Region 3's Oversight of Safe Drinking Water Act Activities

EPA Office of Inspector General

#6100310

Inspector General Division Conducting the Audit:

Mid-Atlantic Audit Division
Philadelphia, PA

Program Office(s) Involved:

Water Protection Division
Philadelphia, PA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
PURPOSE
BACKGROUND
SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY
PRIOR AUDIT COVERAGE
CHAPTER 2
DRINKING WATER VIOLATIONS PROLONGED
States Did Not Tell EPA About Excessive Lead and Copper
States Did Not Inform EPA About Violations Timely
EPA's Inaction Precluded Enforcement
EPA Lacked Data
EPA Responsible For Enforcement But Lacked Data
EPA Headquarters Also Concerned
Day Care Centers & Schools Should Have Been Considered Priority 1
Not All Enforcement Needs To Be Painful
CONCLUSION
RECOMMENDATIONS
CHAPTER 3
LCR TESTING PROCEDURES DISREGARDED
SDWA Permits Special Sampling
Make-up Samples Prohibited by the LCR
Sample Invalidation Permitted Without Documentation
RECOMMENDATION
CHAPTER 4
EPA REVIEWS DO NOT REQUIRE CORRECTIVE ACTION
Ineffective Midyear Evaluations
No Recommendations In Priority Audits
Data Verification Audit Found Discrepancies
RECOMMENDATIONS
CHAPTER 5
OTHER MATTERS
Quarterly Grant Reports Vague and Late
RECOMMENDATION
APPENDIX A - REGION 3'S RESPONSE TO THE DRAFT REPORT
(Available only on hard copy)
APPENDIX B - DISTRIBUTION

Created February 2, 1997