Alleged Violation of the Procurement Integrity Act at the U.S. Geological Survey
2021
20-0375
Investigation
Department of the Interior OIG
Department of the Interior
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Abbreviation
DOI
Agencies
Department of the Interior
Federal Agency
Yes
Location
United States
What to Report to the OIG Hotline
Anyone with information regarding fraud, waste, abuse, misconduct, or mismanagement involving the programs or activities of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) should contact the DOI Office of Inspector General (OIG) hotline.
Please provide as many details as you can when completing our hotline complaint form. Without specific information, we may be unable to act on your concerns.
The DOI OIG has oversight responsibilities of DOI employees, programs, contracts, and grants, to include disclosures concerning the following bureaus and offices:
- Bureau of Indian Affairs
- Bureau of Land Management
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
- Bureau of Reclamation
- Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
- Bureau of Trust Funds Administration
- National Park Service
- Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Office of the Secretary
- Office of Policy, Management and Budget
- Office of the Solicitor
- Office of the Chief Information Officer
- Office of the Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs
- Other Interior Offices
- DOI employees
- Employees of DOI contractors, subcontractors, grantees, and subgrantees
- DOI employees who feel their security clearance or access to classified information has been taken in retaliation for whistleblowing
What Not to Report to the OIG Hotline
- 911 Emergencies
- Tribal, State, and Local police matters (unless DOI funds are involved)
- Issues handled by other Government agencies such as the Office of Personnel Management, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Department of Health and Human Services (to include Indian Health Care issues)
Hotline Page
Whistleblower Protection Page
Removal of Federal Minerals During School Construction Results in Loss of Revenues
2021
17-0847
Investigation
Department of the Interior OIG
Department of the Interior
The OIG investigated allegations that a salable mineral known as caliche was improperly removed from the construction site of a school built on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land that was conveyed to the school district through a recreation and public purposes lease. The U.S. Government retains...
Unsubstantiated Allegation of Reprisal by a Senior U.S. Geological Survey Manager
2021
20-0212
Investigation
Department of the Interior OIG
Department of the Interior
We investigated an allegation that a senior USGS manager retaliated against a subordinate employee because the employee had participated in another investigation against him.We determined that the employee’s role in the other investigation against the senior manager constituted protected activity...
Unsubstantiated Allegations of Bid Rigging and Procurement Integrity Act Violations
2021
19-0833
Investigation
Department of the Interior OIG
Department of the Interior
The OIG investigated allegations that independent Government contractors colluded on bids for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hay delivery contracts, that a BLM employee who was related to one of the contractors influenced the awards to benefit the relative, and that the contractors added weight to...
Contractor Employees Pleaded Guilty to Clean Water Act and Oil Pollution Act Violations
2021
16-0832
Investigation
Department of the Interior OIG
Department of the Interior
We investigated allegations that Nathan Shumaker, a service supervisor employed with Alliance Energy Services, LLC, knowingly discharged oil from the offshore platform known as Vermillion 124F into the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) in 2016.Black Elk Trust operated the Vermillion 124F platform located on a...
Alleged Misappropriation of Grant Funds by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
2021
20-0118
Investigation
Department of the Interior OIG
Department of the Interior
We investigated an allegation that a program manager with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) misused Water-Use Data and Research (WUDR) grant funds awarded by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to pay WVDEP employees who did not perform work related to the grant.Our...
Land Transfers Approved Without Proper Authority
2021
19-0342
Investigation
Department of the Interior OIG
Department of the Interior
The OIG investigated allegations that Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) realty specialists processed and approved 15 land transfer gift deeds from a tribal member to his sister without the proper authority. The complaint also alleged that the deeds contained forged signatures and improperly backdated...
Facility Improvements Still Needed at Pine Hill School
2021
2019-CR-062
Inspection / Evaluation
Department of the Interior OIG
Department of the Interior
We completed a follow-up inspection of Pine Hill School to determine what progress had been made to correct the issues identified in our prior reports and determine whether the facility conditions have changed since our last reviews.We found that the school addressed many of the issues identified in...
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Grants Awarded to the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, From October 1, 2016, Through September 30, 2018, Under the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program
2021
2019-WR-028
Audit
Department of the Interior OIG
Department of the Interior
We audited the costs claimed by the State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources (Department) under grants awarded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program. The audit included claims totaling approximately $153 million on 43 grants...
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Funds Awarded to the Republic of the Marshall Islands
2021
2020-WR-041-E
Audit
Department of the Interior OIG
Department of the Interior
As a part of our oversight responsibilities for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) appropriations to the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), we have reviewed the Office of Insular Affairs’ (OIA’s) initial oversight steps for the CARES Act grant funds to the Insular...