The only independent agency asked to provide information to OMB was the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The PRA made several changes in federal paperwork reduction requirements. During fiscal year 2001 alone, the governmentwide estimate increased by nearly 290 million hours—the largest 1-year increase since the PRA was amended and recodified in 1995. The reasons behind some of these changes are clear. Because IRS attributed most of the increase in its burden-hour estimate during fiscal year 2001 to program changes, and because most of the program changes during that period were made at the agency’s initiative, IRS cannot claim (as it has in the past) that statutory changes primarily caused the increase in its burden-hour estimates. Many of the 402 violations that occurred during fiscal year 2001 were new and had been resolved by the end of the fiscal year. Just three of the collections (two from USDA and one from VA) accounted for more than $1 billion in estimated opportunity costs. The desk officers could also use the database to identify information collection authorizations that are about to expire, and therefore perhaps prevent violations of the act.
Why GAO Did This Study

This testimony discusses the implementation of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and information collection authorizations from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that either expired or were otherwise inconsistent with the act.

What GAO Found

GAO found that federal paperwork rose by 290 million burden hours during fiscal year 2001--the largest one-year increase since the act was amended and recodified in 1995. This occurred largely because the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) increased its paperwork estimate by about 250 million burden hours during the year. Most of the paperwork increase at IRS resulted from changes made by the agency--not because of new statutes. Federal agencies providing information to OMB identified more than 400 violations of the act during fiscal year 2001. Some of these violations have been going on for years, and they collectively represent substantial opportunity costs.