Department of the Interior

In a joint investigation with the U.S. Department of Education OIG, we investigated allegations of suspected bank fraud and identity theft after discovering evidence that Sharon Hall obtained fraudulent student loans while employed as a surface mine specialist for the Office of Surface Mining...

The OIG investigated allegations that a National Park Service (NPS) Facility Manager stole NPS funds, abused his purchase card authority, misused a Government Owned Vehicle (GOV), and concealed criminal convictions to gain NPS employment.We confirmed the allegations. The employee spent approximately...

We investigated an allegation that an official at the Southern Campaign Parks Group (SOCA), National Park Service (NPS), an artist, and a park friends group conspired to set up the purchase of one of the artist’s paintings via a 2015 transaction with the friends group so that the artist could avoid...

This report provides a framework for training grant administrators and recipients of federal grant funds on practices for reducing the risk for grant fraud, including grant training content, additional sources of information for further guidance, and illustrative hypothetical scenarios that provide...

The OIG investigated allegations that a subcontractor on a National Park Service (NPS) contract submitted a falsified commissioning report on a multi-million-dollar construction contract. The complaint alleged the subcontractor had not performed the work as claimed and that the signature on the...

The OIG investigated allegations that a gas producer operating in New Mexico failed to properly submit royalty reports and remit royalty payments owed to the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR).We determined the producer failed to properly file ONRR-Form 2014s (Reports of Sales and Royalty...

The OIG investigated whether a former superintendent of the National Park Service (NPS) improperly applied for a commercial use authorization (CUA) permit in 2015 to give tours at a park that he previously managed. The former park superintendent also allegedly directed that a trail be relocated at...

The OIG investigated allegations that a Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) official might have improperly communicated with contractors. The complaint also alleged that the official may have improperly influenced modifications to contracts, and that he might have arranged for an...