Superfund Activities in the Environment and Natural Resources Division
for Fiscal Years 2000 and 2001

Report No. 03-34
September 2003
Office of the Inspector General

U.S. Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division         Assistant Attorney General 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W. Washington, DC 20530-0001 Telephone (202) 514-2701 Facsimile (202) 514-0557       September 15, 2003     MEMORANDUM FOR GUY K. ZIMMERMAN       ASSISTANT INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR AUDIT OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL     FROM: THOMAS L. SANSONETTI (original signed) ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION     SUBJECT: Audit of Superfund Activities in ENRD for Fiscal Years 2000 and 2001     The Environment and Natural Resources Division is pleased to have the opportunity to respond to the audit of FY 2000 and FY 2001 Superfund activities. We appreciate the Inspector General's willingness to conduct audits of the Superfisnd program. They benefit the government's efforts to recover federal funds spent to clean the environment. We agree with the audit's recommendation that the Division "Implement a procedure for ensuring that ENRD officials responsible for authorizing official travel for staff document approval of the official travel in advance of such travel." Attached is a memo distributed to Division managers reminding them of their responsibilities under the travel regulations. The Environment Division appreciates the close cooperation and assistance of your staff during the audit. Should you or your staff require further information, please feel free to contact Bob Bruffy on 616-3147.

U.S. Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division         Assistant Attorney General 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W. Washington, DC 20530-0001 Telephone (202) 514-2701 Facsimile (202) 514-0557       September 12, 2003     MEMORANDUM     To: Section Managers     From: Thomas L. Sansonetti Assistant Attorney General     Re: Authorization of Travel Prior to Departure     The Inspector General's office recently brought to our attention that some of ENRD's travel authorizations were approved after official travel was conducted. Please ensure that all travel in your section is approved in advance. According to the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR)(301-2.l), "...you must have written or electronic authorization prior to incurring any travel expense." The FTR notes that there may be exceptions in which it is, "...not practical or possible to obtain such authorization...". However most travel authorizations can and should be processed in advance of the scheduled trip. Lack of prior authorization can have serious consequences such as: Potential personal liability in the event of an accident or illness while on travel Potential non-reimbursement for expenses incurred while on travel Potential unauthorized travel To comply with the FTR, unless a legitimate exception has been noted, you should require that travelers in your section provide a written travel authorization for your approval prior to departure. If the official travel has been authorized verbally prior to departure, it should be noted on the travel voucher prior to submission. Please remind your staff of this basic obligation and take steps to ensure that we adhere to the Federal Travel Regulations.