An investigation within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found files from open and closed lead cases were thrown into a recycling bin, according to a report acquired by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).
The June 21 report, assembled by the EPA’s Office of Inspector General after a whistleblower tip, revealed that inspections, notices of violation and noncompliance files from the EPA’s Atlanta Regional Office’s unsecured mixed-use file room were improperly disposed of because of shortcomings in the office’s "internal controls."
The lack of proper evidence management could damage both pursuing pending air quality enforcement action and penalties for repeat violators of the agency's program to ensure lead-safe residential repairs and renovation. Following the investigation, proper safeguards and procedures have been outlined and instituted.
The report does not clearly determine why an EPA employee would recycle the records, which constitutes criminal concealment and removal of federal records. While one employee was counseled, ultimately no disciplinary action was taken.
"Incredibly, EPA undertook no review of its managers who allowed and tolerated trashing enforcement records," said PEER Staff Counsel Laura Dumais, who obtained the report through the Freedom of Information Act. "At EPA, accountability is apparently recycled, as well."
