EPA OIG Hotline Information

Methods to Contact the Hotline

Online
EPA OIG Hotline Complaint Form
Email
OIG_Hotline@epa.gov
Phone
1-888-546-8740
Mail
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Inspector General
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2410T)
Washington, DC 20460

Confidentiality

The IG Act and other pertinent laws protect persons making Hotline complaints.

Complaints Made by EPA Employees

In accordance with section 7(b) of the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, the OIG shall not, after receipt of a complaint or information from an EPA employee, disclose the identity of the employee without the consent of the employee unless the Inspector General determines such disclosure is unavoidable during the course of an investigation. Any identifying information is confidential source material, and OIG employees must not disclose such information except to other OIG employees who have a need to know in connection with their official duties.

Complaints Made by Other Persons

Complainants who are not EPA employees do not have an automatic right to confidentiality under section 7(b) of the Inspector General Act of 1978. However, non-EPA employees may specifically request confidentiality, and the OIG will protect the confidentiality of such complainants to the maximum extent permitted by law (for example, by using applicable exemptions and exclusions of the Freedom of Information Act and applicable exemptions of the Privacy Act).

Anonymity

If you do not wish to disclose your identity, you may remain anonymous when contacting the OIG. However, please keep in mind that anonymity may impede a quick or thorough investigation or the success of a later prosecution.

Who Can File a Complaint?

Anyone, including members of the public and Department employees, may file a complaint with the OIG Hotline.

What Information to Provide

Be as specific as possible and provide the following:

Relevant name(s) of all parties involved, including witnesses and other contacts.
Dates and times of the events or issues that you are identifying.
The location of the issue or the area that it impacts.
Name of contractor or grantee.
Contract or grant numbers.
Contract or grant award date.
Any additional pertinent information you have concerning the issue.

Special Notice Concerning the COVID-19 Pandemic

Our office will receive allegations of fraud, waste and abuse concerning the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on EPA and CSB operations.

Be aware of companies placing the EPA seal or the EPA registration number on their products claiming that they meet EPA standards.
Be cautious of imported products marketed as proven to effectively block various epidemic viruses.
Be on the lookout for websites claiming their products contain EPA-approved active ingredients, which kill 99.9% of all viruses and bacteria, including SAR-CoV-2 virus. These companies may put the EPA logo on the website to legitimize their products. For a list of EPA-approved disinfectants, please visit EPA Official List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2.
Be wary of companies claiming their services are endorsed or their equipment or material are certified by EPA.

If you suspect individuals or companies may be engaged in fraud, please contact our OIG hotline below. Learn more about our response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential investigation targets that we may pursue.

What Not to Report to the OIG Hotline

The OIG Hotline handles allegations of fraud, waste and abuse in EPA and CSB programs generally. For immediate concerns regarding an environmental hazard, please contact an EPA hotline, as shown below.

Contact a specific EPA hotline.
Or use the EPA Environmental Violations Form to report any incident.

Examples of Specific Incidents of Pollution That Must Be Reported to the EPA Directly

Dumping of waste or a hazardous chemical on land or into a waterway.
Storage of hazardous waste.
Asbestos removal, storage and disposal.
Release of hazardous chemicals or substances into the air.
Lead hazards.
Radon risks and testing.
Pesticide poisoning.
Indoor mold growth.

Examples of Other Issues That Are Not Within OIG Jurisdiction

Only complaints that address a specific EPA or Chemical Safety Board program, employee, grant or contract should be reported to the OIG Hotline.

Emergency responses - in the case of a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Questions concerning environmental laws and regulations.
EPA individual personnel issues and associated grievance matters.

What to Expect after I Have Filed a Complaint?

Upon receipt of a suggestion, allegation or request, the OIG may take any one of the following actions:

Initiate an OIG investigation or audit.
Refer the matter to EPA management for appropriate review and action.
Refer the allegation to the EPA’s Scientific Integrity Officer for appropriate review and action.
Refer the allegation to another federal agency, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Determine that the OIG will not pursue any action or make any referral.

About the Hotline

Podcast: What is the EPA OIG Hotline?

The Office of Inspector General Hotline (OIG) services both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB). The hotline encourages suggestions for assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of agency programs. It also receives complaints of fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement in agency programs and operations, and violations of law, regulations and policies by EPA and CSB employees, grantees, contractors and program participants. Complaints and requests may be submitted by anyone, including EPA and CSB employees, participants in EPA and CSB programs, Congress, organizations and members of the public. While resources restrict the OIG from pursuing every allegation, reviews relating to the following topics, known or suspected, are prioritized:

Efficiency and effectiveness of agency programs.
EPA and CSB-related criminal activity.
EPA and CSB contract, procurement and grant fraud.
Mismanagement and waste of EPA and CSB resources, including in environmental programs.
Theft and misuse of EPA, CSB and other government property.
Misconduct by EPA and CSB employees.
EPA and CSB computer crimes.
Matters of high public, EPA, CSB or congressional interest.
Matters implicating high-level officials, for example, political or Senior Executive Service employees.

Upon receipt of a suggestion, allegation or request, the OIG may take any one of the following actions:

Initiate an OIG investigation or audit.
Refer the matter to EPA management for appropriate review and action.
Refer the allegation to the EPA’s Scientific Integrity Officer for appropriate review and action.
Refer the allegation to another federal agency, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Determine that the OIG will not pursue any action or make any referral.

Understanding Fraud, Waste and Abuse

What is considered fraud, waste, or abuse?

Fraud is a false representation about a material fact.

Waste involves the taxpayers not receiving a reasonable value for money in connection with any government-funded activities due to an inappropriate act or omission.

Abuse involves behavior that is deficient or improper when compared with behavior that a prudent person would consider reasonable and necessary business practice given the facts and circumstances.

Information for Whistleblowers

Information about laws protecting individuals who make complaints to the federal government and the role of the EPA’s Whistleblower Protection Coordinator is available on the OIG Whistleblower Protection page.

Information Regarding Mandatory Disclosures

Contractors and grantees are required in certain instances to make mandatory disclosures as set forth in the Federal Acquisition Regulation and the Code of Federal Regulations. Information regarding what disclosures are required and how to make a mandatory disclosure is available on the OIG Mandatory Disclosure page.

OIG Independence of EPA

The EPA's Office of Inspector General is a part of the EPA, although Congress provides our funding separate from the agency, to ensure our independence. We were created pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended.

Environmental Protection Agency | Office of Inspector General
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2410T) | Washington, DC 20460 | 202-566-2391
OIG Hotline: 1-888-546-8740.