The EPA cannot assess the results and benefits of its environmental education program, and continuing to fund it without better program and performance management controls “creates high risk for waste and abuse of public funds,” according to an IG report.
The Office of Environmental Education paid out some $16 million in grants over 2012-2014 to support programs to improve understanding of the environment, as well as curricula, educational material and training programs, said the report, but the agency still has not fully complied with recommendations made in 2005 by the National Environmental Education Advisory Council to improve the program.
“OEE lacks internal program assessment controls, an updated strategic plan, and performance reporting requirements for grantees that are connected to strategic measures. As a result, OEE is significantly impaired in its ability to provide evidence of program results and benefits, manage the program to achieve results, or spot waste and abuse,” the report said.
Further, OEE did not get consistent data from grantees and synthesize program performance data and report results, it said.
Management only partially agreed with the report’s recommendations, however.
