More than half of the high-risk purchase card transactions examined at the Environmental Protection Agency were found to be non-compliant with procedures, missing documentation, prohibited, or erroneous, according to a new report from the EPA inspector general.

      The IG sampled $152,602 in transactions it deemed high risk and found problems with $79,254 worth.

      Auditors criticized “egregious purchases,” including food for an award recognition ceremony. EPA ordered appetizers, chicken tenderloins, fruit, pasta salad and cookies, which the IG disallowed because the items resembled a meal and not “light refreshment.”

      As part of its followup, the EPA is analyzing where it can apply strategic sourcing to obtain better prices. It estimated potential cost savings of 8%.

      EPA card holders made 67,000 charge card purchases in fiscal 2012 totaling $29 million.

More information: IG report http://www.epa.gov/oig/reports/