Audit shows Texas loses track of millions in clean air grants

Projects not actually pursued

Jay Blazek Crossley, Dec 06, 10.

The Texas State Auditor released a report stating that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has failed to properly monitor a program to provide grants to individuals, businesses, and local governments to implement clean air measures, resulting in at least $62 million in funds dispersed for projects that were never conducted, according to the Houston Chronicle.

The TCEQ disputes some of the findings, as reported by KXAN Austin News:

The report said some 593 grant recipients misused more than $62 million in funds between December 2006 and July 2010.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has only recovered $1 million.

Environmental regulators disputed the auditors findings, saying most problems are associated with late paperwork and are rapidly corrected. However, the commission does have several active criminal investigations and is trying to recover $17 million.

Texas State Auditor: An Audit Report on the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan Program at the Commission on Environmental Quality (html summary)

Texas State Auditor: An Audit Report on the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan Program at the Commission on Environmental Quality (pdf)