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Science Forum 2004
Information Technology
Environmental data integrity is a growing environmental concern for the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA). The accuracy and truthfulness of environmental data is a cornerstone for environmental enforcement and compliance, and is essential to the protection of public health and the environment.
Recently the NEIC has been using an innovative approach in these investigations by merging electronic data analysis (EDA) techniques with analytical chemistry and environmental science and engineering.
NEIC's capabilities in laboratory fraud investigations are enhanced by its unique combination of EDA seizure and recovery, a modern state-of-the art chemistry laboratory, and multi-media field inspections.
The EDA team works closely with experienced chemists, environmental scientists, and engineers to trace the origins of data fraud. This multidisciplinary approach has been recently been applied across the country on criminal and civil data integrity investigations involving:
reformulated fuel
environmental analytical laboratories
automated waste water treatment plants
The Laboratory fraud poster illustrates the unique niche being filled by NEIC and its impact on data integrity and laboratory fraud.