Environmental Regulation: Differences Remain Between EPA and OMB Over Paperwork Requirements
RCED-94-254
Published: Aug 23, 1994. Publicly Released: Sep 26, 1994.
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Highlights
GAO reviewed the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) efforts to comply with federal paperwork reduction regulations, focusing on: (1) EPA management of its information collection requests; (2) whether management problems have adversely impacted EPA enforcement actions; and (3) the effect of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) oversight on EPA information collection efforts.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Management and Budget | The Director, OMB, and the Administrator, EPA, should address the differences between the two agencies on the remaining substantive policy and legal issues relating to the Paperwork Reduction Act's requirements on information collection requests. In particular, they should describe in writing: (1) the conditions under which partial and conditional approvals are used; (2) procedures for handling disagreements; and (3) general criteria for approving information collection requests, such as the calculations of cost burdens on respondents. |
Closed – Implemented
OMB and EPA met and discussed resolution of the issues cited in the report recommendations, with the agencies agreeing to certain conditions and procedures for ICR. OMB also agreed to provide government-wide guidance on accounting for capital costs. Pending the OMB guidance, OMB agreed to accept EPA's approach in making such calculations. To assist EPA employees who prepare ICRs, EPA issued a draft ICR handbook in February 1996. The handbook describes, among other things, the procedures for estimating respondent burden and costs.
|
| Environmental Protection Agency | The Director, OMB, and the Administrator, EPA, should address the differences between the two agencies on the remaining substantive policy and legal issues relating to the Paperwork Reduction Act's requirements on information collection requests. In particular, they should describe in writing: (1) the conditions under which partial and conditional approvals are used; (2) procedures for handling disagreements; and (3) general criteria for approving information collection requests, such as the calculations of cost burdens on respondents. |
Closed – Implemented
OMB and EPA met and discussed resolution of the issues cited in the report recommendations, with the agencies agreeing to certain conditions and procedures for information collection requests (ICR). OMB also agreed to provide government-wide guidance on accounting for capital costs. Pending the OMB guidance, OMB agreed to accept EPA's approach in making such calculations. To assist EPA employees who prepare ICR, EPA issued a draft ICR handbook in February 1996. The handbook describes, among other things, the procedures for estimating respondent burden and costs.
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Topics
Data collectionEnvironmental monitoringFines (penalties)Interagency relationsLaw enforcementManagement information systemsPaperwork reductionReporting requirementsStatutory lawInformation collection