Report of Investigation: [Redacted], Office of Inspector General, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Report # 24-N-0007, November 6, 2023
Why We Did This Report
In April 2021, the EPA OIG received a complaint alleging that a former senior OIG official improperly disclosed the identity of an EPA employee who had submitted a complaint to the OIG Hotline.
Summary of Findings
Our investigation found that the former senior official disclosed the employee’s status as a hotline complainant during a meeting with EPA personnel, in violation of OIG procedure and the confidentiality protections afforded under section 7(b) of the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 407(b). The investigation did not find evidence that the disclosure was intentional. The former senior official had announced plans to retire before the OIG investigation began and subsequently retired, as planned, during the pendency of the investigation.
Report Materials
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.