Enforcement (new)
The OIG Office of Investigations is the oversight component responsible for investigating allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse related to the programs and operations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. The OI’s jurisdiction spans the breadth of the EPA’s and the CSB’s work, from the integrity of their programs to the expenditure of their funds. And, like those entities, the OI’s geographic area of responsibility spans the United States, including the U.S. territories, from the Northern Mariana Islands to Maine and from Puerto Rico to Alaska.
How We Support EPA and CSB
The OI continually seeks to demonstrate return on investment while creating value for Agency leadership and fulfilling congressional expectations. The OI assists the EPA with maintaining a culture of integrity for its employees, programs, and operations.
Enforcement Priorities
The OI prioritizes criminal, civil, and administrative enforcement, focusing on specific areas in which American taxpayer funds may be at great risk or in which EPA or CSB programs may be significantly endangered. Investigations include grant, contract, laboratory, and program fraud; public corruption; and employee misconduct.
- Grant, contract, laboratory, and program fraud
- Public corruption
- Employee misconduct
Public-Facing Outputs
Management Implication Reports
The OI issues management implication reports, often based on investigative findings, which highlight systemic weaknesses, risks, or compliance issues within the EPA’s or the CSB’s programs and operations, and serve to keep the EPA and Congress fully and currently informed.
Fraud Alerts
The OI also issues fraud alerts to highlight specific issues, including scams or important changes to statutory and regulatory requirements for contractors or grantees.
Types of Enforcement
Criminal enforcement involves investigations of potential violations of federal, state, and local law that are punishable by imprisonment and fines. The OI’s criminal enforcement generally focuses on crimes violating the federal fraud, theft, and money laundering statutes.
Civil enforcement involves investigations seeking to remedy losses resulting from false claims, fraudulent schemes, and public corruption and to compel compliance with federal laws and regulations. The OI is especially focused on violations of the False Claims Act but may also pursue recovery through the administrative process provided by the Administrative False Claims Act.
Administrative enforcement involves investigations of alleged violations of regulations, rules, and policies, focusing on EPA and CSB employees and operations. The OI often concludes these investigations by working with the EPA’s Suspension and Debarment Program to ensure that the Agency is taking appropriate administrative action to prevent additional fraud, waste, and abuse.
Nic Evans
Acting Assistant Inspector General of Investigations
Garrett Westfall
Acting Deputy Assistant Inspector General of Investigations (Field)
Natalie Vowell
Acting Deputy Assistant Inspector General of Investigations (HQ)