Review acting on these recommendations would improve epas ability to carry out its core mission, protecting human health and environment. This mission is never more important than during times of Natural Disaster like the one in the gulf coast experiencing right now in Hurricane Harvey about to hit with another hurricane on the florida coast. First of all, on behalf of the committee, i want to express my sincere sorrow to everyone impacted by the storm. Hurricane harvey is one of the worst Natural Disasters the United States has ever face. And its still too early to tell the extent of the devastation that has displaced thousands of people. Members of this committee and both sides ofale represent constituents and our thoughts and prayers are with these families as they begin to rebuild their lives from this national tragedy. While epa is still in the midst of initial response efforts, its work has only just begun. We look forward to monitoring the extent of the disaster and working on the impact ahead. May improve epas ability to improve let me go back to what were about to face in florida and puerto rico and the disasters looming there. Now, the constitution provides congress to roprovide oversight. We Work Together to root out waste fraud and abuse at federal agencies. After these recommendations are issued, they work to ensure that the epa acts on their findings. Today the committee will learn even when epa agrees with recommendations it may take years to implement them, and some are never fully adopted by the agency. As a result, many of the open recomme recommendations span multiple administrations, some dating back to the bush administration. While the epa adopts a rate ashd the federal government average, there are still unimplemented measures in many of the agency. Epa has the potential to save 13. 3 million by implementing the epa recommendations. The semiannual report has 56 with due dates set in the future. The gao will testify epa has implemented 391 of the 2,000 recommendations for example, epaoig recently conducted an audit during fiscal years 2015 ask 2016. The Agency Reported it lacks an understandi understanding. The epa is not expected to implement this recommendation until december 31st of 2018. This is particularly troubling because grants commize almost half of the epas budget, about 4 billion annually. In 2016 the epa found the grant pract may impact the ability. Additionally in 2016 goa reported it may not have the money needed to implement resources effectively. They range from standardized to development of process of analyzed work loads. These are just some of the many reports and audits. We will discuss more of them today. But theyve done excellent work to highlight problems with the epa and find ways to resolve these issues. With things looming in florida and with the tragedy in texas, i proudly speak for the committee, we better not find out the epa has found any pollution or done any harm. Weve found an increase in zika mosquitos in texas. We dont know if that has anything to do with Water Management and anything within the jurisdiction of epa. We will keep a close watch. I thank our witnesses today. I want to especially recognize our witness from gao. Hes a houston native who has two nephews serving in the Fire Department there. Are they doing okay . Okay. We appreciate your service. The hearing subject while important, pales in comparison of the true oversight needed of the trump Environmental Protection agency. Epa is and always husband has been critical partner to our states and communities back home. Most of what epa does is to support our communities back home in cleaning up polluted sites, helping protect the air we breathe and the water we drink. And i thank the professionals and scientists at the Environmental Protection agency for their work. But President Trump and administrator scott pruitt have a very different vision, unfortunately. And they have been acting to weaken support for our communities back home that comes through the epa. And it is particularly troubling that epa administrator pruitt has not appeared before the energy and Commerce Committee to date. This committee has direct oversight of the epa, and its simply unprecedented and unacceptable that the administrator has not appeared before the committee. Now, the importance of the epa is particularly clear as texas learns more about the scope and extent of the destruction caused by Hurricane Harvey. Theres nothing like a Disaster Response that demonstrates how critical toxic chemical, super fund and other epa initiatives are important to the safety of our neighbors. And the recovery from such a storm is long, expensive and challenging. And our thoughts are with the residents of puerto rico, the Virgin Islands and floridians as theyre in the path of another extremely dangerous storm in hurricane irma. Hurricane harvey slammed into the gulf coast as a category 4. So far its left at least 60 people dead and death toll and cost is likely to continue to rise in the coming weeks. Ranking member of the subcommittee on health, representative jim green, i just saw him at the other subcommittee. He represents the city of houston. And our thoughts are with him and his constituents at this time. And mr. Gomez, i want to recognize you for being here today at what is surely a difficult time for you and your family. The epa has been a key agency responding to harvey. And for this reason this hearing should be a time line and important step in how to strengthen the agency as it supports local responders and begins to assess the possible impact of the flooding, toxin releases. But this is devoted to a people are evacuating through dirty and contaminated flood waters that may contain bacteria and toxic substances. Theres also been reports of fires anddential reports express possible damage to leaking gas tanks at fuel facilities. Which if true will be problems the epa needs to address. For example, accord to epa 13 of the 41 former and toxic waste sites in harvey impacted areas have flooded and may have experienced some damage. Ditionally the city of houston contains chemical petrol plants. Our local communities need the expertise of the epa to prevent and mitigate such releases. But the Trump Administration has been working over time to weaken epas ability to help back home. And now its really showing at a time of disaster. The storm also raises concerns of Drinking Water safety. According to epa 4,500 drinking systems are potentially threatened by flood waters, disrupted sewage systems. After Hurricane Katrina staff was on the ground to help. And this committee should consider oversight hearings in texas in the near term. But todays hearing rather than focusing on the big picture examines unprecedented implementations for the epa. At the time the real issue of the decimation of the epa work force. And yet we respond to Hurricane Harvey and other catastrophes at this time, but the over all epa has never been more important. Mr. Chairman, im deeply troubled the help of the agency under the Trump Administration. And the true oversight the trump epa is waging an aggressive roll back of environmental and Human Health Protections through politization of the agency, repealing or delaying rule making and attacking fundamental science. The Trump Administration proposed extreme budget cuts that cut to the heart of our local communities and threatened the health and environment of americans in every state. The trump budget would slash epas budget by nearly 2. 6 billion, reduce the professional work force there by over 3,000 employees. And the damage would be done to our air quality, diesel reduction emissions, lead safety, and it goes on and on. Already theres evidence of conflicts, favoritism towards certain businesses and grants changed to exact political revenge. This is not acceptable, and this is what needs oversight. Mr. Chairman, we want to work with you to make sure the epa imlmts the work force and contractor recommendations. But if were serious about ensuring that the agency is able to protect human health and the environment, then we must Work Together to conduct true overtime. The fundamental damage being done to this agency and our neighbors back home. Thank you, and i yield back. Thank you. I thank the gentleman. I would just in response to my friend from florida, our committee staff, the Oversight Committee has worked together before the hurricane. This staff was put together before harvey had a name. So we will do our oversight and continue to. At the appropriate time i anticipate there will be a delegation and well go and hold hearings or do an appropriate review. Im one when theres an emergency going on, tries to stay utof the way of the First Responders and let them do their job. And so at the right time well do that, and well have administrator pruitt for our committee sooner rather than later. I share a frustration theres been a long delay in getting some of these positions filled partly by our friends in the senate, but the time has come for these agency heads and for our committee. And they will. Now, as to this hearing, i appreciate subcommittee chairman murphy having this in his opening comments. We care deeply about whats happened in texas. We care deeply at whats about to happen in florida. My own district is on fire, and much destruction going on there. All these things matter. We want to talk about air quality. We could use your support on some our forestry ledgislation o reduce the fuel loads so we dont poison people. Recovery from any disaster twhergt its Hurricane Harvey or irma or destructive wild fires burning out of control throughout the west requires coordination at every level of the government. And the epa is a critical part of the that. The challenges facing the epa pertaining to harvey are significant. And i hope the Agency Seizes upon the lessons it learned in response previous disasters such as katrina and sandy. Any out standing recommendations if implemented could enable the agency to better achieve or do its job better. Well also exam some of the areas of concern commented upon by the oig and gao. Many of their recommendations span multiple administrations and therefore represent longstanding challenges for the agency. For example, weve learned the epa has failed to complete an agency wide analysis in more than 20 years. Similarly theyve identified issues whether they have knowledge of or monitors the activities of its contractors. Addressing these issues will increase transparency and accountability of the epa in addition to enabling the agency to make better informed budgetary decision. I believe all americans want a healthy environment for themselves, their environment and communities. And i would like to thank Alfredo Gomez and provide testimony and expand upon their organizations findings and recommendation. Id also like to recognize and thank mr. Gomezs nephews who i understand are serving the houston Fire Department. Thank you for their brave work who so bravely assisted many ouf our responders during Hurricane Harvey. With that mr. Chairman i yield back the balance of my time. I recognize Ranking Member mr. Pollone for five minutes. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Its been a week and a half since Hurricane Harvey hit texas. And as the scope of the environmental disaster only begins to become known, thousands remain displaced, their homes and businesses flooded. And know firsthand the devastation caused by such Natural Disasters. In 2012 my district was hit hard by hurricane sandy. For many this storm was a worst case snareo. Lives lost, homes flooded, businesses lost. Our nation is now experiencing historic levels of destruction on the gulf coast in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. Our current members of congress including five members on this committee are working with local, state, and federal officials and First Responders to help those affected by the storm. And as the cleanup continues many grave environmental and Human Health Risks exists. Weve seen chemical plants on fire, fuel tanks leaking, massive releases of toxic pollutants into the air, and flooded Super Fund Sites. This committee must work to understand the impact some of these facilities may have on Public Health. The Trump Administration recently delayed amendments to the Risk Management program, which included safety requirements. More over the Environmental Issues resulting from the hurricane also under score the need for robust implementation of the emergency planning. Communities have the right to know about important details about the type and amount of harmful chemicals released in their neighborhoods. All of these risks under score the need for a strong and capable e, pa. Today were reviewing recommendations regarding the epa. And i want to thank our witnesses for their testimony and work on these recommendations. However, i would argue thal recommendations from proving epas are part of a much wider need to ensure the agency is performing wide and efficiently in protecting human health and the environment. Over the last six months epa has been doing Everything Possible to try to operate in secrecy. Administrator pruitt repeatedly disregards Oversight Committees. These actions taken into totality serve to directly under mine theagys ability to effectively protect the human health and environment. Its key to responding to Natural Disasters like Hurricane Harvey. It has established a unified command with state and local partners. But that number is going to increase dramatically in the coming weeks. About 600 epa staff and contractors assisting with cleanup and response activities in addition to thousands of epa employees responding to response efforts from headquarters and Regional Offices around the country. But budget cuts and buy outs the administration has proposed, well need to make sure epa actually has employees in place to conduct this critical work. The committee must conduct an active oversight of the agency, clean air protections and the impacts of climate change. We must also conduct ongoing oversight of epa. And the Trump Administrations ongoing effort to attack fundamental science and also propose extreme budget and staff reductions do nothing in my opinion other than to under mine the effort to protect the iermt and human health. I am concerned, and hope we can Work Together. And again, thanks to everyone and yield back looking forward to your comments to the panel. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, gentleman, for his comments. I ask the written Opening Statements be written into the record. Now id like to introduce our panel. First we have mr. Allen larson, the council to the Inspector General. We also have mr. Alfredo gomez who serves the Natural Resources and environment accountability office. We thank you for being here today and providing testimony. We look forward to the opportunities of discussing open and unlimited recommendations made to the epa. Do you have any objections taking testimony under oath . Seeing none then, the chair advise you under the rules of the house, rules of the committee youre entitled to be advised by council. Are either of you advised be council in testimony today . With that dwriel swear you in. Do you swear the testimony youre about to give is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth . Answer to the affirmative. And now youre entitled under the oath. Now a five minute summery of your written statement. Well begin with you, mr. Larson. Could you turn your microphone on, please . Thank you, and pull it close to you. Am i on now . Yes, you are. Thank you. Good morning again chairman murphy, representative caster and members of the subcommittee, i am counsel ilto the Inspector General. I thank this committee for highlighting the importance of acting on unimplemented oig recommendations as you know an officer of Inspector General cannot direct recommendations. But only if an agency chooses to implement them. O our plan, however, is always subject to change as we inevitably receive hot line requests and congress requests. We conduct those reviews and issue final reports, which generally will include one or more recommendations to address our findings. As required by the Inspector General act, the epaoig publishes a list to congress. Our most recent report cited 43 open recommendations with past due completion dates and 56 with future dates. Notably potential cost savings for the unlimited recommendations listed amount to 100 million. Now i will briefly discuss some of the oigs recommendations to the epa that remain unimplemented. In july 2017 we completed a review of the processes the epa uses to verify that