Reports

The April 2021 Semiannual Report to Congress summarizes the Office of Inspector General’s successful work completed from October 1, 2020, through March 31, 2021, to promote excellence, integrity, and accountability within the programs, operations, and management of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Our audit-related activities resulted in total monetary impacts of $2,174,176 with 246 recommendations made and 107 recommendations closed. Our investigative activities resulted in 3 indictments, 16 criminal and civil referrals, and $7,462,808 in civil settlements or recoveries.

We investigated allegations that a National Park Service (NPS) supervisor took Government property for personal use and misused her official position. The NPS subsequently notified us that one of the supervisor’s subordinate employees also took Government computer equipment for personal use. We found that the NPS supervisor and two subordinate employees took Government property for personal use. We also found that the NPS supervisor misused two subordinates’ official time by directing them to perform work on her personal property for her personal benefit.

The OIG investigated allegations that a Bureau of Indian Education employee improperly used school funds to update classrooms. We also investigated allegations that the employee personally benefitted from the renovation projects by improperly influencing the award of a Federal contract to their spouse to perform the interior design work for the projects. We did not substantiate the allegations that the employee used their position in an improper manner or that the employee or the employee’s spouse personally benefitted from any of the classroom renovation work that was completed.

We investigated allegations that a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) field manager and a BLM district manager improperly removed BLM staff from environmental reviews and inspections, mismanaged environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), failed to enforce regulations on mining operations, failed to comply with Federal recordkeeping policies, and misused courtesy letters to delay the reclamation of mining sites. We did not substantiate any of the allegations. The BLM’s actions regarding the assignment of environmental review staff were based on departmental directives. BLM staff was aware of NEPA violations and was appropriately working to ensure legal compliance. We also found that BLM properly enforced regulations on mining operations; evidence established that the BLM staff was aware of the mining violation in question and was working with the mining operation to obtain compliance. Finally, we did not find any evidence that BLM management circumvented or avoided Federal recordkeeping policies or misused courtesy letters.