Reports

The OIG investigated allegations that two U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) pilots parked their personally owned planes in an FWS hangar during the winter and maintained the planes using FWS tools and supplies. The complainant further alleged that a refuge manager was aware of complaints about the matter but failed to act. We confirmed the pilots used an FWS hangar to maintain their personal planes but found that refuge managers permitted limited personal use outside of official hours if it did not impede official refuge business.

This report presents the results of our inspection of purchases made during fiscal years 2013 and 2015 at Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas following information we received that the park had purchased air conditioning units and shade shelters but never installed them. Our objective was to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding this reported information. We found that the park purchased 22 air conditioning units and 26 shade shelters that it never installed, totaling more than $250,000 that could have been put to better use.

The OST’s Contract for Trust Accounting Services

The OIG investigated an allegation that Eric Rickerson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) State Supervisor, Lacey, WA, sexually assaulted an FWS employee while the two were at an FWS conference. The assaulted employee said that she, Rickerson, and a another male FWS employee shared a cabin with two bedrooms and a loft at the resort.