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Office of Criminal Enforcement, Forensics and Training
Offices
| Director: | Fred Burnside |
|---|---|
| Deputy Director: | Ellen C. Stough |
| Phone Number: | (202) 564-2480 |
For more information please see the OCEFT Brochure (PDF) (2 pp, 322K About PDF).
Criminal Investigation Division
| Director: | Ella R. Barnes |
|---|---|
| Deputy Director: | Doug Parker |
| Phone Number: | 202-564-2490 |
The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) is comprised of Special Agents, who are sworn federal law enforcement officers with statutory suthority to conduct investigations, carry firearms, make arrests for any federal crime and execute and serve any warrant. We investigate the most significant and egregious violations of environmental laws.
Today, EPA CID has offices located in 10 Area Offices and 32 Resident Field Offices across the country. CID participates nationwide in over 90 environmental crime task forces with federal, state and local law enforcement partners.
We lead the effort of community involvement in reporting violations to the EPA, learning more about what an environmental crime might look like, understanding the signs of environmental violations and promoting the public's safety should they happen across a serious environmental crime scene.
For more information please see the CID Brochure (PDF) (2 pp, 588K About PDF).
Homeland Security Division
| Director: | Steven C. Drielak |
|---|---|
| Deputy Director: | Ted J. Stanich |
| Phone Number: | 202-564-0554 |
The Homeland Security Division (HSD) is comprised of EPA Special Agents and support personnel. The HSD conducts operational responses to Incidents of National Significance (INS) pursuant to the Emergency Support Functions as stated in the National Response Plan.
HSD responses include such activities as threat assessment support; infrastructure protection, force protection in a contaminated zone, and hot zone forensic evidence collection. The HSD coordinates all Continuity of Operations planning for OECA and EPA's Office of Criminal Enforcement, Forensics and Training (OCEFT). The HSD also provides protection services for EPA's Administrator during domestic and foreign travel.
The HSD, through its Intelligence Staff detailed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security, provides OCEFT and EPA with counter-terrorism law enforcement intelligence information provided by other agencies; supports threat assessments in coordination with HSD's Senior Science Advisor; and provides other intelligence and incident management support for operational law enforcement and emergency response activities.
The HSD Operations Section coordinates the field deployment and response activities of the HSDs National Counter-Terrorism Evidence Response Team (NCERT). It also provides environmental forensic support and science advice for environmental crime and counter-terrorism activities. The HSD Regional Coordination and Training Team is responsible for providing Weapons of Mass Destruction technical assistance and information coordination with OCEFT's Criminal Investigation Division's Area Offices; provides forensic evidence collection crime scene processing training to NCERT and other law enforcement agencies; performs law enforcement liaison; and provides operational support for NCERT deployments.
For more information please see the HSD Brochure (PDF) (2 pp, 449K About PDF).
National Enforcement Investigations Center
| Acting Director: | Tom Norris |
|---|---|
| Deputy Director: | Vacant |
| Phone Number: | 303-462-9000 |
The National Enforcement Investigations Center (NEIC) is an ISO 17025 accredited environmental forensic center, which serves as the principal source of science and technical expertise providing support for unique and/or complex civil and criminal investigations having national impact on EPA and state regulatory programs for air, water, toxics, pesticides, radiation, and solid waste pollution control. In coordination with appropriate partners, NEIC plans, develops, and provides scientific and technical support for investigations conducted on a national basis, has a counter terrorism response capability for forensic analytical support and expert scientific consultation and advice in the area of industrial chemicals for our nation’s homeland security, and provides technology transfer mechanisms, including training for OCEFT components, as well as state, local, and other federal offices and agencies, on scientific and technical approaches to environmental enforcement.
NEIC provides expertise and guidance to all OECA components in the development of multimedia compliance and enforcement strategies and national priorities, and national expertise to Headquarters and Regional Offices of EPA and DOJ in evaluating a broad range of waste disposal and emission problems, monitoring technology, and remedial programs not ordinarily provided by EPA’s Regional Offices.
NEIC also provides quality scientific and technical support to civil, criminal, and administrative compliance and enforcement determinations, including defensible reports on the findings of field investigations, recommendations for follow-up enforcement action, and technical advice and/or recommendations on the control, abatement, and resolution of pollution problems. It conducts field and laboratory measurement activities for compliance determinations and case preparations, and assists in assessing and developing information, evidence and technical testimony in support of EPA enforcement programs.
For more information please see the NEIC Brochure (PDF) (2 pp, 322K About PDF).
Legal Counsel Division
| Director: | Michael R. Fisher |
|---|---|
| Deputy Director: | Thomas J. Seaton |
| Phone Number: | 202-564-2485 |
The Legal Counsel Division (LCD) is responsible for providing legal support and guidance on all legal and policy matters pertaining to criminal enforcement of environmental laws and the operations of NEIC and HSD. LCD attorneys provide legal services to OCEFT client divisions in numerous practice areas, including environmental and criminal law, expert witness preparation, litigation of environmental enforcement cases, homeland security, information law, and personnel law.
LCD attorneys advocate for OCEFT’s programmatic interests in matters involving the Department of Justice, EPA’s Office of General Counsel, EPA program and civil enforcement offices, and other law enforcement agencies. LCD attorneys participate in the development of statutes and regulations to ensure that they incorporate clear and enforceable legal requirements.
LCD attorneys provide legal training to CID Special Agents, NEIC scientists, EPA attorneys, and EPA’s federal, state, local, tribal and international partners to enhance the overall effectiveness of environmental criminal enforcement. LCD attorneys also work with client offices to respond to inquiries from Congress and members of the public.
For more information please see the LCD Brochure (PDF) (2 pp, 261K About PDF).