Disinfectants: Concerns Over the Integrity of EPA's Data Bases
RCED-90-232
Published: Sep 21, 1990. Publicly Released: Sep 21, 1990.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) pesticide and disinfectant data systems, focusing on: (1) the Pesticide Product Information System (PPIS); (2) the Pesticide Document Management System (PDMS); and (3) the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and Toxic Substances Control Act Enforcement System (FATES).
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Protection Agency | The Administrator, EPA, should direct the Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances (OPTS) to develop and implement a strategy for resolving the data integrity problems that GAO identified in the data on disinfectants in PPIS, PDMS, and FATES, especially the need to establish procedures to ensure that data are accurately, completely, and consistently entered into automated systems and that the data are kept up to date. |
Closed – Implemented
EPA believes a special strategy is unwarranted, but has taken other steps to secure more reliable data.
|
| Environmental Protection Agency | The Administrator, EPA, should direct OPTS to determine the extent to which the identified data integrity problems apply to data on pesticides other than disinfectants and takes corrective action as warranted. |
Closed – Implemented
EAP has initiated system and quality control improvements which will address deficiencies for all types of data.
|
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Topics
DatabasesData integrityEnvironmental policiesEnvironmental researchInformation systemsManagement information systemsPesticide regulationPesticidesProduct evaluationQuality assurance