Federal Reports

EAC OIG reviewed $84.9 million in funds received by the Office of the Attorney General, New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety under the Help America Vote Act. The objectives of the review were to assess New Jersey's administration of HAVA funds and compliance with certain HAVA requirements. Specifically, we focused on fiscal year 2005 and reviewed controls to assess their adequacy over the expenditure of HAVA funds and compliance with certain HAVA requirements for the following activities: accumulating financial information reported to EAC on the financial status reports; accounting for property; purchasing goods and services; accounting for salaries; charging indirect costs; and spending by counties. We also determined whether New Jersey had complied with the requirements in HAVA for: establishing and maintaining the election fund; appropriating funds equal to five percent of the amount necessary for carrying out activities financed with Section 251 requirements payments; and sustaining the state's level of expenditures for elections.

We conducted a review to determine what TVA has done to address challenges arising from TVA's aging workforce, retirements, and the resulting knowledge loss. Challenges facing power utilities as a result of the aging workforce include the loss of critical knowledge, the inability to find replacements with utility-specific skills, and the lack of bench strength within the organization. We determined TVA has adopted an Integrated Staffing Plan Principle, as well as several initiatives to support this principle which address the challenges arising from TVA's aging workforce. These initiatives include (1) Strategic Talent Management, (2) Work Force Planning, (3) Knowledge Retention, (4) Training Pipeline, and (5) Recruiting. We also determined that TVA's succession planning initiatives include many recognized best practices, and TVA is a recognized best practice organization related to knowledge retention.While TVA has taken actions to address the issues arising from an aging workforce, the implementation of TVA Corporate HR initiatives by the business units can be improved. We recommended the Executive Vice President, Administrative Services:Consider educating employees on the importance of self-reported retirement dates and how that information is used, along with providing on-going education on retirement benefits and planning from early in a TVA employee's career; Ensure complete implementation of the Knowledge Retention Initiative, which supports compliance with and the success of the Integrated Staffing Plan Principle; and Emphasize the importance of pipeline hiring to move TVA more towards being a developmentally oriented business. TVA management agreed with our findings and has initiated or plans to initiate corrective action.

To obtain further information, please contact the OIG Office of Counsel at OIGCounsel@oig.treas.gov, (202) 927-0650, or by mail at Office of Treasury Inspector General, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 20220.

We reviewed the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance/requirements regarding a potential influenza pandemic to determine if TVA is in compliance with OPM requirements and/or has taken other proactive solutions. We found that OPM has issued some guidance for Federal agencies to follow in the event of a pandemic; however none are mandatory for agencies to implement. TVA is currently reviewing OPM guidance and has taken other proactive actions by adopting and adapting the Nuclear Energy Institute guidelines. Based on our presentation to management, subsequent to the issuance of the pandemic plan, we may be requested to verify implementation of key pandemic plan initiatives.