By Lynn L. Bergeson and Carla N. Hutton
 
According to an October 26, 2021, project notification memorandum, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) plans to begin fieldwork on an audit of EPA’s process for conducting reviews of new chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The memorandum states that the audit “is self-initiated based on OIG’s oversight plan for fiscal year [(FY)] 2022 and to address complaints submitted to the OIG Hotline.” The audit also addresses the following FY 2022 top management challenge for EPA: ensuring safe use of chemicals.
 
OIG states that its objective is to determine the extent to which EPA uses and complies with applicable records management requirements, quality assurance requirements, and employee performance standards to review and approve new chemicals under TSCA to manage human health and environmental risks. OIG plans to conduct work with the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) in EPA headquarters. According to OIG, the anticipated benefits of the audit are “improved operational efficiency and greater human health and environmental protections.”
 
To expedite the audit, OIG asks that OSCPP provide the following information:

• Any training materials, handbooks, or other materials related to the review of new chemicals;
• Resource allocations for the New Chemicals Review Program for FYs 2018 through 2021;
• Scopes of work for any contracts related to the new chemicals review process;
• Any OCSPP guidance under which products developed during the review of new chemicals would constitute records and how the records should be managed; and
• New Chemicals Review Program organization charts before and after the October 2020 reorganization.

As reported in our October 28, 2021, memorandum, “House Committee Holds Hearing on ‘TSCA and Public Health: Fulfilling the Promise of the Lautenberg Act,’” Dr. Michal Ilana Freedhoff, OCSPP Assistant Administrator, has let OIG know that OCSPP will cooperate fully with its investigation.

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By Lynn L. Bergeson and Carla N. Hutton
 
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on February 27, 2020, that it plans to begin its audit of the EPA’s Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Service Fee Fund financial statements for the period from inception, June 22, 2016, to September 30, 2018.  According to the Project Notification, the audit objectives are to determine whether:

1. The financial statements are fairly presented in all material respects in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
2. EPA’s internal control structure over financial reporting related to the financial statements is in place and provides reasonable assurance that:
   • Financial transactions are executed in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements;
   • Assets are safeguarded against loss from unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition; and
   • Transactions are properly recorded, processed, and summarized to permit the preparation of reliable financial statements;
3. EPA has complied with laws and regulations that would have a direct and material effect on the financial statements; and
4. The information and manner of presentation contained in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis, and any other accompanying information, are materially consistent with the information contained in the principal statements.

OIG states that the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act requires that the annual audit of the financial statements also include:

1. An analysis of the fees collected and amounts disbursed;
2. The reasonableness of the fees in place as of the date of the audit to meet current and projected costs of administering the provisions of the law; and
3. The number of requests for a risk evaluation made by manufacturers.

OIG notes that since fees have not been collected, however, it does not anticipate work in this area for the financial statements for the period from inception, June 22, 2016, to September 30, 2018.

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