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FY 2000 Annual Report on Bureau Environmental Auditing Programs and Activities

JAN 11 2000

Memorandum

To:     Heads of Bureaus and Offices

From:      Willie R. Taylor, Director /signed/ Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance

Subject:     Departmental Summary of the Fiscal Year 2000 Annual Report on Bureau Environmental Auditing Programs and Activities

As you are aware, environmental auditing of all Department of the Interior (DOI) facilities is required by Departmental Manual Chapter, 515 DM 2, "Environmental Auditing." In addition, 518 DM 2, "Compliance with Waste Management Requirements" addresses the commitment of DOI to comply with applicable Federal, state, and local environmental requirements.

This report entitled, "DOI Summary of the Fiscal Year 2000 Annual Report on Bureau Environmental Auditing Programs and Activities," prepared by the Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance is provided for your information. The purpose of this report is to provide the Department with feedback as to the progress that bureaus are making in the area of environmental auditing. The report covers Fiscal Year 2000 (FY 00) beginning October 1, 1999 through September 30, 2000. The attachment summarizes auditing data by bureau, major audit issues identified, and costs for respective bureau environmental auditing programs.

For FY 00, a total of 412 facilities were audited of the 2,509 DOI owned and operated facilities reported by the bureaus. There was an increase of approximately 39 percent of facilities audited in FY 00 as compared to the 253 facilities audited in FY 99. There was also an increase of approximately 37 percent of DOI owned and operated facilities reported in FY 00 as compared to the 1,589 DOI owned and operated facilities reported in FY 99. The increase in the number of DOI owned and operated facilities for FY 00 is due to improved data availability and reporting by bureaus in contrast to FY 99 which was the first reporting year. Several bureaus reported that they had conducted environmental audits of their facilities in prior years and a cumulative total of 1,426 facilities have been audited to date. Bureaus also reported an estimated 645 facility audits are scheduled for FY 01. For the Department as a whole, it appears that bureaus are making progress in their environmental auditing programs.

Heads of Bureaus and Offices should ensure that funding is made available to correct major audit issues since environmental compliance remains a high priority for the Department. Facility managers are responsible for ensuring that major audit issues are corrected at their respective facilities and to request the necessary funding through their bureau appropriations process.

If you have any questions, please contact Jim Ortiz, Solid and Hazardous Materials Management Team, at (202) 208-7553.

Attachment

cc: Deputy Solicitor
Assistant Secretaries
Associate Solicitor - Land & Water Resources
Division/Facility
Compliance Branch
REO's Haz-Mat Contacts
Related Review: ER 99/820
ATTACHMENT

DOI Summary of FY 2000 Annual Bureau Reports on Environmental Auditing Programs and Activities f

Major Audit Issues Identified and Total Cost of Administering Bureau Environmental Auditing Programs in FY 2001