Investigative Reports

DOL-OIG bi-monthly Investigations Newsletter Volume XXI, for the period of February 1 - March 31, 2019.

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) received allegations that a current VA employee and the employee’s spouse, a former (retired) VA employee, improperly released VA procurement information. There was insufficient evidence to substantiate the allegations. The OIG determined that the complainant’s information was hearsay and there was no direct evidence. The OIG interviewed the complainant’s source and determined that the source’s information did not support the allegations raised by the complainant.

The OIG investigated allegations that a subcontractor on a National Park Service (NPS) contract submitted a falsified commissioning report on a multi-million-dollar construction contract. The complaint alleged the subcontractor had not performed the work as claimed and that the signature on the final commissioning report had been forged.We found no evidence that the subcontractor falsified the commissioning documents. We did find that the final report included the signature of an employee who had departed the company, but that appeared to be a clerical oversight rather than a forgery.

The OIG investigated allegations that a Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) official might have improperly communicated with contractors. The complaint also alleged that the official may have improperly influenced modifications to contracts, and that he might have arranged for an organization to receive a subcontract.We found that the official met with contractors, but that the discussions in these meetings focused only on operations related to the offshore oil and gas industry. We did not find any laws or policies that prohibit these types of meetings. In addition, we found no evidence that the official discussed contracts with the organizations involved or that he influenced the award of any contract modifications or subcontracts.

The OIG investigated whether a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) special agent was driving a rental vehicle in compliance with U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) policy when he was involved in a traffic accident that resulted in the death of two pedestrians. The DOI policy states that motor vehicle operators are responsible for operating motor vehicles in a safe and prudent manner and exercising a reasonable degree of care, skill, and judgment in the performance of their duties.Our investigation found no evidence that the special agent violated DOI policy while operating the rental vehicle. The local police department investigated the accident and no charges were filed.This is a summary of an investigative report we issued to the BLM Director.

The OIG investigated allegations that a gas producer operating in New Mexico failed to properly submit royalty reports and remit royalty payments owed to the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR).We determined the producer failed to properly file ONRR-Form 2014s (Reports of Sales and Royalty Remittance) and pay royalties for gas produced from Federal leases located in New Mexico. Working closely with ONRR experts, we determined that the unpaid royalties totaled more than $51,000 plus late payment interest.We consulted with both ONRR and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico. The producer cooperated with the investigation and ONRR officials determined they would pursue the unpaid royalties through their administrative process.

The OIG investigated whether a former superintendent of the National Park Service (NPS) improperly applied for a commercial use authorization (CUA) permit in 2015 to give tours at a park that he previously managed. The former park superintendent also allegedly directed that a trail be relocated at the park in 2002, which affected the financial interest of the tour company with which his family member was reportedly affiliated at the time. Years later, he purchased the tour company.We did not find evidence that the former superintendent violated post-employment restrictions when he applied for a CUA at the park after retirement. We did not investigate whether he attempted to manipulate the alignment of the trails to benefit the tour company or his family member. The timing of the alleged trail relocation exceeded the 5-year statute of limitations on criminal conflict of interest laws and the official was no longer employed with the Federal Government.