Federal Reports

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General conducted this audit to determine to what extent oversight of the benzene fenceline monitoring requirements by the EPA and delegated authorities ensures that refineries take corrective action and lower benzene concentrations when they exceed the action level.

An Amtrak Foreman based in Springfield, Massachusetts, violated company policies by leaving company property on five occasions without authorization during paid shifts in June through July 2023. On these occasions, he left his subordinates without supervision, and he did so even after receiving specific directives to the contrary from his supervisor and another foreman. During his interview with OIG agents, the employee admitted to his activities. We also found that he did not safeguard his SmartID card and, instead, stored it in an unlocked locker at work after being reminded of the Smart ID policy requirements in an email from his supervisor. On September 5, 2023, the foreman resigned in lieu of his disciplinary hearing and is ineligible for rehire.

Our objective was to evaluate the Postal Service’s process for estimating and monitoring the return on investment for capital projects. To accomplish our objective, we reviewed the lifecycle—including evaluation, approval, management, and post-deployment monitoring—for selected capital projects.