FWS Pilots Used FWS Hangar to Store and Maintain Personal Planes

The OIG investigated allegations that two U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) pilots parked their personally owned planes in an FWS hangar during the winter and maintained the planes using FWS tools and supplies. The complainant further alleged that a refuge manager was aware of complaints about the matter but failed to act. We confirmed the pilots used an FWS hangar to maintain their personal planes but found that refuge managers permitted limited personal use outside of official hours if it did not impede official refuge business. We did identify one civilian complaint about the use of the hangar, but we did not find any evidence the refuge manager was aware of it. We did not find any specific FWS or DOI guidance or policy that would either prohibit or allow personal use of Government hangars. Additionally, the practice of allowing personal use of FWS hangars seemed to vary from refuge to refuge.