"EPA: IG To Probe Pruitt's Oklahoma Travel"

"The U.S. EPA inspector general is planning to audit Administrator Scott Pruitt's travel back home to Oklahoma.

The agency's internal watchdog said in a notice today it plans to begin "preliminary research" on EPA adhering to policies and procedures regarding Pruitt's travel to Oklahoma.

"This assignment is being initiated based on congressional requests and a hotline complaint, all which expressed concerns about Administrator Pruitt's travel — primarily his frequent travel to and from his home state of Oklahoma at taxpayer expense," said the notice, which was signed by John Trefry, director of forensic audits for the IG's Office of Audit.

The audit's goals are to determine "the frequency, cost and extent" of Pruitt's trips to Oklahoma through July 31, whether policies and procedures were followed for that travel, and whether those policies are "sufficiently designed" to stop fraud, waste and abuse with the EPA chief's travel, according to the notice."

Kevin Bogardus reports for Greenwire August 28, 2017.

SEE ALSO:

"EPA Inspector General Will Investigate Scott Pruitt's Taxpayer-Funded Travel" (InsideClimate News)