OIG’s audit of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services’ (FWS’) grants to North Dakota’s Game and Fish Department under the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program included claims totaling $42 million on 38 grants that were open during the State fiscal years that ended June 30, 2014, and June 30, 2015. The audit also covered the Department’s compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and FWS guidelines, including those related to the collection and use of hunting and fishing license revenues and the reporting of program income.
We questioned $380,142 of in-kind, State matching claims as unsupported. In addition, we found issues related to implementing policies and procedures similar to those reported by the North Dakota State Auditor’s Office in an April 2014 Performance Audit Report on the Game and Fish Department.
We made three recommendations to enhance recording of volunteer hours and to require the Department to inform FWS when the specified State Performance and Single Audit corrective actions have been implemented and cleared through the State’s audit follow-up process.