Environmental Protection

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has several longstanding information resources management (IRM) problems that have harmed many of its program operations. These problems include an inadequate strategic IRM planning process, lack of sound data management practices, and the absence of effective top management direction and oversight. EPA acknowledges these problems and plans corrective actions. First, it intends to implement a strategic planning process for the direction, control, and coordination of IRM resources. Second, EPA plans to provide users with better access to data from multiple information systems. Finally, EPA intends to strengthen the agency's IRM steering committee and beef up oversight. Although these efforts seem promising, full implementation is not expected for years. Moreover, program office participation in these plans is often limited, and EPA lacks an executive who can devote full-time attention to IRM issues. As a result, EPA's effort to resolve longstanding IRM problems are unlikely to be successful.

GAO found that: (1) EPA has several longstanding IRM problems that adversely affect many of its program operations; (2) the EPA Office of Information Resources Management (OIRM), which has overall responsibility for IRM, plans to implement a strategic planning process to coordinate IRM resources, provide better access to data from multiple information systems, improve data management practices, and strengthen IRM leadership and oversight; (3) OIRM does not expect to implement plans for addressing many IRM weaknesses for several years; (4) most EPA program offices have not been involved in OIRM initiatives; and (5) EPA needs agencywide involvement to resolve IRM issues.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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