-------
Inspector General Division
 Conducting the Audit:         Mid-Atlantic Audit Division
                              Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Region Covered:               Region 3


Program Offices Involved:       Hazardous Waste Management Division

                              Grants and Audit Management Branch

-------
1
             UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

                    OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
                         MID-ATLANTIC DIVISION

                         841 Chestnut Building
                    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  19107-4431
                             (215) 597-0497
                                               Washington Branch Office:
                                                   2800 Crystal Drive
                                                  Arlington, VA 22202
                                                    (703) 308-8242
                        September  19,  1995
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
 Final Audit Report on Delaware  Superfund Cooperative
 Agreements V-00335a and V-003620
 Audit Report No. ll5FFL5-03-0177X5100489
.Jt_J /"-'      -' '^
/   Lj-
FROM:
TO:
 P.  Ronald Gandolto
 Divisional Inspector Geney&l  for Audit
 Mid-Atlantic Audit Divisq^
                                    /on
 Michael McCabe
 Regional Administrator
 Region 3
We have attached  a  copy of the final audit report on Delaware
Superfund Cooperative Agreements.  The overall objectives of our
audit were to determine whether:

  •  Cooperative  agreement number V-003620 was adequately
     monitored,

  "  Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental
     Control  (DNREC)  complied with the requirements of
     cooperative  agreement V-003620, and

  •  Costs claimed  under V-003350 were allowable, allocable, and
     reasonable.

This audit report contains findings that describe problems the
Office of the Inspector General  (OIG) has identified and
corrective actions  the OIG recommends.  This audit  report
represents the opinion of the OIG.  Final determinations on
matters in this audit report will be made by EPA managers in
accordance with established EPA audit resolution procedures.
Accordingly, the  findings described in this audit report do not
necessarily represent the final EPA position.

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
Our draft report was issued on July 20, 1995.  We received your
response and a written response from the grantee.   Both responses
were included, in full, as appendixes to our report.   In
addition, we have addressed the comments throughout the report as
appropriate.

Action Required
In accordance with EPA Order 2750, you, as the action official
are required to provide this office a written response to the
audit report within 90 days of the final audit report date.  For
corrective actions planned but not completed by your response
date, reference to specific milestone dates will assist this
office in deciding whether to close this report.  We have no
objections to the further release of this report to the public.

Should there be any questions, contact me or Martin Pinto of my
staff at  (215) 597-0497.

Attachment
                                11

                              Report  No.  E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
                      EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
PURPOSE
The objectives of our audit were to determine whether:
1) cooperative agreement number V-003620, totaling $2,268,310,
was adequately monitored; 2) DNREC complied with the requirements
of cooperative agreement V-003620; and 3) total costs claimed of
$220,897 under cooperative agreement V-003350 were reasonable,
allowable, and allocable.
BACKGROUND

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980  (CERCLA), Public Law 96-510, enacted on
December 11, 1980, established the "Superfund" program.  The
purpose of the Superfund program is to protect public health and
the environment from the release, or threat of release, of
hazardous substances.  The Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act of 1986  (SARA), Public Law 99-499, enacted
October 17, 1986, revised and expanded CERCLA.  SARA required the
DIG to examine a sample of cooperative agreements awarded to
states carrying out response actions.  The results of these
examinations, including this audit report, are reported annually
to Congress.

CERCLA sections 104(c)(3) and 104(d) authorize EPA to enter into
cooperative agreements with States or political subdivisions to
take, or to participate in, any"necessary actions provided under
CERCLA.  A cooperative agreement serves  to delineate EPA and
State responsibilities for actions to be taken at the site,
obtains required assurances, and commits Federal funds.  EPA uses
cooperative agreements to encourage State participation in the
full range of Superfund activities including preliminary
assessments, site inspections, remedial  investigations,
feasibility studies, remedial designs, remedial actions,
maintenance of completed remedies, and management assistance of
State involvement in Federally managed projects.
                                Ill

                               Report No.  E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
RESULTS-IN-BRIEF

We  found cooperative  agreement number V-003620,  totaling
$2,268,310, was  not adequately monitored by EPA  or DNREC  and
DNREC did not  comply  with  7 of the  13 special condition
requirements.  In addition, we found total costs claimed  of
$220,897 under cooperative agreement V-003350 were unsupported by
adequate source  documentation.
 PRINCIPLE  FINDINGS

 DNREC DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE SPECIAL CONDITIONS

 DNREC did not comply with 7 of  13  (54%) special conditions under
 cooperative  agreement V-003620.  This occurred because:

    1)  EPA did not  properly monitor the special conditions
       including progress reports to ensure compliance as required
       by EPA's Assistance Administration Manual; and

    2)  DNREC  did not  ensure that special conditions and
       performance  goals were achieved as required by 40 CFR
       31.40.

 As  a result  of the noncompliance, the objectives of the special
 conditions were not  achieved and EPA was unaware of the status of
 activities to be performed.  In addition, EPA awarded $174,777 in
 excess of DNREC's  needs that could have been used for other
 Superfund proj ects.

 INADEQUATE SOURCE  DOCUMENTATION

 We  questioned all  costs totaling $220,897, claimed under pre-
 remedial cooperative agreement V-003350 because DNREC did not
 maintain adequate  source documentation.  In accordance with 40
 CFR 35.6705  and 40 CFR 30.500, DNREC must maintain all official
 records for  each assistance award for 10 years following the
 submission of the  final Financial Status Report  (FSR).  DNREC
•submitted its final  FSR on July 5, 1988 and was required to
 maintain source documentation until July 5, 1998.  The records
 maintained must adequately document the following: amounts
                                IV

                              Report No. E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DB Superfund Cooperative Agreements
received and expended, property purchased, time charged, and
compliance with applicable standards.  We found DNREC did not
maintain these records.  Factors contributing to this condition
were:

     1)  EPA did not notify DNREC of this requirement until the
         cooperative agreement was closed, and

     2)  the closeout of the cooperative agreement was
         inordinately delayed over four years by EPA.

Without adequate source documentation, we were unable to express
an opinion on the allowability of costs claimed.  Also, EPA and
DNREC may be unable to recover Superfund expenditures under
future cost recovery actions for work performed under this
cooperative agreement.


RECOMMENDATIONS

We recommend the Regional Administrator:

1.   Monitor DNREC's compliance with the special conditions of
     the Superfund cooperative agreements, and require the
     activities and tasks included in the workplan to be
     completed.

2.   Require EPA project officers to adequately monitor
     cooperative agreements.

3.   Obtain adequate support from DNREC for costs claimed under
     the pre-remedial cooperative agreement V-003350 or recover
     the Federal share of questioned costs.

4.   Ensure all recipients of CERCLA-funded grants, cooperative
     agreements, and contracts comply with the 10 year record
     retention requirement as stipulated in 40 CFR 35.6705.

5.   Close out grants and cooperative agreements in a timely
     manner as required by Assistance Administration Manual,
     Chapter 40 - Closeout of Assistance Agreements.
                                v

                              Report No.  E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
REGION RESPONSE AND PIG  EVALUATION

1.   The Region did not respond to the first finding regarding
     DNREC's non-compliance with 7 of 13 special conditions under
     cooperative agreement V-003620.

2.   The Region responded that regulations effective during the
     grant period for cooperative agreement V-003350,  only
     required the grantee to keep source documentation through
     July 5, 1991.  The Region responded they would accept costs
     based on the reconciliation of the Final Status Report
     submitted on July 5, 1988.

     Our position remained unchanged because the ten year record
     retention requirement became effective before the previous
     three-year requirement elapsed and before EPA closed the
     cooperative agreement.  DNREC was required to maintain
     records until July 5, 1998.


DNREC RESPONSE AND  PIG EVALUATION

1.   Regarding the recycled paper special condition under
     cooperative agreement V-003620,  DNREC responded that some
     recycled paper was purchased.  Our report remained unchanged
     because interviews with DNREC's New Castle office revealed
     that recycled paper was not used to prepare the quarterly
     progress reports submitted to EPA.  The special condition
     requires the use of recycled paper for all reports.

2.   DNREC objected to our recommendation to the Regional
     Administrator to obtain supporting documentation from DNREC
     or to require DNREC to pay back the Federal Share of
     cooperative agreement V-003350.   DNREC agreed that if EPA
     had performed the close out of the cooperative agreement in
     a timely manner, they would have been notified of the change
     in the record retention requirement prior to the end of the
     three year requirement and could have maintained adequate
     source documentation.  DNREC responded that it was following
     the regulations it knew existed at the time the records were
     destroyed.   Our position remained unchanged for the reasons
     stated above under Region Response and OIG Evaluation.
                               VI


                              Report No.  E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
TRANSMITTAL MEMORANDUM   	 i

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY	.'	iii

CHAPTERS

1    INTRODUCTION	1
          PURPOSE  	 1
          BACKGROUND	1
          SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY	3
          PRIOR AUDIT COVERAGE  	 7

2    DNREC DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE SPECIAL CONDITIONS	9
          NON-COMPLIANCE WITH SPECIAL CONDITIONS  	  10
          EXCESS OBLIGATED FEDERAL FUNDS  	  17

3    INADEQUATE SOURCE  DOCUMENTATION  	  21


APPENDIX I:    ACRONYMS 	  27
APPENDIX II:   REGION RESPONSE  	  29
APPENDIX III:  DNREC RESPONSE 	  31
APPENDIX IV:   DISTRIBUTION 	  35
                                VI1

                               Report No. E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
[This page was intentionally left blank.]

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
                           CHAPTER 1
                          INTRODUCTION
PURPOSE
From November 1983 to September 1993, the Environmental
Protection Agency  (EPA) awarded funds totaling $12 million under
37 cooperative agreements to the Delaware Department of Natural
Resources and Environmental Control  (DNREC).   The objectives of
our audit were to determine whether: 1) cooperative agreement
number V-003620, totaling $2,268,310, was adequately monitored;
2) DNREC complied with the requirements of cooperative agreement
V-003620; and 3) total costs claimed of $220,897 under
cooperative agreement V-003350 were reasonable, allowable, and
allocable.
BACKGROUND

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980  (CERCLA), Public Law 96-510, enacted on
December 11, 1980, established the "Superfund" program.  The
purpose of the Superfund program is to protect public health and
the environment from the release, or threat of release, of
hazardous substances from abandoned hazardous waste sites and
other sources where other Federal laws do not require a response.
CERCLA established a Hazardous Substance Response Trust Fund to
provide funding for responses ranging from control of emergencies
to permanent remedies at uncontrolled sites.  CERCLA authorized a
$1.6 billion program financed by a five-year environmental tax on
industry and some general revenues.

The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 {SARA) ,
Public Law 99-499, enacted October 17, 1986, revised and expanded
CERCLA.  SARA reinstated the environmental tax and expanded the
taxing mechanism available for a five-year period.  It authorized
$8.5 billion for the Superfund program from 1987 to 1991.  It
renamed the Trust Fund, the Hazardous Substance Superfund.  The
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 reauthorized the program for
three additional years and extended the taxing mechanism for four
additional years.
                                1

                              Report No. E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
SARA required the OIG  to  examine  a  sample  of  cooperative
agreements awarded  to  states  carrying out  response  actions.   The
results of these examinations,  including this audit report,  are
reported annually to Congress.

CERCLA section  104(c)(3)  does not allow EPA to fund remedial
cleanups unless the State enters  into a contract  or cooperative
agreement with  EPA  to  provide certain assurances, including  cost
sharing.  CERCLA sections 104(c)(3) and 104(d)  authorize EPA to
enter into cooperative agreements with  States or  political
subdivisions to take,  or  to participate in, any necessary actions
provided under  CERCLA.  A cooperative agreement serves  to
delineate EPA and State responsibilities for  actions to be taken
at  the site, obtains required assurances,  and commits Federal
funds.  EPA uses cooperative  agreements to encourage State
participation in the full range of  Superfund  activities--site
assessments, remedial  and removal cleanups, and enforcement
activities.

Remedial cooperative agreements provide funding to  clean up  or
treat hazardous waste  at  a single site  or  multiple  sites within a
State.  These cooperative agreements may be lengthy in  duration
because remedial responses, from  the planning stage to
accomplishment  of the  completed remedy, frequently  take five
years or longer.

Core cooperative agreements provide a means to fund functions of
the Delaware program which were not directly  associated with a
specific site.  Core cooperative  agreements were  for activities
such as, program management,  supervision,  fiscal  management,
contract administration,  quality  assurance, risk  assessment,
training, legal assistance, and other miscellaneous items.   Core
cooperative agreement  number  V-003620 was  amended seven times and
provided DNREC  $2,268,310 during  the project  period from
September 1, 1991 to August 31, 1994.

Pre-remedial cooperative  agreements provide funding to  DNREC to
conduct preliminary assessments,  site inspections,  site
inspection follow ups, hazardous  ranking scores,  and management
..assistance.  These  activities allow DNREC  to  evaluate sites  for
potential inclusion on the Superfund National Priorities List.
The pre-remedial cooperative  agreement  number V-003350  was for
                                 2

                              Report No.  E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
$220,897 and had a project period from October 1, 1985 to March
31, 1988.

To assist the reader in obtaining a proper understanding of the
report, key terms used in this report for cooperative agreement
number V-003350 are defined below:

Costs Claimed:  Costs identified by DNREC as eligible for Federal
participation on an outlay report submitted to EPA.  Costs
claimed totaled $220,897.

Costs Questioned Unsupported:  Costs not supported by adequate
documentation.  Unsupported costs totaled $220,897.

EPA Payments to Date:  This amount included funds disbursed by
EPA to DNREC.  Total EPA payments were $220,897.

Balance Due EPA;  This amount should not be construed as being
the final determination of questioned costs.  The amount may vary
depending upon EPA resolution.  The balance due EPA is $220,897.


SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY

We conducted a performance audit of the core cooperative
agreement number V-003620 and a financial audit of the pre-
remedial cooperative agreement number V-003350.  We performed the
audit in accordance with the Government Auditing Standards (1991
Revision) issued by the Comptroller General of the United States.
Our examination included such tests of the accounting records and
other auditing procedures as we considered necessary.

We performed both our survey and audit, at DNREC offices in Dover
and New Castle, Delaware, as well as the EPA Region 3 Hazardous
Waste Management Division  (HWMD) and Grants Management Division
(GMD) offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Of the 37 cooperative agreements which EPA awarded to DNREC, we
judgementally selected three to review during the survey: a core
award, a pre-remedial award, and a remedial award.  This report
addresses the core and pre-remedial awards.  We considered the
following factors in selecting the cooperative agreements:
                                3

                              Report No. E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
                 "  Type of cooperative agreement,

                 »  Length of project period, and

                 •  Date and amount of award.

Our survey began with an entrance conference on June 8, 1994 and
ended on November 3, 1994.  The overall objectives of our survey
were to determine the nature and extent of subsequent audit
effort in areas which may warrant a detailed audit and to provide
a basis for planning a detailed audit.

As a result of the survey, we found that DNREC's quarterly
progress reports did not provide the status of the commitments in
the cooperative agreements.  In addition, Region 3 did not
require due dates for completing many of these commitments.  We
also found that DNREC did not maintain complete financial records
for the pre-remedial cooperative agreement as required by EPA
regulations.  Our limited evaluation of the special conditions
during the survey phase revealed that DNREC did not comply with
many of the special conditions in the cooperative agreement.  For
these reasons, we focused on the monitoring issues specifically
related to special conditions and progress reports under the core
program cooperative agreement number V-003620.  In addition, we
limited the scope of our audit to further evaluations of the
unsupported costs under pre-remedial cooperative agreement number
V-003350.  Our audit fieldwork was conducted between November 3,
1994 and January 31, 1995.

Our audit included tests of financial records and other
procedures we considered necessary under the circumstances.  We
interviewed project officers from the HWMD and grant specialists
from GMD.  In addition, we interviewed DNREC employees.  We
examined various records and documents, including: progress
reports, correspondence, invoices, payment vouchers, and
timesheets.

In assessing compliance with Federal requirements, we referred
primarily to the following criteria:
                                4

                              Report No. E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
•    Title 40 CFR Parts 30, 31, and  35;

•    EPA Assistance Administration Manual;

•    EPA Automated Clearing House  (ACH)  Payment System Manual;

•    EPA Letter of Credit  - Treasury Financial Communications
     System  (LOC-TFCS) Manual; and

•    EPA Manual: Managing  Your Grant and Cooperative Agreement:
     Project Officer Responsibilities.

The scope of our internal  control work was limited to
understanding and evaluating: 1) the policies and procedures used
by EPA to monitor its cooperative agreements; and, 2) DNREC's
internal control structure as related to our audit objectives and
DNREC's administration of  the cooperative agreements.  Our
objective was not to express an opinion  on the internal controls,
and our work would not necessarily disclose all matters in the
internal control structure that might be considered material
weaknesses or reportable conditions.  Because of inherent
limitations in any internal control  structure, losses,
noncompliance, or misstatements could occur and not be detected.
We assessed the control risk in order to plan our audit and to
determine the nature, timing, and extent of our testing.  Our
risk assessment of the internal controls disclosed that the
control risk for the audit as a whole was low, except for the
procurement system which we assessed as  medium.

Moreover, we reviewed Region 3 HWMD's Report on Internal Controls
for fiscal years 1992 and  1993.  The report was prepared to
comply with the Federal Managers' Financial Integrity Act
(Integrity Act).  We also  analyzed the Annual Assurance Letter
for fiscal year 1994.  One significant weakness identified during
the Agency's Integrity Act review process was the Region's
monitoring of the Superfund cooperative  agreements awarded to the
State of Virginia.  We found a similar weakness in the monitoring
of the Superfund cooperative agreements  awarded to DNREC.  This
is fully discussed under Chapter 2 of this report.  None of the
other weaknesses cited in  this audit report were previously
disclosed by Region 3.
                                5

                              Report No. E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Super fund Cooperative Agreements
 On January 25,  1994,  the management consulting firm of Booz Allen
 & Hamilton (BAH)  issued a report on DNREC's capabilities in
 meeting  Superfund financial management and documentation
 requirements for  cost recovery.   The scope of this review was
 limited  to the  examination of DNREC's site-specific financial
 documentation and recordkeeping practices.  The report identified
 several  areas related to financial management that needed
 improvement.  Our report discusses some of these issues as they
 relate to our audit objectives.

 We reviewed the BAH report and DNREC's corrective action plan for
 resolving the identified issues.  We believe that the corrective
 action plan prepared by DNREC appeared adequate to address the
 issues.   We discussed the report and the corrective action plan
 with DNREC officials.  We were informed that they were proceeding
 with the implementation of the corrective action plan.  We did
 not follow up on  all the issues identified in the BAH report in
 order to prevent  duplicative audit effort.  Our survey revealed
 that two of the issues in the report were specifically related to
 our objectives.   We included these issues within the scope of our
 audit.  These issues included:

 1.   Receding and reconciling timesheets was delayed.   DNREC's
      accounting system initially charged employees'  labor costs
      against a  designated account.  DNREC periodically corrected
      the charges  based on allocations recorded on the timesheets.
      The delay  in receding and reconciling timesheets resulted in
      inaccurate financial reporting to program managers in DNREC.

 2.   Backup documentation for the Automated Clearing House (ACH)
      payment requests did not provide a complete audit trail of
      the amount requested.

 We issued a draft report on July 20,  1995.  We received written
 responses from  Region 3 and the DNREC.  Both responses were
 included,  in full,  as appendixes to our report.   We conducted a
 telephonic exit conference with DNREC on August 31,  1995.  Region
 3 elected not to  have an exit conference.  We have addressed
 Region 3's and  DNREC's comments throughout the report as
.appropriate.
                                 6

                               Report No.  E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of OK Superfund Cooperative Agreements
PRIOR AUDIT  COVERAGE

EPA's Office of the Inspector General  (OIG) issued several
financial and performance reports on Superfund cooperative
agreements awarded to States in Region 3  including, Virginia,
West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.  Generally, these
reports identified monitoring issues and  questioned costs similar
to this audit.
                                 7

                               Report No. E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
[This  page  was intentionally left blank.]

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
                           CHAPTER 2
    DNREC DID  NOT  COMPLY WITH THE SPECIAL CONDITIONS

DNREC did not comply with 7 of 13  (54%) special conditions under
cooperative agreement V-003620.  This occurred because:

   1) EPA did not properly monitor the special conditions
      including progress reports to ensure compliance as required
      by EPA's Assistance Administration Manual; and

   2) DNREC did not ensure that special conditions and
      performance goals were achieved as required by 40 CFR
      31.40.

As a result of the noncompliance, the objectives of the special
conditions were not achieved and EPA was unaware of the status of
activities to be performed.  In addition, EPA awarded $174,777 in
excess of DNREC's needs that could have been used for other
Superfund projects.

According to EPA's Assistance Administration Manual, the project
officer is critical to the successful completion of work
performed under an EPA assistance agreement.  The amount of
involvement a project officer has in the grantee's performance is
determined by the type of assistance award.  Under a cooperative
agreement, there should be significant involvement by the project
officer during all stages of a project, including site visits,
telephone calls, and meetings.  The project officer is the
primary point of contact and must:

   •  monitor the technical aspects of the work performed,

   •  ensure the recipient complies with the terms of the
      assistance agreement,

   •  review the financial status reports to ensure that the
      funds are used properly, and

   •  insist on the timely submission of high quality progress
      reports.
                                9

                              Report No. E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
In accordance with 40 CFR 31.40, grantees are responsible  for
managing the day-to-day operations of activities performed under
the cooperative agreement.  Grantees must also ensure compliance
with applicable Federal requirements and that performance  goals
are achieved.

Our review of the project officer's file disclosed minimal
evidence that EPA monitored the cooperative agreement.
Specifically, we found no documentation to indicate routine
monitoring, such as phone logs, or evidence that the project
officer ensured the special conditions were complied with.  Also,
the project officer did not ensure that the content of the
progress reports was sufficient.  Although EPA's project officer
performed site visits to DNREC on a regular basis, there was  no
indication of discussions related to non-compliance with special
conditions.

A.  NON-COMPLIANCE WITH SPECIAL CONDITIONS
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Progress Reports
ACH Payment System
Fair Share Percentage
MBE/WBE Submittal of SF-334
Content of Publicized Documents
Recycled Paper
Award Subject to 40 CFR Part 35, Subpart O
Debarred/Suspended Contractors
Small Business Rural Areas Affirmative Steps
Prompt Payment Act
Budget Period Cost
Drug-Free Workplace
Indirect Cost Rates
COMPLIANCE
No
No
No
No
No
NO
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
                                10
                              Report No. E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Super-fund Cooperative Agreements
                         Progress Reports

Timely and adequate progress reports ensure that EPA project
officers are aware of the status of activities being performed by
the State under the cooperative agreement.  Progress reports are
an essential management tool that should be utilized by EPA
project officers.

We examined progress reports submitted to EPA by DNREC for the
period covering October, 1991 to September, 1994.  The special
conditions of the cooperative agreement  and 40 CFR 35.6650 cited
several specific items to be included in the progress reports, as
listed below.  However, we found that DNREC's progress reports
did not contain any of the following required items.

     1)  An explanation of work accomplished during the reporting
         period, delays or other problems, if any, and a
         description of the corrective measures that are planned.

     2)  A comparison of the percentage  of the project completed
         to the project schedule, and an explanation of
         significant discrepancies.

     3)  A comparison of the estimated funds spent to date
         against planned expenditures and an explanation of
         significant discrepancies.

     4)  An estimate of the time and funds needed to complete the
         work required in the cooperative agreement.  Also, a
         comparison of that estimate to  the time and funds
         remaining, and a justification  for any increase.

In addition to these missing items, the  progress reports did not
identify the status of all the activities and related tasks
included in the workplan as required by  40 CFR 35.6650 (a) .  The
core cooperative agreement provided funding to support the
overall activities for the Superfund program, such as, fiscal and
contract management, training, quality assurance, clerical, and
general support.  Tasks which comprise fiscal and contract
management include: reviewing and improving the State procurement
process, coordinating the negotiation and execution of new
                                11

                               Report  No.  E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
contracts for Superfund sites, and administering close-out
activities.

Specifically, the workplan listed thirteen activities and their
related tasks, but the progress reports summarized information
into four areas that were not directly related to these
activities.   The progress reports were inadequate because DNREC
did ,not identify if the activities and tasks were completed,
amended, delayed, or deleted.  Without this information, the
project officer could not use the progress reports to determine
the status of activities and tasks.  Therefore, he could not
monitor the cooperative agreement and ensure that the objectives
of the activities and tasks were achieved.

During our audit fieldwork, we reviewed a sample of progress
reports prepared by another state in Region 3.  West Virginia's
progress reports identified each activity included in the core
program cooperative agreement workplan and summarized the status
of work performed under each activity.

DNREC personnel agreed that the status of each of the 13
activities was not provided in the progress reports.  This
occurred because DNREC summarized information into general
categories such as Management and Supervision instead of focusing
on the activities and tasks identified in the workplan.  DNREC
personnel told us that EPA was pleased with the format and used
their progress reports as a model for other states to follow.
However, the special condition clearly identified exactly what
DNREC was required to address in each progress report.  We
believe the reports are inadequate because they did not meet
these requirements.

Although the content of the progress reports was inadequate,
DNREC complied with the timeliness requirement.  The special
conditions and 40 CFR 35.6650 required these reports to be
prepared quarterly and submitted within thirty days of the end of
the reporting period.  We found DNREC submitted their progress
reports in a timely manner.
                                12

                              Report No. E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
                           ACH Payments

We found DNREC did not comply with the  special  condition  related
to the Automated Clearing House  (ACH) payment system.
Specifically, we found that  the  following four  requirements were
not, met.

1)  Payment Requests  will be based on disbursement needs.

The EPA-ACH Payment System Manual  requires requests for funds to
be based on immediate disbursement requirements and that  funds
received be disbursed as soon as possible to minimize the Federal
cash on hand.  We reviewed DNREC's Cash Balance Reports for
February, 1993 for cooperative agreement V-003620.   We found that
DNREC maintained large amounts of  Federal cash  on  hand, exceeding
$130,000.  This issue was previously identified to DNREC  and
Region 3 in the BAH report issued  on January 25, 1994.  According
to DNREC personnel, ACH payment  requests were prepared prior to
negative cash balances occurring.   In response  to  the BAH report,
DNREC decided to change their policy and to only draw funds when
accounts are negative.  Although we did not ensure that DNREC
consistently applied  this new policy, we noted  that cash  balances
in February, March and June  of 1994 were usually negative.

2)  Timely reporting  of cash disbursements and  balances as
    required by the EPA-ACH  Payment System Manual.

EPA's Letter of Credit Manual and  ACH Payment System Manual
require Federal Cash  Transactions  Reports to be submitted.  Until
June 30, 1991, these  reports were  required to be submitted
quarterly.  After June 30, 1991, the reports were  required semi-
annually.  These reports should  be utilized to  determine  whether
funds were disbursed  timely  and  whether DNREC was  accumulating
large balances on hand.

We reviewed a total of 28 Federal  Cash  Transactions Reports for
the period beginning  January 1,  1986 and ending June 30,  1994.
Of these 28 reports,  23  (82%) were late.   Of these late reports,
12 were over 30 days  late.   Consequently,  EPA was  not always
aware of the current  status  of funds.
                              •  13

                              Report No.  E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
3)  For drawdowns under the EPA-ACH payment process,  the
    recipient will show on the payment request,  the cooperative
    agreement number, the appropriate EPA account number, and  the
    drawdown amount applicable to  the activity account.

We examined 30 payment requests covering the period from October,
1991 through November, 1994 to determine if they contained the
appropriate cooperative agreement numbers, EPA account numbers,
and activity assignment codes.  We also examined the balance on
hand for each request.  Accurate reporting is  essential in order
for the project officer to adequately monitor  and reconcile funds
awarded and disbursed.

We found no errors in the recording of the cooperative agreement
number.  However, deficiencies were noted in several other areas.
For example, three or 10 percent of the account  numbers were
recorded incorrectly.  In addition, our audit  disclosed that
DNREC always entered $0 for balance on hand.   DNREC personnel
stated that EPA did not require the balance on hand to be entered
on the form.  Without accurate reporting of the  cash balance on
hand, EPA cannot determine if the State is disbursing the funds
timely, in compliance with the ACH payment process.

4)  Financial Status Reports are to be submitted to EPA, within
    90 days after the end of the overall cooperative agreement.

According to 40 CFR 35.6670, Financial Status  Reports are due
annually, 90 days after the end of the Federal fiscal year.
During the period of our review, DNREC was required to submit
three FSRs, one for each Federal fiscal year of  the project.
These reports were due December 1, 1992, 1993, and 1994.  We
found DNREC did not submit the three required  FSRs timely.  For
example, the FSR due December 1, 1992, was not submitted until
February 15, 1994, over a year late.  Further, this FSR required
revisions.  The revised FSR was received on March 3, 1994, over
15 months late.  This FSR included financial information for
fiscal years 1992 and 1993.  The FSR that was  due December 1,
1994 has not yet been submitted at the time of our review and was
over six months late.

The information contained on FSRs is necessary for effective
management and oversight of the cooperative agreement.  EPA must
                                14

                              Report No. E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
review the FSRs and compare the  funding  levels, both Federal and
State, with progress on the project.  Without  the  timely and
accurate reporting of the FSRs,  the EPA  project officer cannot
ensure that requested funds were commensurate  to the progress
made during the period.

                      Fair Share Percentage

EPA's policy is to ensure that recipients  of EPA funds award a
fair share of subagreement funding to Minority Business
Enterprises (MBE) and Women-Owned Business Enterprises  (WBE).
The State of Delaware negotiated a "Fair Share" objective of not
less than eight percent with EPA.  Therefore,  the  State of
Delaware agreed to award at least eight  percent of its
subagreement funding under EPA projects  to small,  minority, and
women-owned businesses.
                     •

We reviewed the State's compliance for Federal fiscal years 1991
through 1994.  We found the State did not  meet the eight percent
objective during 1991 and 1993.  DNREC personnel informed us that
the goals were not consistently  met because the State's previous
procurement system was inadequate.  Specifically,  the State's
procurement system did not require affirmative steps to assure
that small, minority, and women-owned businesses were used.  As a
result, EPA did not meet its objective of  assuring that small,
minority, and women-owned entities were  provided the opportunity
to participate in subagreement awards under EPA financial
assistance agreements.  However, DNREC personnel informed us they
began implementing a new procurement system in fiscal year 1994.
In addition, DNREC has developed a procurement and property
manual which identifies the affirmative  steps  that the State must
take to assure that small, minority, and women-owned entities are
provided the opportunity to receive subagreements.  However, it
does not require DNREC to achieve the eight percent goal
negotiated with EPA.

                        MBE/WBE  Reporting             "

In addition to the eight percent negotiated fair share objective,
the State of Delaware was required to submit 12 reports of the
MBE/WBE utilization under Federal assistance agreements.
However, these reports did not contain accurate information.
                                15

                              Report  No.  E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
Specifically, all  12  reports  required an explanation of the
reasons for non-attainment, but  only 2 reports provided the
explanation.  The  State's  utilization reports are  essential in
order for EPA to compile information regarding the nationwide
utilization of minority businesses  under EPA assistance
agreements, as mandated by the U.S.  Department of  Commerce.

                 Content of Publicized Documents

CERCLA mandates adequate public  notification of Federal
participation in Superfund projects and programs.   When issuing
documents describing  projects or programs funded under the core
cooperative agreement,  DNREC  must indicate the percentage  and
dollar amount of Federal funding.   These documents include
statements issued  to  the public, press releases, requests  for
proposals  (RFP), and  invitations for bids (IFB).

DNREC personnel informed us they had not implemented this  special
condition because  EPA Region  3 prepared most of the documents to
be  released to the public.  Also, DNREC personnel  stated that
RFPs and IFBs do not  contain  this information because the  State
requires these documents to be prepared by a central State office
outside of DNREC.  It is important  to include this information
because contractors submitting proposals in  response to the RFPs
and IFBs will be unaware that they  will be expected to comply
with Federal requirements.

                          Recycled Paper

DNREC was required by a special  condition to use recycled  paper
for all reports, including progress reports  sent to EPA.   We
found that recycled paper  was not used at the New  Castle,
Delaware office where the  progress  reports were prepared.   DNREC
personnel stated recycled  paper  was not used because the
photocopy machine  would malfunction.   EPA Order 1000.25 directed
EPA to use and to  promote  the use of recycled paper.   The
objective of 'this  requirement was to reduce  and recycle twenty-
five percent of municipal  solid  waste and to create and develop
stable markets for products containing recovered materials.
,DNREC's non-compliance  with this special condition hindered EPA's
objective.
                                16

                              Report No.  E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
                  Title 40 CFR Part 35 Subpart O

Title 40 CFR Part 35 Subpart O  contains  recipient  requirements
for administering CERCLA-funded cooperative  agreements.   Subpart
O includes the regulations  for  progress  reports.   DNREC's
progress reports did not  contain any of  the  required items cited
in 40 CFR 35.6650, as  discussed previously under Progress
Reports.  The progress reports  were inadequate  because DNREC
focused on positions rather than activities  when summarizing
information.for the progress reports.  Consequently,  EPA could
not thoroughly monitor the  cooperative agreement and could not
ensure that objectives of the special conditions were being
achieved.
EPA awarded excess  funding to DNREC under cooperative  agreement
V-003620.  Of the $2,268,310  awarded under this  cooperative
.agreement, $270,537 was  obligated for capacity assurance.  Under
capacity assurance, DNREC must assure the availability of
treatment or disposal  facilities which have an adequate capacity
for the destruction, treatment,  or secure disposition  of all
hazardous wastes that  are generated within the State.   We  found
that DNREC had not  used  $174,777 or 65 percent of the  $270,537
obligated for capacity assurance.  As of the date of our report,
DNREC personnel were unable to justify their requests  for
additional capacity assurance funding.  In our opinion,  these
funds could have been  used more efficiently,  either for
additional Superfund awards to DNREC or other states.   The chart
below provides the  specific amounts and the months these funds
were left unused.
                                17

                               Report No. E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
UNUSED OBLIGATED FUNDS FOR CAPACITY ASSURANCE
COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT V- 003 620
AS OF JANUARY, 1995
DATE OF
AWARD AND
AMENDMENTS
August 30, 1991
September 23, 1992
February 18, 1993
September 9, 1993
September 30, 1993
July 11, 1994
TOTALS
AMOUNT OF
AWARD
$90,760
12,033
62,606
84,183
20,000
955
$270,537
AMOUNT
UNUSED
$ o
7,033
62,606
84,183
20,000
955
$174,777
MONTHS
FUNDS
UNUSED
0
27
22
25
25
5

 We compared the dollar amounts  approved in the  award and
 subsequent amendments  to information included in EPA's accounting
 system as of January 3,  1995.   Our  review revealed that EPA
 continued to award additional funds for capacity assurance
 although large balances were unused for as long as 27 months.
 RECOMMENDATIONS

 We  recommend that the  Region 3 Administrator:

 1.   Monitor DNREC's-compliance with the  special  conditions of the
     Superfund cooperative  agreements,  and require  the activities
     and tasks included in  the workplan to be  completed.

 2.   Ensure  DNREC implements  the  corrective actions planned as a
     result  of the Booz, Allen, and  Hamilton report issued on
     January 25, 1994.

"3.   Require project officers to  adequately monitor cooperative
     agreements.  Specifically, project officers  should:
                                18
                               Report No.  E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                           Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
    a)    Insist on high quality progress reports that include, as
         minimum,  all of the information required in 40  CFR
         35.6650 and a status of each activity in the workplan;

    b)    Review and analyze the progress reports to determine
         whether DNREC is meeting the tasks contained in the
         workplan; and

    c)    Monitor funds awarded and disbursed to ensure that funds
         are awarded as needed and that amendments are not in
         excess of DNREC's needs.
REGION RESPONSE AND PIG  EVALUATION

The Region did not respond to this finding.


DNREC RESPONSE AND  PIG EVALUATION

1.  DNREC requested we cite the regulation which requires
    progress reports identify the status of all the activities
    and related tasks included in the workplan.

We concur.  We have added the specific regulation.   Our draft
report only identifies 40 CFR 35.6650 under Progress Reports.
Paragraph (a)  of this regulation requires grantees  to submit
quarterly progress reports on the activities delineated in the
Statement of Work.

2.  DNREC stated that even though there was no recycled paper  in
    stock at the time of your (DIG)  survey,  typically a fraction
    of every order of copy paper is recycled paper.

Our report remains unchanged.  Interviews of DNREC's New Castle
office revealed that recycled paper was not used to prepare the
quarterly progress reports submitted to EPA.  The special
condition requires the use of recycled paper for all reports.

3."  DNREC's written response stated that the correct amount of
    unliquidated obligations was $152,242, not the  $174,777
                                19

                              Report No- E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
    identified in our report.  In addition, DNREC provided a
    breakout supporting an amount of $134,384.

Our position remains unchanged.  Our amount is based on EPA's
financial information system and is supported by documentation.
Even though DNREC personnel provided information from their
accounting system supporting a lower amount, DNREC  did not
justify their requests for this additional capacity assurance
funding.  We maintain that these funds could have been used more
efficiently for additional Superfund awards to either DNREC or to
other states.
                                20

                              Report No.  E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
                           CHAPTER 3
              INADEQUATE SOURCE DOCUMENTATION

We questioned all costs totaling $220,897, claimed under pre-
remedial cooperative agreement V-003350 because DNREC did not
maintain adequate source documentation.  In accordance with 40
CFR 35.6705 and 40 CFR 30.500, DNREC must maintain all official
records for each assistance award  for 10 years following the
submission of the final Financial  Status Report  (FSR).  DNREC
submitted its final FSR on July 5,  1988 and was required to
maintain source documentation until July 5, 1998.  The records
maintained must adequately document the following: amounts
received and expended, property purchased, time charges, and
compliance with applicable standards.  We found DNREC did not
maintain these records.  Factors contributing to this condition
were:

     1}  EPA did not notify DNREC  of this requirement until the
         cooperative agreement was closed, and

     2)  the closeout of the cooperative agreement was
         inordinately delayed over four years by EPA.

Without adequate source documentation, we were unable to express
an opinion on the allowability of  costs claimed.  Also, EPA and
DNREC may be unable to recover Superfund expenditures under
future cost recovery actions for work performed under this
cooperative agreement.

The following schedule shows that  all costs claimed  totaling
$220,897 have been questioned as unsupported.
                                21

                               Report No.  E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
            Analysis Of Allowability Of  Costs  Claimed
         For The Period October 1. 1985 to March 31. 1988
       Under EPA Cooperative Agreement V-003350 Awarded To
   DE Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

                        AUDITOR'S OPINION

            Cost                Costs        Costs  Questioned
          Category             Claimed          Unsupported

          Salaries             $124,237            $124,237
          Travel                  4,000                4,000
          Contractual           38,965              38,965
          Supplies                4,328                4,328
          Capital               26,715              26,715
          Indirect              22.652              22.652
          Total                $220.897            $220.897
Federal Share Claimed and Reviewed    100%        $220,897
Less: Federal Share Questioned:
          Unsupported                              220.897
Allowable Federal Share                           $      0
Payments To Date                                   220.897
Balance Due EPA                                   $220.897
During the survey, DNREC could not provide original documentation
for the costs claimed under the cooperative agreement.  DNREC did
provide monthly printouts of expenditures.  However, these
printouts were not supported by original documentation and could
no't be reconciled to payment requests or FSRs.

Title 40 CFR 30.501 required DNREC to maintain their records
until July 5, 1991, three years after submitting the final FSR  on
July 5, 1988.  However, this regulation was superseded by 40 CFR
35.6705, which states that records must be maintained for ten
years following the submission of the final FSR.  The ten year
record retention requirement became effective before the previous
.three-year requirement elapsed and before EPA closed the
cooperative agreement.  Therefore, we believe, DNREC was required
to maintain records for ten years.  Specifically, we determined
                                22

                              Report No. E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
that DNREC should have maintained  their  records until July 5,
1998.

The closeout of a financial assistance project is the final
process used by EPA to determine that the  recipient has completed
all required substantive work and  complied with all applicable
administrative requirements under  the agreement.  The Project
Officer must assure the Grants Management  Division  (GMD) within
90 days of project completion that all work  has been
satisfactorily completed and all technical conditions have been
met.  The Project Officer must also notify the GMD of the proper
handling of any personal property  purchased  under the agreement
and any unliquidated funds.

EPA notified DNREC of the close-out of the cooperative agreement
and ten year record retention requirement  on February 9, 1993.
The close-out was completed over four and  one-half years after
the final FSR was submitted by DNREC on  July 5, 1988.  We believe
that this is an inordinate delay in the  closeout process.  The
procedures for timely closeout of  all completed projects are
contained in the Assistance Administration Manual.  Chapter 40  -
Closeout of Assistance Agreements.  According to the manual, the
actual closeout process should begin 3 or  4  months before the
scheduled end of the project.

Our audit revealed that Grants Management  Division delayed the
closeout process over three of the four  years, and Hazardous
Waste Management Division had delayed the  process a total of ten
months.  We believe, if EPA had  informed DNREC and performed the
closeout of the cooperative agreement in a timely manner, DNREC
would have been notified of the  change  in  the record retention
requirement prior to the end of  the previous three year
requirement and DNREC could have maintained  adequate source
documentation.
                                23

                               Report No. E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
RECOMMENDATIONS

We recommend the Regional Administrator of Region 3:

1.  Obtain adequate support from DNREC for costs claimed under
    the pre-remedial cooperative agreement V-003350 or recover
    the Federal share of questioned costs.

2.  Ensure all recipients of CERCLA-funded grants,  cooperative
    agreements, and contracts comply with the 10 year record
    retention requirement as stipulated in 40 CFR 35.6705.

3.  Close out grants and cooperative agreements in a  timely
    manner as required by Assistance Administration Manual.
    Chapter 40 - Closeout of Assistance Agreements.


REGION RESPONSE AND OIQ EVALUATION

Region 3 responded that regulations effective during  the grant
period (September 28, 1985 to July 5, 1988)  only required the
grantee to keep source documentation through July 5,  1991.   The
Region believes the grantee should not be held accountable  for
records disposed by the grantee prior to the audit  conducted in
1995.  The Region responded they would accept costs based on the
reconciliation of the Final Status Report submitted on July 5,
1988.

Our position remains unchanged.  The ten year record  retention
requirement became effective before the previous three-year
requirement elapsed and before EPA closed the cooperative
agreement.  DNREC was required to maintain records  until July  5,
1998.
DNREC RESPONSE AND  PIG  EVALUATION

DNREC objected to our recommendation to the Regional
Administrator to obtain supporting documentation from DNREC or to
require DNREC to pay back the Federal Share of the cooperative
agreement funds.  DNREC agreed that if EPA had performed the
close out of the cooperative agreement in a timely manner,  they
                               24

                              Report No.  E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
                            Audit of DE Super-fund Cooperative Agreements
would have been notified  of  the change in the record retention
requirement prior to the  end of the three year requirement.   In
that case, DNREC could have  maintained adequate source
documentation.  Not having heard on the closure of the
cooperative agreement, DNREC proceeded to get rid of the
cooperative agreement records in an effort to reduce the volume
of files to be retained.   In February, 1993,  EPA formally closed
the cooperative agreement and informed DNREC of the requirement
to retain the records for ten years instead of three years.
Unfortunately, the records had been destroyed by then.  DNREC was
following the regulations it knew existed at the time the records
were destroyed.

Our position remains unchanged as discussed above under the
Region Response and OIG Evaluation.
                                 25

                               Report No. E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
[This  page was intentionally left blank.]

-------
                            Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements
                                                       APPENDIX  I

                             ACRONYMS

ACH       Automated Clearing House

CERCLA    The Comprehensive Environmental  Response, Compensation,
          and Liability Act of  1980  (CERCLA)

CFR       U.S. Code of Federal  Regulations

DNREC     Department of Natural Resources  and Environmental
          Control  (State of Delaware)

EPA       U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

FSR       Financial Status Report

GMD       EPA, Region 3's Grants Management Division

HWMD      EPA Region 3's Hazardous Waste Management Division

IFB       Invitation for Bid

LOC-TFCS  Letter of Credit - U.S. Department of  Treasury,
          Financial Communications System

MBE       Minority Business Enterprise

OIG       EPA-Office of the  Inspector General

RFP       Request for Proposal

SARA      .The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of
          1986

SF-334    Standard Form 334

WBE       Women's Business Enterprise
                                27
                               Report No.  E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------
[This  page was intentionally left blank.]

-------
                                                         APPENDIX II
                                                         Page 1 of 1
             UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
                              REGION III
                          841 Chestnut Building
                      Philadelphia. Pennsylvania 19107
SUBJECT:
FROM:
TO:
Response to Draft Audit Report of
Delaware Superfund Co-Operative
Agreements V-003620, and/^r-003350
W. Michael HcCabe
Regional Adminis
DATE:
                                                            SEP I I I995
                                 (3RA00)
                      •
P. Ronald Gandolfo
Divisional Inspector General for Audit (3AIOO)
     Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the draft audit
report.  The Grants  and Audit Management Branch (GAMB) has
reviewed the report  and believes the issue on records retention
should be clarified.

     In the report the auditors identified $220,897 as
unsupported costs claimed under Superfund Pre-remedial
Co-operative agreement V-003350 for Delaware, because the grantee
failed to maintain adequate source documentation.  However, based
on regulations effective during the grant period (September 28,
1985 to July 5, 1988) ,  the grantee was only required to keep
source documentation through July 5, 1991.  Since the costs
identified by the IG as "unsupported" were based on an audit
conducted in 1995, the Region believes the grantee should not be
held accountable for records disposed by the grantee prior to the
audit. Thus, the Region would accept costs based on the
reconciliation of the Final Status Report submitted on July 5,
1988.

     We hope that this response resolves the issues identified in
the audit.  If you should have any questions on this matter,
please contact Robert Reed at 7-7805.
                                 29

-------
[This page was intentionally left blank.]

-------
                                                                             APPENDIX III
                                                                             Page 1 of 4
                                      STATE OF DELAWARE
                            DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
                                 & ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
                                         89 KINGS HIGHWAY
                                          P.O. Box 14O1
OFFICE OF THE                             DOVER. DELAWARE 199O3                  TELEPHONE:   (3O2) 739 - 44O3
 SECRETARY                                                                 FAX.        (302)739-6242
                                           August 30,1995
     Mr. P. Ronald Gandolfo
     Divisional Inspector General for Audit
     Mid Atlantic Division
     U.S. EPA-Region in
     841 Chestnut Building
     Philadelphia, PA 19107
     Subject:      RESPONSE TO RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE DRAFT
                 REPORT ON AUDIT OF DELAWARE SUPERFUND
                 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS V-003620 AND V-003350

     Dear Mr. Gandolfo:

           This is in response to your "Draft" audit report dated July 20,1995, mentioned above. I offer
     the following comments on the factual accuracy of the data presented:
     SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY

     Page 4, Para 3

           "Of the 37 cooperative agreements which EPA awarded to DNREC we judgmentally selected
     three to review during the survey: (emphasis added) a core award, a pre-remedial award, and a
     remedial award. This report addresses the core and pre-remedial awards."

           Please specify the disposition of the remedial award. Also it is not clear whether the draft
     report pertains to the survey as stated in the quote or an audit as stated in the "subject" of your letter.
                                            31

                                    aood tt&tcvte ctefeetufa (w<

-------
                                                                         APPENDIX III
                                                                         Page 2 of 4
Mr. P. Ronald Gandolfo
August 30, 1995
Page 2
PROGRESS REPORTS

Paee 9. Para 3

       "In addition to these missing items, the progress reports did not identify the status of all the
activities and related tasks included in the workplan."

       Please cite the regulations or the special conditions that require that the grantee must identify
the status of activities and related tasks included in the workplan.


RECYCLED PAPER

Page 14. Para 1

       "We found that recycled paper was not used at the New Castle, Delaware office where the
progress reports were prepared."

       Even though there was no recycled paper in stock at the time of your survey, typically a
fraction of every order of copy paper is recycled paper.


EXCESS OBLIGATED FEDERAL FUNDS

Page 14 Para 3

       "We found that DNREC had not used $174,777 or 65 percent of the $270,537 obligated for
capacity assurance."

       The correct figure is $155,242 and not $174,777.
INADEQUATE SOURCE DOCUMENTATION

Page 20 Para 3

       "If EPA had informed DNREC and performed the close-out of the cooperative agreement in a
timely manner, DNREC would have been notified of the change in the record retention requirement
prior to the end of the previous three year requirement, and DNREC could have maintained adequate
source documentation." We concur with this statement. DNREC submitted FSR to EPA in 1988.
                                           32

-------
                                                                          APPENDIX III
                                                                          Page 3 of 4
Mr. P. Ronald Gandolfo
August 30, 1995
PageS
DNREC was required to keep the records only until July, 1991. Not having heard on the closure of
the co-operative agreement, DNREC proceeded to get rid of these records in an effort to reduce the
volume of files to be retained. However, when in February, 1993, EPA formally dosed the
cooperative agreement, it informed DNREC of the new requirement to retain the records for ten years
instead of three years.  Unfortunately, the records had been destroyed by thea DNREC was simply
following the regulations it knew existed at the time of destruction of the records.

       Therefore it is not appropriate for the auditors to recommend that the Regional Administrator
obtain the support documents from DNREC which do not exist, or to require DNREC to pay back
Federal share of the cooperative agreement funds. DNREC objects to this recommendation.

       I appreciate and thank you for allowing the Department the opportunity to comment on the
report.
 CAGT:NVR:sfh
 nvr95078.doc

 cc:    Nicholas A. Di Pasquale
       N. V. Raman, Superfund
       Nancy Marker, RCRA
       Sandra Downs
                                         33

-------
         Statement of Account Balances
         FY92 Grant 09/01/91 - 08/31/94
         Superfund  09030203 - 3592
         SAI 91061701  Superfund CORE Cooperative Program


CATEGORY
FEDERAL FUNDS
Salaries and OEC's
Travel
Contractual Services
Supplies
Capital Outlay

REPT,
CAT.
SC21
SC24
SC25
SC26
SC27
Total
Funds
Awarded
$1.053,135.00
$32,452.00
3638,198.00
$84,164.00
$0.00
Indirect Costs SC23 | $179,82400

Total Federal Funds -
Superfund
FEDERAL FUNDS
Salaries and OEC's
Travel
Contractual Services
Supplies
Capital Outlay
Indirect Costs
Total Federal Funds
Capacity Assurance
TOTAL FEDERAL FUNDS




SCA1
SCA4
SCA5
SCAB
SCA7
SCA9



$1,997,773.00


$184.584.00
$8,242.00
$34,145.00
$18,304.00
$0.00
$25,262.00
$270,537.00

$2,268,31000
Disbursements
for the Month of
JUNE
($349.B6)
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00

' ($349.86)


$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00

($349.86)
Total
Disbursements
to Date
$1,092,214.99
$34,894.64
$399,608.80
$61,821.51
$0.00
$151,362.02

$1,759,901.96


$106,599.59
$1,022.77
$2,113.67
$12,415.06
$0.00
$14,001.56
$136,152.65

$1,896,054.61
Encumbrances
for the Month of
JUNE
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00

$0.00


$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00

$0.00
Total
Encumbrances
to Date
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$000
Vear-to-t>ate
Balance
JUNE
($29,079.99)
(52,442.64)
$238,589.20
$2,342.49
$0.00
$23.461.98
. i
$0.00


$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$000
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00

$0.00
r $237,871.04


$77,984.41
$7.219.23
$32,031.33
$5,888.94
$0.00
$11,260.44
$134,384.35

$372,255.39
56!
                                                                                                                                Q)
                                                                                                                                v5
                                                                                                                                (D

-------
                 Audit of DE Superfund Cooperative Agreements

                                                  APPENDIX IV

                   REPORT  DISTRIBUTION
Office of the Inspector General

     Inspector General  (2421)


EPA Headquarters Office

     Agency Followup Official  (3101), Attention: Assistant
     Administrator for Administration and Resources
     Management

     Agency Followup Coordinator  (3304), Attention: Director
     Resource Management Division

     Director, Financial Management Division (3303F)

     Director, Grants Administration Division (3903F)

     Associate Administrator for Regional Operations and
     State/Local Relations  (1501)

     Headquarters Library,  (M3404)


EPA Regional Office

     Regional Administrator, Region 3,  (3RAOO)

     Audit Followup-Coordinator,  (3PM70)

     Regional Library,  (3PM52)


External Distribution

     Delaware Department of Natural Resources and
     Environmental Control  (DNREC)
                              35

                           Report No.  E5FFL5-03-0177-5100489

-------