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FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
EMPLOYEE
PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS NOT PERFORMED ON A TIMELY BASIS
The Agency did not conduct employee performance evaluations
in a timely manner for 12 out of 50 (24%) employees tested during the
examination period. The time elapsed
from the employee’s previous performance reviews ranged from 13 to 52
months. In 4 out of 50 (8%) employee
personnel files tested, the Agency conducted employee evaluations within the
last 12 months; however, the evaluation period ranged from 15 to 36
months. (Finding 1, page 10) This finding was first reported in
1994.
We recommended the Agency comply with internal procedures,
Administrative Code rules and prudent business practices by performing annual
evaluations for all employees in a timely manner.
Agency officials accepted our recommendation and stated the
Agency continues to strive for performance evaluations to be completed timely
and the Office of Human Resources has increased its efforts to track
performance evaluation due dates and to ensure that the appropriate manager
or supervisor is aware of the need to complete reviews in a timely
manner. (For the previous Agency
responses, see Digest footnote #1.)
LACK OF
INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE EXAMINING BOARD
The Agency’s Director
appointed an Industrial Hygiene Examining Board as required by the Industrial
Hygienists Licensure Act (Act) in October 1994; however, the board has been
inactive since then.
The Act requires the Director
to appoint a board consisting of five persons to serve in an advisory
capacity. Four members shall be
certified or licensed industrial hygienists and one member shall be of the
public to represent consumer interests.
The Board is charged with recommending to the Director the adoption of
all policies, procedures, and rules which may be required or deemed advisable
in order to perform the duties and function conferred on the Board, the
Director, and the Agency to carry out the provisions of the Act. (Finding 2, page 11)
We recommended the Agency
comply with the Act or seek legislative remedy to the statutory requirement.
Agency officials accepted
our recommendation and stated the Agency will seek legislation to repeal the
Industrial Hygiene Licensure Act.
NON-COMPLIANCE
WITH POLLUTION PREVENTION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND ANNUAL ILLINOIS WATER
QUALITY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
The Agency did not publish an annual report on the progress
of pollution prevention as required by the Illinois Pollution Prevention Act
(Act).
The Act states the Agency shall on an annual basis utilize
the source reduction and recycling information required to be reported for
toxic or hazardous materials and assess and report the progress of pollution
prevention and make a comparison for all facilities in Illinois. In addition, the Agency did not submit the
2005 Annual Illinois Water Quality Report as required by the Rivers, Lakes
and Streams Act. The Rivers, Lakes
and Streams Act requires the Agency to submit the Illinois Water Quality
Report to the Governor and General Assembly on an annual basis. (Finding 3, page 12)
We recommended the Agency comply with statutory requirements
to publish an annual report on the progress of pollution prevention or seek
legislative remedy. Further, the
Agency should ensure the Illinois Water Quality Report is submitted to the
Governor and General Assembly on an annual basis.
Agency officials accepted
our recommendation and stated the Agency is currently seeking a legislative
change to eliminate the Pollution Prevention annual reporting
requirement. The Agency will also
request that the Governor require the Illinois Water Quality Report be
submitted biennially, which will parallel submissions under the federal Clean
Water Act.
OTHER FINDINGS
The remaining findings are reportedly being given attention
by the Agency. We will review
progress towards the implementation of our recommendations during the
Agency’s next examination.
AUDITORS’ OPINION
Our special assistant auditors stated
that the Water Revolving Fund of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
as of and for the year ended June 30, 2006 is fairly stated in all material
respects.
____________________________________
WILLIAM
G. HOLLAND, Auditor General
WGH:JSC:pp
SPECIAL ASSISTANT AUDITORS
Our special assistant auditors for this audit were Crowe
Chizek and Company, LLC.
DIGEST FOOTNOTES
#1 – EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS NOT PERFORMED
ON A TIMELY BASIS – Previous Agency Response
2004:
Accepted. The Agency has
attempted to improve the timeliness of performance evaluations. The Office of Human Resources will
increase its efforts to track performance evaluations due date and to ensure
that the appropriate manager or supervisor is aware of the need to complete
reviews in a timely manner.
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