Department of the Interior OIG

The OIG investigated an allegation that a senior official with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was involved in a conflict of interest when she directed her staff to hire a private consultant who was her friend. We found that the official violated Federal ethics regulations when she directed her...

The OIG investigated allegations that two Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) employees sold stolen BIA equipment to a contractor, and that another BIA employee provided sensitive procurement information to a contractor in exchange for kickbacks.We found no evidence to support either allegation...

The OIG investigated allegations that U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) employees improperly awarded a sole-source security services contract at a dam, received kickbacks for rigging the contract bidding process, and approved inflated invoices.Our investigation found no evidence that USBR employees...

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) operates five hydropower dams categorized as critical infrastructure by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Our evaluation focused on the USBR’s operational and technical practices for protecting two of these dams, and the related industrial control system...

The OIG investigated allegations that Sanco Operating/Sanders Oil and Gas (Sanco) failed to report gas production and underreported gas sales from a Federal mineral lease, which resulted in a loss of royalties owed to the Government. We conducted a joint investigation with the Bureau of Land...

The OIG investigated an allegation that a DOI grant official had a conflict of interest because she owned a consulting company that assisted people in obtaining grants.We found no evidence of a conflict of interest. The official’s consulting company had no revenue, clients, or employees; the...

We investigated allegations that James Milestone, Superintendent of California’s Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (WHIS), National Park Service (NPS), solicited donations and inappropriately collected funds for the park partner organization Friends of Whiskeytown (FOW). We also investigated...

The October 2018 Semiannual Report to Congress summarizes the Office of Inspector General’s successful work completed from April 1, 2018, through September 30, 2018, to promote excellence, integrity, and accountability within the programs, operations, and management of the U.S. Department of the...

The OIG investigated allegations that employees of Energy Resource Technology, Inc. (ERT) falsified Blowout Preventer (BOP) pressure test charts and engaged in unsafe welding operations while conducting oil and gas activities aboard an offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico.We found that the ERT...

The OIG investigated allegations that a former Government employee of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) violated Federal post-employment restrictions by communicating with current NIGC employees regarding a management agreement that the Government employee was involved in while working...