Federal Reports

Why We Did This ReportWhile conducting an evaluation of American Creosote Works Inc. in Pensacola, Florida, to determine whether the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency implements and oversees institutional controls, we noted the proximity of the Escambia Wood Treating Company, another Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act-funded Superfund site. To optimize the value of our site visit, we drove past this site and observed insufficient engineering controls and poorly enforced institutional controls. Summary of FindingsThe EPA is not providing sufficient oversight of the maintenance of engineering controls, specifically physical access controls, and institutional controls to protect human health and the remedy addressing soil contamination at the site. According to site documents, camping and trespassing have been ongoing issues since at least March 2007. However, the EPA did not work with state and local partners to enforce the established institutional controls or take administrative action to ensure this unauthorized use did not continue even though the protectiveness of the remedy depends on it. It is the site’s remedial project manager’s opinion that encampments of homeless persons at the site do not pose an unacceptable risk despite the site’s restrictive covenants. This opinion conflicts with the EPA’s official site decision documentation. Further, the poorly maintained physical access controls and conflicting zoning enable continued camping and trespassing.

We announced two concurrent audits to determine whether First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) is ensuring that AT&T is achieving the desired results for device connection targets and Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) coverage for each state and territory. We separated these objectives into three components that include (1) the evolution of the desired results for device connection targets and network coverage as executed through contract modifications, (2) oversight of device connection targets, and (3) oversight of network coverage. This report focuses on the second component: FirstNet Authority’s oversight of device connection targets. We found that FirstNet Authority did not adequately assess contractor performance to ensure AT&T achieved the desired results for device connection targets for each state and territory. Specifically, FirstNet Authority did not develop measurable performance standards and methods of surveillance to assess if reported device connections complied with the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 and contract requirements; develop an adequate performance metric to accurately measure public safety use and adoption; review AT&T’s quality control program results or consistently conduct audits of raw data; or remediate deficiencies for device connections.

What We Looked AtWe performed a quality control review (QCR) on the single audit that Plante & Moran, PLLC performed for the Wayne County Airport Authority’s (WCAA) fiscal year that ended December 31, 2022. During this period, WCAA expended approximately $75.4 million from U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) programs. Plante & Moran determined that DOT’s major program was the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program. Our QCR objectives were to determine whether (1) Plante & Moran’s audit work complied with the Single Audit Act of 1984, as amended, the Office of Management and Budget’s Uniform Guidance, and the extent to which we could rely on the auditor’s work on DOT’s major program and (2) WCAA’s reporting package complied with the reporting requirements of the Uniform Guidance.What We FoundPlante & Moran complied with the requirements of the Single Audit Act, the Uniform Guidance, and DOT’s major program. We found nothing to indicate that Plante & Moran’s opinion on DOT’s major program was inappropriate or unreliable. However, we identified deficiencies in Plante & Moran’s audit work that require correction in future audits. Accordingly, we assigned Plante & Moran a rating of pass with deficiencies. 

Objective: To report internal control weaknesses, noncompliance issues, and unallowable costs identified in the single audit to SSA for resolution action.