FWS Manager Violated Federal Regulations and FWS Policies

The OIG investigated allegations that a refuge manager with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) did not report an alleged indecent exposure, violated various Federal regulations and FWS policies related to the refuge’s Friends organization and concessionaire, and authorized the improper use of Government facilities and equipment.We determined that the refuge manager violated FWS policy when he did not report an indecent exposure incident that had occurred at the refuge in 2016, and that he violated Federal ethics regulations by participating in the refuge’s Friends organization’s fundraising events while in uniform. We also found that the manager violated Federal regulations and FWS policy when he allowed a for-profit corporation to operate on the refuge without an agreement or permit, and by allowing a concessionaire to operate a fish cleaning station on the refuge, which could make it difficult for refuge officials to enforce fish size limits. Finally, we found that the manager violated Federal regulations by improperly using and disposing of Government property.