GSA’s Public Buildings Service, which manages and owns some 1,500 federal properties, still needs to strengthen oversight of environmental risks and ensure that tenants clearly understand their responsibilities regarding those hazards, according to an IG report.
“PBS lacks the procedures to sufficiently identify, quantify, and manage environmental contamination in accordance with government orders, laws, and PBS guidance. As a result, PBS facilities, tenants, and the surrounding environment are potentially at risk,” the report said.
It cited the lack of effectively monitoring environmental management risks on a nationwide basis; lack of environmental compliance audits throughout its inventory; and a lack of policy to assure consistency and effectiveness of audits. “Environmental management practices are also inconsistent across the PBS regions due to a lack of centralized policy. Finally, environmental management responsibility in tenant space is unclear, which can lead to undetected risks,” it said.
In particular, the environmental division does not have a centralized database to capture environmental data, leaving PBS unaware of environmental risks associated with buildings in its inventory, the report said, adding that while regions maintain information, it is not easily accessible centrally because of the differing ways it is stored. The division collects data on storage tanks and asbestos, for example, but not on lead, radon or hazardous materials, it said.
Regarding audits, the report said that practices vary among the regions and there were differences in how findings were classified in terms of potential harm to people and the environment.
Management agreed with the report’s recommendation to address those issues.