[The Role of the Professional Audit Review Team]

The role of the Professional Audit Review Team (PART) was discussed to provide insight into how it audits the Energy Information Administration (EIA) data collection and analysis operations. PART consists of representatives appointed by the heads of five federal agencies which are involved in data collection and analysis, and its chairman is appointed by the Comptroller General. PART operates independently of its members' agencies and has the sole responsibility for its evaluations and reports. Although PART found that the independence of the EIA predecessor agency was questionable, it has found no reason to question EIA independence from the energy function. However, PART has found that EIA could help to ensure its continued independence by establishing: (1) a central control for external requests; (2) quality control procedures; (3) control over user needs determinations; (4) quality control application methods; and (5) and procedures to ensure the credibility of its analytical and forecasting models. To evaluate EIA operations, PART: (1) identifies the issues to be addressed and the policies applicable to these issues; (2) identifies EIA procedures and evaluates its adequacy for carrying out policies and enforcing criteria; (3) if weaknesses are found, analyzes their adverse effects and causes; and (4) obtains agency comments on its draft reports which are considered in its final reports.