x^ed sta^
*	- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency	13-P-0272

i	\ Office of Inspector General	May 31 2013
s
"V—'—J"
% V|// "
At a Glance
Why We Did This Review
The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency leases a
warehouse in Landover,
Maryland, to store inventory for
its headquarters locations.
The inventory ranges from
sensitive items such as
personally identifiable
information, including
passports, to computers and
other electronic equipment to
basic personal property such
as paper and office furniture.
We are conducting an audit to
determine the extent to which
the EPA's personal property
stored in select warehouse
spaces is effectively utilized,
accounted for and disposed of
by the EPA. As a result of our
warehouse visits, we are
issuing this early warning report
on our concerns at the
Landover warehouse because
they require immediate
attention.
This report addresses the
following EPA Goals or
Cross-Cutting Strategies:
• Strengthening EPA's
workforce and capabilities.
For further information, contact
our Office of Congressional and
Public Affairs at (202) 566-2391.
The full report is at:
www.epa.aov/oia/reports/2013/
20130531-13-P-0272.pdf
Early Warning Report: Main EPA Headquarters Warehouse
in Landover, Maryland, Requires Immediate EPA Attention
What We Found
Our initial research at the EPA's Landover warehouse raised significant concerns
with the lack of agency oversight of personal property and warehouse space at
the facility. In particular:
•	The warehouse recordkeeping system was incomplete and inaccurate.
•	The warehouse was filled with considerable valuable amounts of unusable,
inoperable and obsolete furniture and other items.
•	The warehouse contained multiple unauthorized and hidden personal
spaces that included such items as televisions and exercise equipment.
•	Numerous potential security and safety hazards existed at the warehouse,
including unsecured personally identifiable information (such as
passports).
•	Deplorable conditions existed at the warehouse; corrosion, vermin feces,
mold and other problems were pervasive.
As a result of the conditions noted, EPA property at the warehouse was
vulnerable to theft and abuse (including personally identifiable information),
EPA property was not properly maintained, the EPA may not have received
sufficient value for the funds it paid for the warehouse's operation, and
warehouse workers were subjected to unsafe conditions for which the EPA could
be held liable.
Agency Corrective Actions
Subsequent to our briefing to the agency on the conditions noted at the
warehouse, the agency issued a stop work order to the contractor, ensuring there
will be no further access to the site by contractor personnel and that no further
costs will be incurred under the contract. Further, the agency has taken the
following additional actions:
•	Completed an inventory of the warehouse and is seeking an appraisal of
inventoried items.
•	Identified and segregated all surplus furniture.
•	Reviewed background investigations on warehouse employees.
•	Removed flammable materials from the warehouse.
•	Performed a health and safety review.
•	Reviewed security footage.
The agency also agreed to initiate action addressing personally identifiable
information, completing standard operating procedures for the warehouse,
developing security plans, and conducting an agencywide review of all
warehouse and storage facility operations.

-------