Office of Inspector General U.S. Environmental Protection Agency At a Glance 22-N-0003 November 10, 2021 What Are Management Challenges? The Reports Consolidation Act of 2000 requires each inspector general to prepare an annual statement summarizing what the inspector general considers to be "the most serious management and performance challenges facing the agency" and to briefly assess the agency's progress in addressing those challenges. For fiscal year 2022, we examined whether the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board addressed the three management challenges we previously identified in Report No. 20-N-0218, issued July 6, 2020. We determined that only one remained a top management challenge for the CSB. Fiscal Year 2022 U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board Management Challenges What We Found Management Challenge (initially identified in fiscal year 2019): Accomplishment of CSB Mission Is Impaired Until New Board Members Are Confirmed The lack of board members continues to be the biggest risk to CSB operations. The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 authorized the creation of the CSB and established a board of five members, including a chairperson, that is responsible for major budgeting decisions, strategic planning and direction, general oversight of the CSB, and approval of investigation reports and studies. Due to term expirations and a board member resignation, the chairperson was, as of September 30, 2021, the only remaining board member. However, the Senate is making progress toward the confirmation of new members. Having only one board member impairs the function of the CSB, as all functions rest with that one member, which creates internal control vulnerabilities in terms of separation of duties and workload management. Board Order 028, Board Member Roles and Responsibilities, delineates executive and administrative functions of the board based on the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. The order outlines the specific authorities of the chairperson and the duties of the board as a whole. The order does not address a situation when the only member of the board is the chairperson. Regardless, workload limitations arising from one board member attempting to perform the work of five impair the board's ability to fulfill its responsibilities without risk of internal control concerns. The lack of five board members may prevent the CSB from achieving its stated mission to "drive chemical safety change through independent investigation to protect people and the environment." This report addresses the three CSB goals: • Prevent recurrence of significant chemical incidents. • Advocate safety and achieve change. • Create and maintain an engaged, high-performing workforce. Address inquiries to our public affairs office at (202) 566-2391 or OIG WEBPOSTINGS@epa.gov. List of OIG reports. ------- |