Pursuit's Take
EPA OIG identified $6.2 million of funds that could be put to better use:
- Grants totaling about $2.8 million awarded and obligated more than 5 years ago have had no financial activity, such as payments to recipients.
- Appropriated funds for SAAP grants totaling about $3.4 million that Congress directed to specified recipients for defined projects remain unobligated. All of the unobligated funds exceeded the programmatic goal to award grants within 3 years of appropriation.
Although SAAP grant funds are available indefinitely, the EPA has a responsibility to ensure timely use of federal funds. EPA staff gave several reasons for why funds remained unused, including recipients not being interested in the funds or issues with environmental reviews and applications.
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