http://www.oig.dot.gov/rss.jsp?agency=9 The 10 most recent releases on the U.S. DoT OIG web site ... NHTSA en-US webmaster@oig.dot.gov (OIG Webmaster) http://www.oig.dot.gov/images/dot.gif http://www.oig.dot.gov/rss.jsp?agency=9 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2527 The Office of Inspector General plans to audit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations (NHTSA) Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Program (CARS). In August 2009, legislation added $2 billion to the original $1 billion program. The legislation requires us to review NHTSAs administration of CARS. Further, at the request of Senator Charles Grassley, we will focus on NHTSAs implementation of the program. The objective of this audit is to assess whether NHTSAs oversight and management controls ensure that CARS transactions (1) meet Federal requirements; (2) use data that are accurate and reliable; and (3) are protected against fraud, waste, and abuse. Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2527 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2460 On March 30, 2009, Robert Sullinger, owner of Great Plains Group, LCD (GPG) was sentenced in U.S. District Court, Springfield, Illinois, to a term of 41 months imprisonment followed by three years supervised release and was also ordered to pay $524,500 in restitution to Sangamon County, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Federal Highway Administration. In November 2008, Mr. Sullinger pled guilty to submitting false claims by overstating the number of billboards produced and posted throughout the State of Illinois as part of a NHTSAfunded antidrunk driving campaign. This was a joint case with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Illinois Department of Transportation. Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2460 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2415 The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is initiating a review of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations (NHTSA) fiscal year (FY) 2008 Drug Control Obligation Summary and Performance Summary Reports. The review will be conducted in accordance with the attestation standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards prescribed by the Comptroller General of the United States. Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2415 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2397 On November 17, 2008, Robert Sullinger pled guilty in U.S. District Court, Springfield, Illinois, to charges that include violations of false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims; theft concerning programs receiving Federal funds; false statements; and fraud. Mr. Sullingers company, The Great Plains Group, LLC, submitted a proposal to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to use National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationprovided grant funds to produce and to post antidrunk driving billboards throughout the State of Illinois. In total, between January 1999 and September 2004, more than $1.5 million in Federal funds were paid through IDOT to Mr. Sullinger and his business. Mr. Sullinger knowingly submitted false and fraudulent invoices by overstating the number of billboards that were produced and posted. As a result, Mr. Sullinger and his business were overpaid by more than $500,000. Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2397 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2374 On October 7, 2008, the Assistant Inspector General for Highway and Transit Audits testified at the National Transportation Safety Boards (NTSB) hearing covering a motor coach crash that occurred on January 2, 2008, in Victoria, Texas. At the request of the NTSB, the testimony covered prior Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit report findings and recommendations pertaining to Mexicodomiciled bus inspections performed at United StatesMexico border crossings and Mexicodomiciled vehicle compliance with United States Federal Motor Carrier Safety Standards (FMVSS) while operating in the United States. Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2374 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2340 The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) awards contracts and grants to states, universities, commercial entities, and nonprofit organizations for conducting behavioral and vehicle safety research. The Office of Inspector General plans to review NHTHAs management of research and demonstration projects and determine whether NHTSA provided appropriate management and oversight of research funds and selected projects. Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2340 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2269 On March 25, 2008, we issued our report on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations (NHTSA) oversight of state highway safety programs. Our audit was conducted in response to a requirement within the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEALU). The objective of our audit was to evaluate NHTSAs oversight of state highway safety programs and identify best practices.We found that NHTSA developed and followed guidelines and procedures for oversight reviews of state highway safety programs, but we identified weaknesses in NHTSAs annual program reviews that made it difficult for NHTSA to comprehensively assess whether states were on course to meet their safety goals. Specifically, NHTSA did not (1) ensure that states consistently measured performance, (2) assess states reporting of performance trends, and (3) analyze states longterm progress in meeting safety goals. We identified opportunities for NHTSA to better measure the results of its grant programs and enhance the accountability for grant funds. Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2269 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2166 On November 9, we issued a quality control report of the audit of the Highway Trust Funds fiscal years 2007 and 2006 financial statements. KPMG LLP, under contract to us and under our supervision, issued a clean (unqualified) audit opinion and reported no material weaknesses. KPMG identified three significant deficiencies in agencies accounting process (journal entries and account relationships), grant accrual, and financial systems controls. Starting in 2008, the Department will no longer prepare standalone Highway Trust Fund financial statements. All activities will be audited as part of DOTs consolidated financial statements.Complete Highway Trust Fund Financial Statements and a copy of KPMGs report can be obtained from Mr. Peter Langevin at Peter.Langevin@dot.gov or by calling him at (202) 366 2882. Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2166 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2152 On October 29, we issued a final report on the audit of the National Driver Register (NDR) system administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). NDR is a central register that enables state department of motor vehicle officials to exchange information on problem drivers in each state, such as those convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol. This helps prevent problem drivers from obtaining a drivers license to operate a vehicle or being hired for safetysensitive positions. In 2006, state officials made more than 70 million inquiries for driver license applicants, 9 million of which were found in NDR.Fortytwo million problem drivers are recorded in NDR with personally identifiable information, such as drivers name, Social Security number, date of birth, gender, height, weight, and eye color. We found that drivers personally identifiable information was properly secured in the NDR mainframe database. However, when transmitted or stored outside the mainframe computer, it was exposed to potential unauthorized access or unapproved use. For example, this sensitive information was not encrypted when transmitted on the network. We also found deficiencies with the data stored in NDR. For example, problem drivers were not recorded in NDR in a timely mannermillions were not recorded until at least 1 year after conviction. This increases the potential that problem drivers could seek a valid license in another state. In addition, we found that information about drivers physical attributes, such as height, eye color, was missing from about 18 million records; there were over 161,000 duplicate Social Security numbers; and problem driver records were improperly removed from the NDR database. NHTSA has concurred with our findings and recommendations. Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2152 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2150 On October 25, 2007, the Inspector General testified before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Transportation Safety, Infrastructure Security, and Water Quality on the effectiveness of Federal drunk driving programs. The Inspector Generals statement focused on the following areas: (1) key strategies identified for countering alcoholimpaired driving; (2) how the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) could better measure the effectiveness of key strategies; and (3) actions NHTSA has agreed to take, in concert with the states, to improve performance measures for alcoholimpaired driving. The Inspector General urged NHTSA to work more aggressively with its state partners to accomplish these actions in advance of the scheduled 3year time period. Thu, 25 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2150