Alleged Misappropriation of Grant Funds by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection

We investigated an allegation that a program manager with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) misused Water-Use Data and Research (WUDR) grant funds awarded by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to pay WVDEP employees who did not perform work related to the grant. Our investigation determined that from February 2018 through January 2020, the WVDEP incorrectly compensated an employee using $24,550 in WUDR grant funds. This employee unknowingly received WUDR funds toward his salary and benefits but did no work in support of the grant. We did not find evidence that the WVDEP intentionally misused the grant funds. Instead, the evidence suggested that the incorrect allocation of funds occurred because of management errors within the WVDEP. As a result of our investigation, the WVDEP corrected its internal WUDR grant funding allocations to accurately reflect the personnel who performed the WUDR grant functions during this time. Our investigation also confirmed that the WVDEP completed the work set forth in the WUDR grant as required and there was no financial loss to the Government.