EPA accused of tolerating waste, fraud, criminal conduct

[Alan C.]

EPA accused of tolerating rampant employee misconduct, obstructing probes

 

The committee revealed several startling allegations and cases shared by the inspector general's office. In one case, an employee was getting paid for one or two years after moving to a retirement home, where the employee allegedly did not work. When an investigation began, the worker was simply placed on sick leave.In another case, an employee with multiple-sclerosis was allowed to work at home for the last 20 years. However, for the past five years, she allegedly produced no work -- though she was paid roughly $600,000. She retired after an investigation.In yet another case, an employee was accused of viewing pornography for two-to-six hours a day since 2010. An IG probe found the worker had 7,000 pornographic files on his EPA computer.At the hearing, Sullivan detailed specific concerns with the agency's little-known Office of Homeland Security.The office of about 10 employees is overseen by EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy's office, and the inspector general's office is accusing it of operating illegally as a "rogue law enforcement agency" that has impeded independent investigations into employee misconduct, computer security and external threats, including compelling employees involved in cases to sign non-disclosure agreements.. . .The dispute between the inspector general's office and the Homeland Security office came to a head last year, as Republicans in Congress investigated the agency's handling of John C. Beale, a former deputy assistant administrator who pleaded guilty in federal court last fall to stealing a total of $886,186 between 2000 and April 2013, falsely claiming he was working undercover for the CIA. The Beale case was initially investigated by the Homeland Security office months before the IG's office was made aware of it.

 

EPA paid nearly $500,000 in unauthorized bonuses, watchdog finds

 

An Inspector General (IG) investigation found that 11 EPA employees received $481,819 in unauthorized retention bonuses between 2006 and 2013. The bonuses are meant to incentivize employees who receive other job offers.The bonuses are supposed to be reauthorized annually, but for 10 of those EPA officials, the IG could find no evidence that their bonuses were reviewed, as required by federal regulations and EPA policies.One EPA employee received $77,204 in unauthorized pay over five years, even though he had only been approved for a one-year retention bonus.Another employee received incentive pay for four years totaling nearly $105,000, even though the bonus should have been terminated in 2009 because he was promoted.The IG cited confusion, lack of internal controls, and failure by managers and employees to follow up on notices. The investigation was spurred by the case of John Beale, a senior EPA official who bilked the agency out of nearly $900,000 in fraudulent travel expenses and unauthorized retention bonuses.

[fractional slacker]

But they care about clean air and water. A few bad apples in every bunch.

Without the EPA, the Koch brothers might rule the planet.

 

sincerely,

typcial "progressive" sycophant

[nathanm]

Well at least one of those deadbeats shouldn't mind being probed.

 

But that makes me wonder, aside from the base fact that it's a government agency funded by theft, does a slacker EPA agent actually do less harm to the environment by not doing their job?