The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Should Improve Efforts for Expending Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Funds

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Date Issued

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Submitting OIG

Department of the Interior OIG

Other Participating OIGs

Department of the Interior OIG

Agencies Reviewed/Investigated

Department of the Interior

Components

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

Report Number

ReportNo2023-INF-014

Report Description

We found OSMRE was not adequately prepared to expend IIJA funds, and it continues to expend funds without effective processes in place.

Report Type

Inspection / Evaluation

Agency Wide

Yes

Number of Recommendations

Questioned Costs

Funds for Better Use

Additional Details

https://www.doioig.gov/reports/evaluation/office-surface-mining-reclamation-and…

Open Recommendations

This report has 7 open recommendations.

Recommendation Number	Significant Recommendation	Recommended Questioned Costs	Recommended Funds for Better Use
2023-INF-014-01	No	$0	$0
We recommend that OSMRE provide training to grants management specialists on conducting thorough risk assessments, including guidance on identifying and analyzing single audit findings.
2023-INF-014-03	No	$0	$0
We recommend that OSMRE develop and implement a long-term staffing plan for grants management specialists that considers existing resources, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding, and OSMRE's priorities and goals.
2023-INF-014-04	No	$0	$0
We recommend that OSMRE create and implement a mechanism to track and monitor all key dates for processing applications, modifications, and authorizations to proceed to ensure processing dates are met.
2023-INF-014-02	Yes	$0	$0
We recommend that OSMRE design and implement an updated risk assessment checklist that requires grants management specialists to document consideration of applicable risk factors and document any mitigating measures for each risk factor identified.
2023-INF-014-06	No	$0	$0
We recommend that OSMRE develop and provide to grant applicants guidance on prioritization of projects for the Justice40 Initiative.
2023-INF-014-07	No	$0	$0
We recommend that OSMRE develop and provide to grant applicants guidance on expectations of subrecipient and contractor monitoring.
2023-INF-014-08	No	$0	$0
We recommend that OSMRE develop and provide to grant applicants guidance on information required for OSMRE to compile its Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act report submission to Congress.