Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council
During this reporting period, the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (the Council) has maintained robust payment integrity oversight through systematic risk assessment protocols and compliance monitoring. The Council operates under a comprehensive three-year risk assessment cycle for all programs exceeding $10 million in outlays, ensuring thorough evaluation of payment vulnerabilities across our operational portfolio.
Our most recent comprehensive risk assessment, completed in fiscal year 2025, employed rigorous analytical methodologies including evaluation of program design, payment processes, historical payment accuracy, and control environments across all qualifying programs. This assessment concluded that the agency's current programs demonstrate strong internal controls and are not susceptible to significant improper payment risks. Based on these findings, no Council programs currently require Phase 2 improper payment estimation and reporting.
Throughout the three-year risk assessment cycle, the Council maintains continuous payment integrity oversight during off-cycle years through quarterly transaction reviews, semi-annual control effectiveness evaluations, and ongoing monitoring of payment processing activities. These interim monitoring procedures ensure sustained vigilance in payment accuracy and provide early detection of any emerging risk factors between comprehensive assessments. The next comprehensive Payment Integrity Information Act (PIIA) risk assessment is scheduled for fiscal year 2028 in accordance with the established three-year cycle.
External validation of our payment integrity efforts was provided through the Treasury Office of the Inspector General's fiscal year 2024 Payment Integrity audit, which issued a favorable finding and confirmed full compliance with the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019. This independent assessment validates the effectiveness of our payment integrity framework and demonstrates our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of financial stewardship.
The Council continues to strengthen payment processes, maintain robust internal controls, and implement best practices to safeguard against improper payments while ensuring efficient program delivery to Gulf Coast restoration beneficiaries.
Recovery information
Please note: Overpayment amounts recovered are reported in the year they were recovered, not the year they were identified. Therefore it is possible in some years to have a recovery rate greater than 100%.
| Overpayment amount identified through recovery activities | $0.06 M |
| Overpayment amount recovered through recovery activities | $0.06 M |
| Recovery activities recovery rate | 100.0 % |
| Overpayment amount identified through recovery audits | $0.0 M |
| Overpayment amount recovered through recovery audits | $0.0 M |
| Recovery audit recovery rate | 100.0 % |
| Overpayment amount identified for recapture | $0.06 M |
| Overpayment amount recovered | $0.06 M |
| Overpayment recovery rate | 100.0 % |
Conditions giving rise to improper payments identified in recovery audits, how those conditions are being resolved, and the methods used to recover those payments
Recovery audits identified travel overpayments totaling $899.59 across five travelers, which resulted from the overstatement of reimbursable costs on submitted vouchers. These improper payments were primarily caused by errors in reconciling receipts to claimed amounts and inaccuracies in preparing travel documentation. The agency has resolved these issues by recovering the overpaid amounts from the travelers and reinforcing policies requiring careful review of supporting documentation. To prevent recurrence, the agency is enhancing staff training on travel regulations, strengthening pre- and post-payment reviews, and continuing to monitor claims closely to safeguard federal funds.
| Recovery audit amount identified this reporting period that remains outstanding | $0 M | ||||
| Recovery audit amount rate outstanding | 0.0 % | ||||
| Recovery audit amount this reporting period that remains outstanding for 0-6 months | $0.0 M | ||||
| Recovery audit amount identified this reporting period that remains outstanding for 6 months to 1 year | $0.0 M | ||||
| Recovery audit amount identified in this reporting period determined not collectible during this reporting period | $0.0 M | ||||
| Recovery audit rate identified in this reporting period determined not collectible during this reporting period | 0 % | ||||
Supplemental Information
As part of our shared service arrangement with the Bureau of the Fiscal Service
(BFS), the Council leverages BFS’s Do Not Pay (DNP) process as a critical
internal control. The DNP portal is used to screen payments for eligibility prior
to certification, helping to prevent improper payments and ensuring compliance
with federal payment integrity requirements.
ARC performs a weekly DNP review of all vendors; additionally, all bulk
payment files are screened by Treasury’s Payment Automation Manager (PAM)
via the DNP portal. ARC provides screened results for agency review and
subsequent action, when applicable. The DNP portal is used to screen payments for eligibility prior to certification, helping to prevent improper payments and ensuring compliance with federal payment integrity requirements.
The Working System has reduced/prevented improper payments:
GCRC has not identitied incorrect information in the Working System.
GCRC was found compliant during the most recent PIIA compliance review.
Show full list of compliant programs 
Compliant programs:
- Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Comprehensive Plan Component Program
- Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Oil Spill Impact Program
| Program name | When was the last improper payment risk assessment conducted? | Likely to be susceptible to significant improper payments? | Substantial changes made to the assessment methodology used for the reporting cycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Comprehensive Plan Component Program | 2025 |
 No
|
|
| Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Oil Spill Impact Program | 2025 |
No
|
Recovery activities for this period include the collection of both current-year and prior-year disallowed costs identified during financial reviews of ADCNR awards. Specifically, $27,898.59 in current-year disallowed costs was identified under FAIN GNTSP20AL0096. In fiscal year 2024, a review of ADCNR’s Federal Financial Report (FFR) and supporting documentation identified $23,651.22 in disallowed costs under FAIN GNTCP18AL0064. These improper payments were resolved through book entry adjustments, with allowable costs transferred to the appropriate grant awards in the Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) system during the first quarter of fiscal year 2025. In addition, an improper payment of $9,400 was identified under ADCNR award GT3CP22AL0001 related to a land acquisition transaction. ADCNR has since resolved this matter, and the Council successfully recovered the $9,400 in improperly disbursed funds.