. To this end, our Office of Investigations "conduct[s], supervise[s], and coordinate[s] ... investigations relating to the programs and operations" of the EPA and the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board./2
As part of our oversight function as an independent office of the EPA, we conduct criminal, civil, and administrative investigations, including violations of information technology and information management policies by EPA employees and contractors that potentially endanger the EPA's cybersecurity. We also conduct audits and evaluations of the Agency's information management processes and information security posture. For example, the OIG Office of Audit issued EPA OIG Report No. 22-E-0028,/3 The EPA Lacks Documented Procedures for Detecting and Removing Unauthorized Software on the Agency's Network, on March 30, 2022, identifying concerns regarding the presence of unauthorized software on the EPA network. The report noted over 7,000 instances of nonbase software on its network, including foreign software and malware programs that gather user information, allow remote control of the EPA user's computer, and have a history of being used for targeted attacks./4
Furthermore, the report noted concerns that the Agency lacked documented software management procedures and targeted training for detecting and removing unapproved software on the EPA network.
According to the Agency's response to EPA OIG Report No. 22-E-0028, which is included in Appendix E of the published report, the EPA implemented two corrective actions to address the concerns outlined in the report. Notably, on December 20, 2022, the EPA implemented Directive No: CIO 2104.3, Software Management and Piracy Policy, which outlines how software should be obtained. It does not specify steps for removing unauthorized software.
The EPA's information security and information management policies incorporate federal statutes, orders, and standards. For example, on April 10, 2024, in compliance with Office of Management and Budget Circular A-130,5 the EPA established Directive No: CIO 2150-S-21.2, Information Security - EPA National Rules of Behavior. The policy establishes rules of behavior for users of EPA information systems to safeguard the systems from "misuse, abuse, loss or unauthorized access." Before being granted access to EPA information systems, users must attest to their knowledge and understanding of their responsibilities under this policy. Of note, the EPA National Rules of Behavior states that users must not "[i]nstall and/or download unauthorized software on an EPA computing resource without written approval by the Office of Information Management (OIM) and IRM [Information Resources Management] Branch Chief (IRMBC)." Furthermore, the policy states, "Unauthorized use of a user account or a computing resource can result in criminal penalties under Section 1030, Title 18, of the United States Code." This statute, known as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, prohibits unauthorized access to government systems, including installing or using unauthorized software. Violations may result in criminal charges, fines, and imprisonment.
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2 5 U.S.C. Sec. 404(a)(1).
3 EPA Off. of Inspector Gen., 22-E-0028, The EPA Lacks Documented Procedures for Detecting and Removing Unapproved Software on the Agency's Network (2022).
4 According to EPA OIG Report No. 22-E-0028, nonbase software is "software that is not part of the Agency's standard installation or otherwise loaded onto workstations as part of regular business." According to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, malware is "software used to gain unauthorized access to [information technology] systems to steal data, disrupt system services, or damage [information technology] networks in any way."
5 Off. of Management and Budget, Circular A-130, Managing Information as a Strategic Resource (2016).
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The EPA's Software Management and Piracy Policy, which was issued two years before the EPA National Rules of Behavior, complies with Executive Order 13103./6
This policy requires that all software installed on its computers and systems be appropriately licensed, approved for use, and not pirated, specifically stating that:
* "Only software that has been approved by the IMO [information management officer] or the Agency's OMS-EI [Office of Mission Support-Environmental Information] Office of Information Technology Operations Director and properly acquired by the Agency may be installed on EPA computer systems."
* "Installed software, which is discovered to be unlicensed, unauthorized, obsolete, or does not comply with Agency or other standards shall be promptly uninstalled/removed."
The EPA's Software Management and Piracy Policy clarifies that violations of the policy will be dealt with under the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, 5 C.F.R. part 2635, and EPA Order 3120.1, Conduct and Discipline.
CONCERNS IDENTIFIED: In December 2024 and February 2025, two EPA regional offices notified us that unauthorized software, specifically jiggler software, was being downloaded, installed, and used by some employees and contractors. Although mouse jigglers can have legitimate uses, the EPA has not authorized any jiggler software for any use on its computers or systems, not even for use by information technology specialists. After becoming aware that this unauthorized software was being used, the Information Management Branches in Regions 5 and 8 conducted network scans. These scans uncovered that more than 120 EPA contractors and employees, including supervisors, were using jiggler software. Some of these contractors and employees were information technology specialists who incorrectly believed they were exempt from Agency policy and installed jiggler software to perform maintenance and repair work. Other contractors and employees installed the software for other purposes, such as to complete updates or backups that take hours. Some even placed jiggler software on shared Agency drives for their colleagues to access.
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6 Exec. Order No. 13103, Computer Software Piracy (Sep. 30, 1998).
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Installing and using jiggler software directly violates the EPA National Rules of Behavior and the EPA's Software Management and Piracy Policy, which all EPA employees have access to and should be familiar with. In addition, all Agency employees and contractors must annually complete Information Security and Privacy Awareness training. Although this training does not specifically address the Software Management and Piracy Policy, it does require each employee to open the EPA National Rules of Behavior and attest that they have reviewed and understand those rules. The EPA also has other procedures for detecting and removing unapproved software from its computers and systems, which the Agency developed in response to a previous OIG evaluation. None of the Agency's trainings, policies, or procedures provide any exemptions regarding the installation and use of unauthorized software for any level, role, or function of EPA employee or contractor.
The installation of unauthorized jiggler software raises numerous information management and cybersecurity concerns. Although the Agency has configured Windows Installer to block the installation of unauthorized software, [text omitted by source], the Agency's Windows Installer settings did not detect that EPA employees and contractors were downloading and installing the software. This vulnerability represents a larger, significant risk to the Agency's cybersecurity. [text omitted by source].
In addition, recent advances in malware development make it extremely difficult for scanning tools, [text omitted by source] to detect the presence of the malware. Such advances include fileless malware, which operates entirely in memory; steganography, which hides malicious code in otherwise clean files; and living-off-the-land tactics, which spread malicious code using legitimate system tools. [text omitted by source].
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The United States has faced recent malware attacks
Notable examples of cybercriminals and foreign intelligence services using malware against the United States' government, citizens, businesses, and organizations include the:
* Remote access trojan attacks beginning in 2021 that are perpetrated by the Chinese-based Volt Typhoon against U.S. critical infrastructure organizations.
* PlugX Malware attacks from 2014 through 2025 that were perpetrated by the Chinese-backed Mustang Panda against U.S. citizens.
* SolarWinds Supply Chain attack of 2020 that was perpetrated by Russia against U.S. citizens and government agencies.
* WannaCry Ransomware attacks in 2017 that were perpetrated by North Korean-sponsored Lazarus Group against U.S. businesses and others.
* Office of Personnel Management breach of 2015 that was perpetrated by China.
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The use of unauthorized jiggler software also presents numerous ethics and cybersecurity concerns. Employees may use jiggler software to defraud workplace monitoring efforts; in other words, by using this software, employees can appear to be in active status to give the impression of working. Although our investigation did not uncover this type of misconduct, it is a risk with jiggler software. Also, because the purpose of jiggler software is to keep the computer unlocked, unauthorized individuals could more easily gain access to an employee's computer and, in turn, to the EPA's networks. As a result, personally identifiable information or classified business information stored on the EPA's networks may be potentially exposed.
We also noted inconsistencies in how Regions 5 and 8 sought to correct the installation and use of unauthorized software. Region 5 directed staff to remove the software, consistent with the EPA National Rules of Behavior and the EPA's Software Management and Piracy Policy. Despite this directive, some Region 5 staff attempted to justify why they needed the software, while some even ignored the directive.
However, Region 5 did not provide any exceptions and removed all the unauthorized jiggler software that it detected. Region 5 is also undertaking disciplinary action, such as letters of counseling and suspensions, against the employees and contractors who downloaded, installed, and used the unauthorized software. On the other hand, Region 8 provided exceptions for some employees to have the software, and it is unknown whether the region is pursuing disciplinary action against those who violated the EPA National Rules of Behavior and the Software Management and Piracy Policy.
*
MEASURES FOR IMPROVEMENT: We are notifying the Agency of our concerns so that it may consider:
* Immediately initiating a global network scan to identify and remove jiggler and other unauthorized software.
* Identifying and implementing tools that prevent EPA employees and contractors from downloading, installing, and using jiggler and other unauthorized software, [text omitted by source].
* Conducting routine global network scans, including ofshared servers, devices, and cloud storage, and removing any unauthorized software that is identified.
* Ensuring nationwide Agency consistency in how EPA regions identify and remove unauthorized software, as well as disciplinary actions for violations.
* Ensuring that the EPA's procedures for detecting and removing unapproved software from its computers and systems remain up-to-date and accessible, and providing reoccurring training on these procedures./7
Until the above actions can be implemented, the EPA should continue to provide its annual training encompassing the EPA National Rules of Behavior, send emails to all EPA employees and contractors reminding them of the requirement to comply with the EPA National Rules of Behavior and the Software Management and Piracy Policy, and educate all employees and contractors about the penalties associated with violating these policies.
We are notifying the Agency of our concerns so that it may take the steps it deems appropriate and necessary to correct the identified vulnerabilities. If the EPA decides it is appropriate to take, or plan to take, action to address these vulnerabilities, we would appreciate notification of that action. Should there be any questions regarding this report, please contact Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge [text omitted by source] at [text omitted by source] or or [text omitted by source] me at [text omitted by source] or [text omitted by source].
cc: Nicole N. Murley, Acting Inspector General
Tiffany McNeill, Director, Office of Information Technology Operations, Office of Mission Support T
onya Manning, Chief Information Security Officer, Office of Mission Support
Paige Hallen Hanson, Chief Financial Officer, Office of the Chief Financial Officer
Anne Vogel, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 5
Cyrus Western, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 8
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7 EPA Off. of Inspector Gen., 22-E-0028, The EPA Lacks Documented Procedures for Detecting and Removing Unapproved Software on the Agency's Network (2022).
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The report is posted at: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2025-09/1-_epaoig-20250922-25-n-0049_cert_redacted-full-report.pdf
EPA IG: Evaluation of the EPA's Oversight of State & Local Ambient Air Monitoring Operating Schedules
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 25-E-0051) on Sept. 17, 2025, entitled "Evaluation of the EPA's Oversight of State and Local Ambient Air Monitoring Operating Schedules."
Here are excerpts:
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Evaluation of the EPA's Oversight of State and Local Ambient Air Monitoring Operating Schedules
Why We Did This Evaluation
To accomplish this objective:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General conducted this evaluation to determine whether the EPA's oversight and implementation of air
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 25-E-0051) on Sept. 17, 2025, entitled "Evaluation of the EPA's Oversight of State and Local Ambient Air Monitoring Operating Schedules."
Here are excerpts:
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Evaluation of the EPA's Oversight of State and Local Ambient Air Monitoring Operating Schedules
Why We Did This Evaluation
To accomplish this objective:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General conducted this evaluation to determine whether the EPA's oversight and implementation of airquality monitoring resulted in underreported air pollution.
Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA sets standards, known as National Ambient Air Quality Standards, for air pollutants that are harmful to public health and the environment. If an area meets these standards, it is designated as an attainment area. If it does not meet these standards, it is designated as a nonattainment area.
Using thousands of air monitors at sites across the country, the EPA works with state and local air monitoring agencies to gather information about air pollution. Some air monitoring sites operate daily, but others operate on a predictable, intermittent schedule. Typically, the intermittent air monitoring sites will operate once every three, six, or 12 days. References to these air monitor sites use the terms "1-in-3," "1-in-6," and "1-in-12," respectively. The term "pollution gap" refers to the difference in average pollution measurements between an air monitoring site's online and offline days when measured by alternative, non-EPA monitoring methods.
What We Found
Our statistical analyses indicate that pollution levels increase when certain air quality monitoring sites are offline. When some ambient air quality monitoring sites were offline, fine particulate matter air pollution increased on average by about 4 percent for daily monitoring sites and 9 percent for 1-in-3 monitoring sites. Further analyses indicated that 35.70 percent of sites that operated intermittently rather than daily had worse air quality on average when they were offline. While the results of our analyses do not indicate malicious behavior at any specific site, they demonstrate that there is a risk of underreported air pollution. The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to protect air quality, and the Agency will struggle to achieve this statutory mission if air quality monitoring data are not representative of the actual air quality.
Two factors may contribute to underreported air pollution. First, the EPA publishes its intermittent air monitoring schedule on its website, creating an opportunity for regulated entities to time peak emissions for when a monitoring site is offline. When the EPA determines that the air quality in an area does not meet the standards, the Clean Air Act requires state and local governments to develop a plan to improve air quality. Such a plan can include costly emission controls, which may incentivize regulated entities to alter their emission patterns. Second, although EPA staff review air monitoring data, the EPA does not have the capacity to identify underreported air pollution within such a large volume of air quality data. This limitation creates opportunities for state and local air monitoring agencies to strategically turn off monitoring sites on days that they expect high pollution, potentially to avoid the EPA designating an area as in nonattainment.
When considering the pollution gap, 18 percent of the air monitoring sites in our analysis that had worse air quality when they were offline switch from indicating area attainment to indicating area nonattainment. This indicates that there is a risk that the Agency is not effectively obtaining the data it needs to make accurate attainment designations, meaning that it may incorrectly designate nonattainment areas as attainment areas. Accordingly, regulated entities in incorrectly designated areas would not be required to take measures to improve air quality, potentially resulting in poorer air quality and health outcomes for people residing and working in these areas.
Recommendations and Planned Agency Corrective Actions We make two recommendations in this report. We recommend that the assistant administrator for Air and Radiation restrict the distribution of the intermittent monitoring schedule to state, local, and tribal air monitoring agencies and associated labs and discourage broader dissemination of and access to the intermittent monitoring schedule. In addition, we recommend that the assistant administrator implement a regular screening process using alternative air pollution measurements to detect monitoring sites that may be underreporting air pollution. The EPA agreed with our recommendations. We consider both recommendations resolved with corrective actions completed or pending.
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September 17, 2025
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Evaluation of the EPA's Oversight of State and Local Ambient Air Monitoring Operating Schedules, Report No. 25-E-0051
FROM: Nicole N. Murley, Acting Inspector General
TO: Aaron Szabo, Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation
This is our report on the subject evaluation conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General. The project number for this evaluation was OSRE-FY24-0072. This report contains findings that describe the problems the OIG has identified and corrective actions the OIG recommends. Final determinations on matters in this report will be made by EPA managers in accordance with established audit resolution procedures.
The Office of Air and Radiation is responsible for the issues discussed in this report. In accordance with EPA Manual 2750, your office completed corrective actions for Recommendation 1. Your office also provided acceptable planned corrective actions and an estimated milestone date in response to Recommendation 2. All recommendations are either closed or resolved, and no final response to this report is required. If your office submits a response, however, it will be posted on the OIG's website, along with our memorandum commenting on the response. The response should be provided as an Adobe PDF file that complies with the requirements of section 508 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. The final response should not contain data that your office does not want released to the public; if the response contains such data, your office should identify the data for redaction or removal along with corresponding justification.
This version of our report has had information redacted because it contains certain privileged information. We will post this version of our report to our website at www.epaoig.gov.
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The report is posted at: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2025-09/2-_epaoig_20250917-25-e-0051_cert_redacted_cert_0-full-report.pdf
EPA IG: Compendium of Open Recommendations - Data as of May 31, 2025
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 25-N-0050) on Sept. 10, 2025, entitled "Compendium of Open Recommendations: Data as of May 31, 2025."
Here are excerpts:
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Compendium of Open Recommendations: Data as of May 31, 2025
Why We Published This Compendium
The Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, requires each inspector general to prepare semiannual reports for Congress. As part of that reporting, the inspector general must identify all recommendations from the prior reporting period for which corrective
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 25-N-0050) on Sept. 10, 2025, entitled "Compendium of Open Recommendations: Data as of May 31, 2025."
Here are excerpts:
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Compendium of Open Recommendations: Data as of May 31, 2025
Why We Published This Compendium
The Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, requires each inspector general to prepare semiannual reports for Congress. As part of that reporting, the inspector general must identify all recommendations from the prior reporting period for which correctiveactions have not been completed by the agency, as well as any management decisions with respect to audit, inspection, or evaluation reports issued during that prior reporting period.
In our most recent semiannual report for Congress, which covers the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General's work from October 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025, we listed all resolved recommendations as of September 30, 2024. We are publishing this compendium to provide an update on the recommendations we have issued to the Agency that remained open as of May 31, 2025. Open recommendations include all recommendations, both resolved and unresolved, for which corrective action has not been completed. We also highlight those recommendations that we consider to be high priority. A
Updates to Resolved Recommendations from the Semiannual Report
This compendium provides an update on the 80 resolved recommendations that we identified in EPA Publication No. EPA-350-R-25-001, Semiannual Report to Congress: October 1, 2024-March 31, 2025. Resolved recommendations are those that the responsible EPA office and the OIG agree on but for which the agreed-upon corrective actions have not yet been completed, regardless of whether their expected due dates are in the past or the future. Our update recognizes changes in the status of recommendations that occurred after the issuance of the semiannual report but not later than May 31. Since two of the 80 resolved recommendations in the semiannual report were completed in that time frame, this update analyzes 78 resolved recommendations, which represent over $43.3 million in potential cost savings.
Of those 78 resolved recommendations, 43 recommendations will be at least three years old on the scheduled corrective action completion date. These 43 recommendations represent over $33.3 million in potential cost savings. Delayed implementation of our recommendations leaves the Agency more vulnerable to fraud, waste, and abuse and potentially unable to meet its goals in the most effective and efficient manner.
Unresolved Recommendations
In addition to the 78 resolved recommendations, 15 of the recommendations that we have issued to the EPA through May 31, 2025, remain unresolved. Unresolved recommendations are those that the responsible EPA office disagrees with; has not provided a formal, complete, written response to; or has proposed corrective actions that it and the OIG have not agreed upon. The importance of resolving recommendations is reflected in Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A-50, which requires that each agency "establish processes to ensure the prompt and proper resolution and implementation of audit, inspection, or evaluation recommendations and implementation of corrective actions."
High-Priority Recommendations
In this report, we also highlight 13 high-priority recommendations that we have issued to the EPA through May 31, 2025, with potential monetary benefits of nearly $865.8 million. These include five resolved recommendations not listed in Appendix 3 of the semiannual report because they were issued after September 30, 2024. High-priority recommendations include those that, if implemented, could significantly impact EPA program efficiency and effectiveness; improve the Agency's ability to manage operations and programs; or result in significant potential monetary benefits.
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September 10, 2025
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Compendium of Open Recommendations: Data as of May 31, 2025, Report No. 25-N-0050
FROM: Nicole N. Murley, Acting Inspector General
TO: Lee Zeldin, Administrator
David Fotouhi, Deputy Administrator
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General presents this Compendium of Open Recommendations: Data as of May 31, 2025, which details 78 resolved recommendations issued to the EPA in reports published as of September 30, 2024, and 15 recommendations to the EPA that remained unresolved as of May 31, 2025. We also highlight 13 high-priority open recommendations that, if implemented, could significantly improve the Agency's ability to manage EPA operations and programs or indicate significant potential monetary benefits from questioned costs, funds to be put to better use, or other monetary impacts.
The Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, requires each inspector general to prepare semiannual reports for Congress, which must include "an identification of each recommendation made before the reporting period, for which corrective action has not been completed, including the potential cost savings associated with the recommendation." This compendium provides further analysis of the resolved recommendations identified in EPA Publication No. EPA-350-R-25-001, Semiannual Report to Congress: October 1, 2024-March 31, 2025, which we issued in May 2025.
Section 1 of this compendium delineates resolved recommendations by EPA program office, regional office, and potential benefit. Section 2 lists the resolved recommendations that are at least three years old or that will be at least three years old by their scheduled completion dates. Section 3 focuses on the recommendations that we have issued to the EPA that remain unresolved as of May 31, 2025. Section 4 identifies our recommendations to the EPA that we consider to be high priority.
We will post this report to our website at www.epaoig.gov.
cc: Assistant Administrators
General Counsel
Chief Financial Officer
Associate Administrators
Regional Administrators
Agency Follow-Up Coordinators
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The report is posted at: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2025-09/3-_epaoig_20250910-25-n-0050_cert-full-report.pdf
EPA Approves Blueprint for Cleanup of Berry's Creek in Bergen County, N.J.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Approves Blueprint for Cleanup of Berry's Creek in Bergen County, N.J.
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Bergen County, N.J. \- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the cleanup blueprint for the Berry's Creek Study Area (BCSA) in Bergen County, New Jersey. The blueprint covers the cleanup work to be performed in the tidal creek and surrounding wetlands at the Ventron/Velsicol Superfund site and also the waterways portion of the nearby Universal Oil Products (UOP) Superfund site. The two systems are directly
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Approves Blueprint for Cleanup of Berry's Creek in Bergen County, N.J.
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Bergen County, N.J. \- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the cleanup blueprint for the Berry's Creek Study Area (BCSA) in Bergen County, New Jersey. The blueprint covers the cleanup work to be performed in the tidal creek and surrounding wetlands at the Ventron/Velsicol Superfund site and also the waterways portion of the nearby Universal Oil Products (UOP) Superfund site. The two systems are directlyconnected.
"Before we can start work on a complex site like this, we have to first complete the extensive engineering design work that serves as a detailed blueprint, so this is a big step toward cleaning up this site," said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. "Berry's Creek has been severely impacted for generations, and this project will finally begin to turn the tide for the community and the environment."
The approved blueprint, developed by the Berry's Creek Group of potentially responsible parties under EPA oversight, provides crucial details needed to implement cleanup plans that EPA selected in 2018 for the BCSA and in 2019 for the UOP waterways. It explains how decades of mercury and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination will be addressed through targeted sediment removal, capping and habitat restoration.
EPA expects this cleanup work to begin late 2026 and take approximately four years to complete. The cleanup will include:
* Removing contaminated sediment from key areas of the BCSA and UOP waterways.
* Installing protective caps to prevent mercury and PCBs from re-entering the water.
* Replanting marshes and restoring habitat once work is complete.
Berry's Creek is a tributary to the Hackensack River, traveling through Carlstadt, East Rutherford, Lyndhurst, Moonachie, Rutherford, Teterboro, and Wood-Ridge, and includes approximately six miles of waterway, tributaries to the creek, and approximately 750 acres of marshes. The major contaminants in the Berry's Creek Study Area are mercury, methyl mercury, PCBs, and chromium, which are at high levels in the water and sediment. The areas selected for this cleanup address a major portion of the contamination within Berry's Creek, which acts as a source of contamination to the other areas of the site, as well as to animal life.
Berry's Creek has long been subject to state fish consumption advisories due to unsafe mercury and PCB levels. These advisories remain in place until cleanup goals are met, and monitoring confirms conditions have improved.
Visit the Ventron/Velsicol Superfund site profile page and the Universal Oil Products Superfund site profile pag e for additional background and site documents.
Follow EPA Region 2 on X Exit EPA's website, Instagram Exit EPA's website, and visit our Facebook Exit EPA's website page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-approves-blueprint-cleanup-berrys-creek-bergen-county-nj
Daily Update: EPA Cleanup Continues in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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Daily Update: EPA Cleanup Continues in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
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Dallas, Texas (Oct. 8, 2025) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to lead the cleanup of the impacted area in Roseland, Louisiana, following a fire at the Smitty's Supply facility on August 24.
Response by the Numbers:
* 9,955,533 gallons of liquid wastes recovered
* 6,784,000 gallons of liquid wastes removed for disposal
* 22,400 feet of containment boom laid
* 4,754 bales of sorbent material
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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Daily Update: EPA Cleanup Continues in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
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Dallas, Texas (Oct. 8, 2025) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to lead the cleanup of the impacted area in Roseland, Louisiana, following a fire at the Smitty's Supply facility on August 24.
Response by the Numbers:
* 9,955,533 gallons of liquid wastes recovered
* 6,784,000 gallons of liquid wastes removed for disposal
* 22,400 feet of containment boom laid
* 4,754 bales of sorbent material
* Over 275 EPA and contractor personnel deployed **due to unsafe conditions after rainfall, EPA contractor crews working river cleanup had to pause operations for today**
Accomplishments to date include extinguishing the fire and stabilizing the facility to prevent leaks; installing earthen dams, booms and rainwater collection around the site to contain runoff; deployed boom and sorbent material in ponds and the Tangipahoa River to capture contaminated runoff; and increased the recovery rate of oily material. EPA is also continuing to conduct additional sampling of the river, ponds, and ditches in the area to increase the amount of information and data we have about the range of pollutants that are present in the water and sediment.
EPA appreciates the continued coordination and response efforts of our state and local partners and the cooperation of residents as our recovery efforts continue.
Cleanup Operations
EPA's cleanup operations in the Tangipahoa River are focused on flushing oily waste in the river downstream to established collection points where it is removed and placed in containers for disposal. At the ponds, crews are working 24 hours a day to contain and recover oily wastes.
EPA has increased the rate of oil recovery with new equipment, including six drum skimmers, rope skimmers, and five marsh buggies.
EPA crews at the Smitty's Supply response have been working to manage recent significant rainfall, including installing stormwater control measures, fortifying ditches, and building underflow dams to prevent material from reaching the river. The plan included a controlled release of stormwater from the Smitty's Supply facility to move across the road and into the ponds adjacent to the site. EPA operations crews confirmed runoff was contained to the ponds and did not reach the Tangipahoa River.
EPA response crews are aware of a reported sheen around the mouth of the Tangipahoa River and into Lake Pontchartrain. The Coast Guard has recommended EPA responders halt work on the river due to dangerous conditions from recent rainfall. EPA and the Coast Guard will investigate the reported sheen as soon as conditions improve, allowing operations to resume.
For the safety of residents and response crews, operations at the facility and ponds require Highway 51 near the Smitty's facility to remain closed to allow the safe movement of trucks, rigs, frac tanks, and other large equipment. EPA appreciates the continued understanding and patience of residents in observing this important safety measure.
Community Engagement
EPA has met with close to 1,000 community members and answered their questions at regular office hours and events. Residents are invited to continue engaging with our response staff at the upcoming events listed below.
Community Office Hours:
* Amite Senior Center: Thursday, October 9, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
* Amite Public Library: Thursday, October 9, 10 am - 1 pm
* Amite Community Center: Thursday, October 9, 2 pm - 5:30 pm
* Roseland Dollar General: Thursday, October 9, 10 am - 5:30 pm
* Ponchatoula Public Library: Friday, October 10, 9 am - 12:30 pm
* Roseland Dollar General: Friday, October 10, 10 am - 5:30 pm
* Loranger High School football game: Friday, October 10, 6 - 7:30 pm
* Hammond Northshore Regional Air Show: Saturday, October 11, 8 am - 5 pm
* Roseland Dollar General: Saturday, October 11, 10 am - 5:30 pm
* Hammond Northshore Regional Air Show: Sunday, October 12, 8 am - 5 pm
Online Resources
Visit EPA's response website for regular updates, including sampling results, cleanup progress, field photos, and an interactive story map: https://www.epa.gov/smittys-supply-fire Exit EPA's website.
Social Media Highlights
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Facebook:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Daily Smitty's Supply Fire Response Update For more information: https://spgv.io/6180BgR6 Exit EPA's website.
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: In close coordination with state and local partners, EPA crews continue to work tirelessly to protect human health and the environment for all residents following the Smitty Supply Fire. For updates, click here: https://spgv.io/6189BgVh Exit EPA's website.
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: EPA's leading response efforts continue to carefully and efficiently remove millions of gallons of contaminated material from the surrounding area so that Roseland residents are kept safe. Read more updates here: https://spgv.io/6182Bgb8 Exit EPA's website.
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X:
@EPA: Daily Smitty's Supply Fire Response Update. For more information: https://spgv.io/6019Bguh Exit EPA's website.
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@EPA: In close coordination with state and local partners, EPA crews continue to work tirelessly to protect human health and the environment for all residents following the Smitty Supply Fire. For updates, click here: https://www.epa.gov/smittys-supply-fire Exit EPA's website.
CLICK HERE TO READ AND REPOST Exit EPA's website.
@EPA: EPA's leading response efforts continue to carefully and efficiently remove millions of gallons of contaminated material from the surrounding area so that Roseland residents are kept safe. Read more updates here: https://www.epa.gov/smittys-supply-fire Exit EPA's website.
CLICK HERE TO READ AND REPOST Exit EPA's website.
Media Availability
For interview requests or to coordinate site visits, contact Jennah Durant at durant.jennah@epa.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/daily-update-epa-cleanup-continues-tangipahoa-parish-louisiana-2
