About EPA's Office of Inspector General

Who, What, Why

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Who We Are

The Office of Inspector General is an independent office within EPA that helps the agency protect the environment in a more efficient and cost effective manner. We consist of auditors, program analysts, investigators, and others with extensive expertise. Although we are a part of EPA, Congress provides us with our funding separate from the agency, to ensure our independence. We were created pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended.

Learn more in our OIG Brochures on Fraud, Waste and Abuse. For explanations of some commonly asked questions and misunderstood terms, visit our Frequently Asked Questions and Terms page.

Contact the OIG
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General  1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2410T) Washington, DC 20460 202-250-8800 202-566-0857 (Fax)
For more contact details, please visit our Contact webpage.

What We Do

Conduct independent audits, evaluations and investigations; make evidence-based recommendations to promote economy, efficiency and effectiveness; and prevent and detect fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement and misconduct for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. We also provide hotline services to our agencies. We discuss issues with EPA management and others, including Congress, and provide detailed reports. Twice a year, we provide a Semiannual Report to Congress that identifies significant EPA deficiencies and proposed corrective actions and profiles our accomplishments.

Why We Do It

We strive to be a premier oversight organization trusted to speak the truth and promote good governance. We provide solutions to problems that ultimately result in making America a cleaner and healthier place.

Vision, Mission and Core Values

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Vision and Mission
Our Vision	Be the premier oversight organization trusted to speak the truth, promote good governance, and contribute to improved human health and the environment.
Our Mission	Conduct independent audits, evaluations and investigations; make evidence-based recommendations to promote economy, efficiency and effectiveness; and prevent and detect fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement and misconduct for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.
Our Goals	Contribute to improved EPA and CSB programs and operations protecting human health and the environment, and enhancing safety. Conduct audits, evaluations and investigations that enable the EPA and the CSB to improve business practices and accountability. Improve OIG processes, resource allocation and accountability to meet stakeholder needs.

Core Values
Customer Service: Everyone deserves to be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity.	We are committed to treating our customers and stakeholders—EPA, CSB, Congress, the public, and each other— with fairness, respect, and dignity. We are committed to individual and organizational excellence. We are committed to building and sustaining a competent, innovative, diverse, and dedicated workforce.
Integrity: Our people and products are trustworthy.	We are committed to producing independent, objective, quality, and timely work products that are accurate, factual, thorough, and relevant Our people are committed to teamwork, professionalism, and the highest ethical standards Our processes are transparent
Accountability: We are individually and collectively responsible for all we do.	We lead by example and are responsible and accountable to one another Our work returns value to stakeholders, taxpayers, and others. We hold ourselves and others accountable for compliance with laws, regulations, policies, and sound business practices We are an independent voice without preference or prejudice

IG Biography

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Inspector General Sean O’Donnell

Sean W. O’Donnell was sworn in as the Inspector General of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on January 27, 2020. The mission of the Office of Inspector General is to promote economy and efficiency at the EPA and the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, as well as detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse related to the programs and operations of those two agencies. To this end, Mr. O’Donnell oversees a nationwide workforce of attorneys, auditors, special agents, and support personnel who support the Office’s mission by providing evidence-based reports to the agencies, the public, and to Congress.

Prior to becoming the Inspector General, Mr. O’Donnell spent 15 years at the U.S. Department of Justice, most recently as a prosecutor in the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section. Over his career at the DOJ, he handled a wide range of criminal and civil matters, such as commercial and governmental fraud, corruption, and national security matters. In total, Mr. O’Donnell’s work in fighting fraud helped return approximately $3 billion to the U.S. Treasury and brought numerous individuals and corporations to justice. Mr. O’Donnell received numerous awards and honors at the DOJ, including the Attorney General’s Award and the Executive Office for United States Attorneys Director’s Award.

Early in his career, Mr. O’Donnell clerked for U.S. Circuit Judge Raymond Gruender on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and U.S. District Judge Harry Lee Hudspeth on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. He also spent time in private practice, working on intellectual property and antitrust litigation, among other matters. Mr. O’Donnell is active in his community, having served on his city’s redistricting and ethics commissions. His contribution to youth sports in his community has been recognized through awards and other accolades.

Mr. O’Donnell has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Texas A&M University, a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Washington, and a master’s degree in economics and a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

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Deputy IG Biography

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Acting Deputy Inspector General Nicole Murley

Nicole N. Murley joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Inspector General in May 2021, as Senior Counsel to the Inspector General. As Acting Deputy Inspector General, Ms. Murley provides advice to the Inspector General and assists in managing day-to-day operations of the office’s oversight work. Ms. Murley overseas the audits, evaluations, and investigations functions of the Office of Inspector General.

Ms. Murley previously served at the U.S. Department of Justice for 15 years, most recently as Senior Litigation Counsel, with the Office of Immigration Litigation in the Civil Division, litigating some of the most complicated cases involving national immigration policies. Ms. Murley represented multiple client agencies in high-profile litigation and worked in an investigative capacity to develop cases, working closely with her client agencies to reconcile many different—often competing—viewpoints and interests. In 2010 through 2012, she served in the DOJ’s Federal Programs Branch where she litigated cases involving the policies and actions of client agencies related to national security matters.

While at DOJ, Ms. Murley participated in the Diversity Dialogue and Inclusion Program (DIDP). DIDP’s purpose is to facilitate a greater understanding of diversity and inclusion issues among employees.  Her litigation practice extends beyond work with the DOJ to include pro bono work, where she served as a Guardian ad Litem. She is the proud recipient of the Civil Division John W. Douglas award for Pro Bono Service.

Ms. Murley holds a J.D. from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law and a B.A. from Colgate University. She is admitted to practice law in New York State.

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Chief of Staff Biography

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Chief of Staff Kellie J. Walker

Ms. Walker joined the EPA OIG in 2017 and became the Chief of Staff for the Office of Inspector General (OIG) in April of 2022. She served in the position as acting since 2020 early in the formation of the new Office of the Chief of Staff. Ms. Walker also serves as the OIG’s Senior Resource Officer and Deputy Civil Rights Official for the OIG. On behalf of the IG, Ms. Walker serves as the IG’s principal executive responsible for the IG’s mission support/internally focused work. As such, Ms. Walker oversees the development of the OIG strategic and annual oversight plans, top management challenges for EPA and CSB, the OIG’s compendiums, and spearheads resourcing the OIG’s IIJA and other Congressionally mandated operations. She is also responsible for other support functions such as the OIG’s data analytics, policy and performance management and the management integrity program. Additionally, she oversees the OIG’s budget execution and formulation, human resource operations, acquisitions, facilities, records and property management, as well as the IG’s office of information technology. In short, Ms. Walker is responsible for the OIG’s mission support elements encapsulated in the three offices led by Chiefs that report to her – the Office of Strategic Analysis and Results, the Office of Mission Support, and the Office of Information Technology. 

Ms. Walker has over 34 years of experience that spans private industry, military, and government service. Her portfolio includes a wide array of disciplines to include financial management, contracting, risk management, internal controls, human capital management, strategic planning, data analysis and visualization, business analytics and IT program management. She has managed billions of dollars for the Army, FBI, and the U.S. Treasury. Prior to joining EPA OIG, Ms. Walker served as the CFO of the Army’s Warrior Transition Command managing resources to support over 17,000 of the Army’s Wounded, Ill, and Injured Soldiers, and Veterans nationally and internationally.

Ms. Walker retired from the U.S. Army as a Finance Corps Lieutenant Colonel. She not only taught generals and future generals Congressional briefing techniques at the Army War College, Ms. Walker also spearheaded resource strategy and execution for both the Army and Air Force for the D.C. National Guard. Ms. Walker received numerous awards and accolades for her impactful results. She is certified in Strategic Planning from the National Defense University, Executive Leadership and High-Performance Teams from Cornell University, and Defense Finance Management with an Acquisitions specialty through the Association of Military Comptrollers Society. 
Ms. Walker has a B.B.A. in Accounting from Fort Valley State University, Master of Public Administration, and is a Ph.D. candidate in Organizational Management at Regent University.
 

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How We Are Organized

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Explore the EPA Office of the Inspector General organization chart and learn more about the different offices within the OIG.

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Immediate Office of the Inspector General

Sean W. O’Donnell, Inspector General
Biography of the Inspector General

Nicole Murley, Acting Deputy Inspector General
Biography of the Deputy Inspector General

Kellie J. Walker, Chief of Staff
Biography of the Chief of Staff

Benjamin May, Counsel to the Inspector General
Biography coming soon.

Aimee Peralta, Senior Advisor to the Inspector General

Jee Kim, Senior Advisor to the Inspector General

Immediate Office Contact Information
(202) 250-8800 (202) 566-0857 (Fax)
Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2410T) EPA Mailing Addresses Washington, DC 20460

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Office of Counsel

Benjamin May, Counsel to the Inspector General
Thomas Collick, Deputy Counsel to the Inspector General
Susan Barvenik, Associate Deputy Counsel

The Office of Counsel provides independent legal and policy advice to all components of the OIG on a variety of substantive and procedural matters relating to the OIG’s audit, evaluation, investigation, and other activities. This office represents the OIG in administrative litigation before the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the U.S. Department of Labor. OC manages the OIG ethics program, providing ethics training, advice, and financial disclosure reviews. OC also coordinates OIG responses to Freedom of Information Act and other document requests. OC also houses the role of the Whistleblower Protection Coordinator who can provide educational information to Agency employees (as well as employees of EPA contractors, subcontractors, grantees, subgrantees, or personal services contractors) who have made or are contemplating making a protected disclosure about prohibitions on retaliation for protection disclosures and the rights and remedies against retaliation for protected disclosures – including the means by which employees may seek review of any allegation of reprisal, and the roles of the Office of Inspector General, the Office of Special Counsel, the Merit Systems Protection Board and any other relevant entities.

OC activities also include legal reviews as deemed necessary by the Inspector General in response to requests by members of Congress, the agency, or the public.

Contact
(202) 566-0863
Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2411T) EPA Mailing Addresses Washington, DC 20460

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Office of Congressional and Public Affairs

Michael Zola, Assistant Inspector General for Congressional and Public Affairs
Lynn Carlson, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Congressional and Public Affairs
Jennifer Kaplan, Deputy Assistant Inspector General
Kim Wheeler, Director of Strategic Communications

The Office of Congressional and Public Affairs communicates with Congress, the news media and the general public about the OIG’s work, including responding to inquiries and requests. OCPA edits, publishes online and disseminates OIG reports and correspondence. This office also is responsible for managing the OIG’s communications and social media platforms, creating multimedia products, operating the OIG’s main phone line and email inbox, and handling internal communications.

Contact
(202) 566-2391 OIG.PublicAffairs@epa.gov OIG.CongressionalAffairs@epa.gov
Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2491T) EPA Mailing Addresses Washington, DC 20460

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Office of Audit

Katherine Trimble, Assistant Inspector General 
Sandra John, Acting Deputy Assistant Inspector General
Marcus Gullet, Acting Deputy Assistant Inspector General 

The Office of Audit conducts financial and performance audits to determine the efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance of Agency business operations and financial management. Audits assess the potential for fraud, waste, and abuse; the award and management of grants and contracts; management of information technology; and ways to realize cost savings and other efficiencies.

_{[1] “Agency” refers both to the U.S. Environment Protection Agency and the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.}

Contact
(771) 200-7737
Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2421T) EPA Mailing Addresses Washington, DC 20460

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Office of Special Review and Evaluation

Paul Bergstrand, Assistant Inspector General
Erin Barnes-Weaver, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Evaluation
Kristin Kafka, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Administrative Investigations

The Office of Special Review and Evaluation focuses on oversight of programs, offices, and centers, evaluating whether and how they are effectively and efficiently meeting legal, regulatory, congressional, and public requirements and expectation as well as how the EPA implements, executes, and enforces new and existing requirements and on the extent to which stakeholders can rely on those requirements. The office conducts administrative investigations of allegations of misconduct by senior agency employees and complaints of whistleblower reprisal by agency employees, or employees of agency contractors, subcontractors, grantees, subgrantees or personal services contractors. The office also performs special reviews of significant events and emergent issues of concern that involve a suspected or alleged violation of law, regulation, or policy, or allegations of serious mismanagement.

In addition, OSRE is responsible for the OIG Hotline, which encourages suggestions for assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of agency programs, and receives complaints of fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement in EPA and CSB programs and operations, as well as violations of law, regulations and policies by EPA and CSB employees, grantees, contractors and program participants.

Contact
(202) 564-6773
Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2421T) EPA Mailing Addresses Washington, DC 20460

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Office of Investigations

Jason Abend, Assistant Inspector General for Investigations
Sean Earle, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations
Thomas Roelke, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations

The Office of Investigations investigates allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct having an impact on EPA programs and operations. OI refers its findings to the U.S. Department of Justice for prosecution or to EPA or EPA OIG management for action. The types of allegations our special agents may investigate include, but are not limited to:

• Financial fraud, such as contract and grant fraud.
• Employee Integrity.
• Cybercrime.
• Laboratory Fraud.
• Theft of EPA property or funds.

Contact
(888) 546-8740 (OIG Hotline) (202)566-1006
Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2431T) EPA Mailing Addresses Washington, DC 20460

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Office of Strategic Analysis and Results (OSAR)

Adam Seefeldt,  Acting Chief Strategy Officer

The Office of Strategic Analysis and Results (OSAR) encompasses the Strategic Planning and Initiatives and Data Analytics directorates.

Strategic Planning and Initiatives Directorate: Oversees the OIG’s strategic and annual plans; leads the development of top management challenges for the EPA and the CSB; initiates projects to identify best OIG practices, and leads policy and performance planning, and other reporting efforts.

Data Analytics Directorate: Supports the Office of Audit, the Office of Evaluation, and the Office of Investigations by leveraging advanced analytics that highlight key risk areas to program integrity within EPA programs and operations.

Contact
(202) 819-3586
Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2421T) EPA Mailing Addresses Washington, DC 20460

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Office of Mission Support (OMS)

Lauretta Joseph,  Acting Chief Management Officer

The Office of Mission Support (OMS) provides a broad range of enterprise mission support functions and infrastructure necessary for EPA OIG to complete its mission. OMS helps OIG achieve its mission and goals through the effective employment of four distinct areas:

Control Center: Provides support services for EPA OIG HQ and Regional personnel, stakeholders, and the public by improving efficiency, coordination, and customer experience in the functional areas of facilities management, space management, property management, records management and continuity of operations.

Human Resources Directorate: Provides operational support for activities such as recruitment, staffing, classification, retirement, and benefits liaison; employee training and professional development; performance management; employee relations; workforce planning; and executive resources.

Budget Directorate: Provides support services to the OIG in the areas of budget formulation, budget execution, and interagency agreements, increasing business analysis capability; instituting performance-based resource strategy; and strengthening controls to promote assurance and mission accomplishment.

Acquisitions Directorate: Provides support services to the OIG in the areas of planning, awarding and administering contracts, including issuing and interpreting acquisition regulations; administering training for contracting and program acquisition personnel; providing information technology improvements for acquisition systems; and strengthening controls to promote assurance and mission accomplishment.

Contact
(202) 564-0215
Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2133A) EPA Mailing Addresses Washington, DC 20460

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Office of Information Technology (OIT)

Stephanie Wright,  Chief Technology Officer
James Conrad,  Deputy Chief Technology Officer

The Office of Information Technology (OIT) provides the OIG with a wide range of products and services in the areas of software development, network and infrastructure services, technical support, and information security. Additionally, performs all information management officer functions, including but not limited to overseeing information technology purchases and acquisitions, as well as providing mobile device support.

OIT consists of the following Directorates:

Infrastructure and Technical Services: Provides Datacenter Infrastructure Management, Citrix Administration, VMware Administration, Network Services (Routers, Switches, Firewalls), Data Protection & Disaster recovery (COOP Site), Database Administration, Auto Audit Administration (LN & Windows), IDEA Administration, Nuix Administration, Data Analytics Environment Administration, File Services and Systems Security. Provides Active Directory and O365 accounts administration, desktop application support, desktop hardware provisioning and support (laptops, monitors, docking stations, local printers, scanners), support for printers and multi-purpose devices (printer, copier and scanner), mobile device support, videoconference support and desktop security.

Application and Web Development: Supports system requirements gathering, develops applications (Web and Low Code), system maintenance, User Acceptance Testing (UAT), System Life Cycle Management (SLCM), Continuous Monitoring, develops user and technical documentation, develops training materials & conducts system user-training, and SharePoint governance and administration. Provides web development, maintenance and administration support.

Information Security and Privacy Management: Identifies potential Points of Exploits by conducting regular Security Scans, Performs Security Impact Assessments on system changes affecting security controls, monitors agency tools for threats and vulnerabilities through log reviews, performs annual security assessments and remediation of findings through Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&Ms) tracking and reporting, reviews internal security controls (logical and physical), develops IT security policies and procedures and actively participates in agency security workgroups and data calls, conducts Privacy Impact Assessments and facilitates System of Records Notices to the privacy of OIG data, performs Privacy reviews, addresses Privacy and Security questions and concerns along with SPAM inquiries.

Contact
(202) 566-1001
Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2133A) EPA Mailing Addresses Washington, DC 20460

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U.S. Chemical Safety Board

The Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency holds the position of Inspector General for the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. The U.S. CSB is authorized by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and became operational in January 1998.

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) conducts annual financial audits and evaluations of information security. The OIG also reports on CSB programs.

In addition to audits, the OIG provides a hotline service to receive complaints of fraud, waste and abuse in CSB programs and operations including mismanagement or violations of law, rules, or regulations. Complaints may be received directly from CSB employees or the general public.

U.S. Chemical Safety Board

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EPA OIG Related Resource Links

Helpful resources for questions and concerns that do not involve reportable fraud, waste and abuse in U.S. EPA programs:

EPA Links	External Links
Terms & Acronyms used by EPA EPA People Locator EPA Hotlines EPA Program and Regional Offices EPA Laboratories and Research Centers	The following links exit the site State and Territorial Governments Local Governments State and Tribal Governments USA.gov IGnet (CIGIE) Directory of Inspectors General Federal Register Regulations.gov The White House