During an operational audit, an auditor observes a large number of aboveground storage containers and a large amount of black emissions from a company smokestack. The organisation has an environmental safety department. The audit engagement is not designed to consider environmental concerns. The best course of audit action would be to

During an operational audit, an auditor observes a large number of aboveground storage containers and a large amount of black emissions from a company smokestack. The organisation has an environmental safety department. The audit engagement is not designed to consider environmental concerns. The best course of audit action would be to
A . Make a note to consider environmental risk concerns when developing the audit plan for the next year, but do not expand the scope of the existing audit since the budget and risk priorities are already set.
B . Report the observations to the audit committee and seek their advice on whether the audit should be expanded for the environmental audit.
C . Document the observations and report them to the environmental safety department. Determine if their response will be timely, and follow up to determine if they have taken timely action.
D . Inquire of local management as to the use of the storage tanks in order to determine if they are properly classified as an asset. Do not take action on the environmental issues because the auditor is untrained in the area, and such action is the responsibility of an already existing department.

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Answer: C