To: Kitty Simonds, Executive Director, Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council

Dear Ms. Simonds,   October 23, 2019

The U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General has selected the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund grants awarded to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (Council) for an audit.

The objectives of our audit will be to determine whether the Council (1) claimed allowable, allocable, and reasonable costs under the grant awards; and (2) received the goods and services paid for by the grant awards. We will also determine whether NOAA provided adequate oversight and monitoring; if we have findings in this area, we will issue a separate memorandum to NOAA.

The audit will be conducted under the authority of the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, and Department Organization Order 10-13, dated April 26, 2013 as amended.

We will contact you to schedule an entrance conference, at which time we will discuss our objectives in more detail. Please have key staff members available at the conference….

Regards,

Carol N. Rice

Assistant Inspector General for Audit and Evaluation

U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General

PDF: Audit Letter

CB: Feds To Audit Wespac’s Handling Of Pacific Tuna Fund