EPA Awards Grants on Time but Fails To Meet Several Other Goals, GAO Says

摘要

The Environmental Protection Agency was successful in awarding grants in a timely manner and for sharing dollars and awards that were won competitively-two achievements that were among the 17 goals it set out for itself in its 2009-2013 grant management plan, the Government Accountability Office reported Sept. 18. But of the 17 goals, the EPA fully met two, partially met six and did not meet one. The EPA did not measure its progress for the other eight goals, according to the report. The EPA didn't meet its goal of developing a long-term training plan. The partially met six goals included reducing unexpended funds, developing guidance for managing grants and reviewing the guidelines for consistency across the 10 regions, the GAO said. In "Grants Management: EPA Has Opportunities to Improve Planning and Compliance Monitoring," the GAO said it found a "negative effect" of the EPA not measuring or partially meeting the goals, including an absence of data on compliance with policies, inefficient processes that increased workload, delayed processes for awarding grants and delayed training and policy implementation.