Kyla Bennett, a former EPA employee who now directs science policy for Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, said that number is proof “that EPA is making mistakes.”
To fix its problems, the report made four recommendations to EPA: plan and finalize guidance for the division, develop “a plan to identify root causes for frequent technical issues,” regularly assess effectiveness of record-keeping, and conduct workplace analyses. EPA agreed to all four of the recommendations, according to the report.
EPA Deputy Press Secretary Khanya Brann said in an email the agency is “currently reviewing the report” and declined to comment further.
Bennett said EPA’s agreement was “a really tiny step forward for a program that is broken.”