Why We Did This Report
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General conducted this evaluation to determine whether the EPA has used available resources, including funds appropriated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to improve the permitting of Class VI wells under its Underground Injection Control Program.
Summary of Findings
The EPA met Congress’s intent to spend annual and supplemental appropriations to grow Class VI Program expertise and capacity and improve Class VI permitting with one exception. It did not spend $1.2 million of fiscal year 2023 annual appropriations within the available time frame for their intended purpose: to support training for personnel who regulate Class VI wells. Otherwise, the Agency successfully used annual appropriations to, among other things, increase the number of staff focused on Class VI work, enhance its data and information management tools, and develop additional guidance for Class VI Program implementation.
