http://www.oig.dot.gov/rss.jsp The 10 most recent releases on the U.S. DoT OIG web site en-US webmaster@oig.dot.gov (OIG Webmaster) http://www.oig.dot.gov/images/dot.gif http://www.oig.dot.gov/rss.jsp http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2566 On November 2, we issued our final report on FAAs Progress in Enhancing Air Traffic Control Systems Security. The audit objectives were to determine FAAs progress in correcting security weaknesses previously identified in the air traffic control (ATC) system by assessing (1) the status of Business Continuity Plan implementation and (2) the enhanced methodology used in the certification and accreditation of air traffic control systems security at operational sites. The FAA made good progress in preparing the Technical Center to serve as the recovery site; yet several unresolved technical challenges, staffing issues, and funding requirements could delay recovery site readiness. Further, while FAA has enhanced the process of reviewing ATC systems security, the reviews were not properly carried out to ensure security protection of operational ATC systems. Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2566 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2568 On November 5, we issued a quality control review report of the audit of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporations financial statements for fiscal years 2009 and 2008. Chiampou Travis Besaw & Kershner LLP, under contract to the Seaway, issued a clean (unqualified) audit opinion and reported no internal control deficiencies. Complete financial statements will be included in the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporations Annual Report which also will contain a copy of our quality control report and the Chiampou Travis Besaw & Kershner report. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2568 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2567 Benton J. Campbell, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, todayannounced the settlement of claims that Tutor Perini Corporation, formerly Perini Corporation(“Perini”), a publiclytraded construction services corporation, falsely and fraudulently reportedthat certain minority and disadvantaged business enterprises (“DBEs”) were performingsubcontracted work on federally funded public works contracts with the City and State of NewYork, when in fact nonDBE subcontractors were performing the work. Pursuant to thesettlement, Perini has paid the United States $9,750,000. The settlement does not constitute anadmission of liability by Perini.The settlement announced today is the result of a joint investigation conducted by theFederal Construction Fraud Task Force, which was organized by the United States Attorneys Office in June 1999 to investigate fraud and corruption in the construction industry. In additionto the U.S. Attorneys Office, the members of the Task Force include the Internal RevenueService, Criminal Investigation Division; the USDOT Office of the Inspector General; the U.S.Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General; the New York City Department ofInvestigation; the Inspector General for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority; and theInspector General for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.For further information, please see the attached U.S. Attorneys Office, Eastern District of New York press release. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2567 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2564 At the request of the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and the Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security, we will review the five Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) programs identified as key to changing how air traffic is managed. Our audit objectives are to (1) review the status of the programs cost, schedule, and performance baselines; (2) determine FAAs progress in implementing these programs and identify risk to achieving NextGen goals. Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2564 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2563 The Office of Inspector General will conduct an audit to evaluate the effectiveness of the Federal Highway Administrations National Review Team in conducting national oversight of highway funds and mitigating risks posed by the implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2563 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2560 On October 26, we issued a quality control review report on a single audit performed by Deloitte & Touche on the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authoritys use of DOT grants for the fiscal year for the State of New York ending December 31, 2007. During this period, the Authority received about $1.55 billion of grants from FTA. Deloitte & Touche rendered an unqualified (clean) opinion on the Authoritys financial statements and did not question any costs concerning DOT grant programs. In addition, it did not identify any significant deficiencies in internal controls over compliance with the FTA programs. We determined that Deloitte & Touches work generally met the requirements of Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards, the Single Audit Act of 1984, as amended, and the Office of Management and Budget Circular A133. We found nothing to indicate that Deloitte & Touches opinion on the financial statements or reports on internal control and compliance were inappropriate or unreliable. We also performed a limited review of PricewaterhouseCoopers work on two subcomponents of the Authority, the New York City Transit Authority and Metropolitan Suburban Bus Authority for the State of New York fiscal year ending December 31, 2008. We identified several documentation deficiencies in PricewaterhouseCoopers workpapers. Based on the explanations and additional information provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers, we determined that these documentation deficiencies did not affect the overall audit results. However, they should be corrected in future audits to adequately support the audit conclusion. Deloitte & Touche and PricewaterhouseCoopers concurred with our recommendations. Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2560 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2561 On October 26, we issued a quality control review report on a single audit performed by KPMG on the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authoritys use of DOT grants for the State of California fiscal year ending June 30, 2008. During this period, the Authority received about $277 million of grants from FTA. KPMG rendered an unqualified (clean) opinion on the Authoritys financial statements, but questioned more than $3.3 million charged to FTA programs. We determined that KPMGs work generally met the requirements of Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards, the Single Audit Act of 1984, as amended, and the Office of Management and Budget Circular A133. We found nothing to indicate that KPMGs opinion on the financial statements or reports on internal control and compliance were inappropriate or unreliable. KPMG concurred with our recommendations. Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2561 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2562 On October 30, 2009, U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced David Cooley, age 36, of Baltimore, MD, to 69 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $104,446.35 in restitution for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to steal treasury checks from the mail and cash the checks using false identity documents.To date, 12 defendants have been convicted for their participation in this scheme. Altogether, the conspirators cashed over $100,000 in stolen United States Treasury checks. More than 50 individuals and businesses were victims of the scheme. This investigation was conducted jointly by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Secret Service; the Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Inspector General; and the District of Columbia Office of Inspector General.View USDOJ Press Release for more information. Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2562 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2559 The Office of Inspector General is initiating an audit of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and State DOT oversight of projects administered by Local Public Agencies (LPAs). We will review projects using both American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and nonARRA Federalaid highway funds. The audit objective is to assess the effectiveness of FHWAs process to improve State oversight of LPA projects. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2559 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2557 On October 28, 2009, the Inspector General testified before the House Subcommittee on Aviation regarding FAA actions required to address the recommendations of a joint Government/Industry task force report for achieving midterm goals for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).The Inspector General noted that NextGen is a high risk effort and a top management challenge for the Department and FAA. A number of operational and management decisions must be addressed to successfully transition to NextGen and address the task forces recommendations. These include maximizing the benefits of performance based navigation initiatives and managing NextGen efforts as integrated portfolios of investments. The Inspector General noted that the findings of the task force are consistent with our work but also identified several new areas for FAAs attention.To move beyond endorsing the task forces recommendations, the Inspector General stated that FAA must set realistic expectations for NextGen. Specifically, FAA must: (1) develop plans to initiate action and establish a 5year funding profile for the NextGen midterm, (2) establish metrics for assessing and measuring progress, and (3) develop and implement a strategy for linking near and midterm efforts with the Agencys longterm plans for transforming the National Airspace System. Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2557