ABOUT OIG
Who, What, Why
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 as pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended [PDF 24pp, 173KB].
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Inspector General
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2410T)
Washington, DC 20460
Tel: 202.566.2391
Fax: 202.566.2549
E-mail: webcomments.oig@epa.gov
For more contact details, please visit our Contact webpage.
What We Do
We perform audits, evaluations, and investigations of EPA and its contractors, to promote economy and efficiency, and to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse. We also provide hotline services. 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 the best in public service and oversight for a better tomorrow. By helping the Agency operate more economically, effectively, and efficiently, we contribute to improved environmental quality and human health. We strive to provide solutions to problems that ultimately result in making America a cleaner and healthier place.
Top of pageVision and Mission
Our Vision
Be the best in public service and oversight for a better tomorrow.
Our Mission
Promote economy, efficiency, effectiveness, and prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse through independent oversight of the programs and operations of the Environmental Protection Agency and Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.
Our Goals
- Contribute to improved human health, safety, and the environment;
- Contribute to improved EPA and CSB business practices and accountability;
- Be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars; and
- Be the best in public service;
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
Inspector General Arthur A. Elkins, Jr.
Arthur A. Elkins, Jr. became Inspector General of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on June 25, 2010. Before his appointment, Mr. Elkins served as Associate General Counsel within EPA's Office of General Counsel. While in that position, he supervised the delivery of legal counsel, opinions, litigation support, and other legal services for the Office of General Counsel's Information Law Practice, Employment Law Practice, and Intellectual Property Law Practice.
Previously, Mr. Elkins served as the Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel for the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency, an independent federal executive branch agency responsible for pretrial services and adult parole and probation community offender supervision; Counsel to the Inspector General of the National Science Foundation; and Counsel within the Department of Defense, Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals.
Prior to joining the Federal Government, Mr. Elkins served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in the Ohio Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office and as an Assistant Public Defender in the Ohio Cuyahoga County Public Defender's Office.
Mr. Elkins earned a Bachelor degree in social sciences from Thomas A. Edison State College; a Master of Business Administration degree from Baldwin-Wallace College; a Juris Doctor degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University; and a Master of Laws in Law and Government from Washington College of Law, The American University.
Mr. Elkins is a member of the bar in Ohio, District of Columbia, United States District Court for Northern Ohio, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
Mr. Elkins is the recipient of the Council of Counsels to the Inspector Generals Leadership Award, Federal Executive Council on Integrity and Efficiency Award for Excellence in Investigations, and the National Science Foundation Office of Inspector General Commendable Service Award.
Mr. Elkins is the proud father of three children and resides in Bowie, Maryland, with his wife, Gail.
PDF Version of Bio [21KB]
Learn more about the EPA IG's Meeting Schedule or view the schedule directly.
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How We Are Organized
Explore the EPA Office of the Inspector General organization chart and learn more about the different offices within the OIG.
Click on a square to learn more about that office.
Inspector General
Arthur A. Elkins, Jr.
Biography of the Inspector General
Charles Sheehan, Deputy Inspector General
Aracely Nunez-Mattocks, Chief of Staff
You can contact the Office of the Inspector General at:
(202) 566-0847
(202) 566-0857 FAX
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Inspector General
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2410T) EPA Mailing Addresses
Washington, DC 20460
Deputy Inspector General
Charles Sheehan, Deputy Inspector General
You can contact the Office of the Inspector General at:
(202) 566-0847
(202) 566-0857 FAX
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Inspector General
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2410T) EPA Mailing Addresses
Washington, DC 20460
Chief of Staff
Aracely Nunez-Mattocks, Chief of Staff
The Office of Chief of Staff (OCOS) serves as the corporate focal point, under the Immediate Office of the Inspector General. OCOS is responsible for organization-wide coordination and leadership in promoting the most efficient use and accountability for OIG resources in effectively achieving its mission and strategic goals. The Office of Chief of Staff is organized into three sub-components: Budget, Planning, and Results Directorate, the Human Resources Directorate, and Support Services.
The Office of Chief of Staff is comprised of Human Resources, Budget, Finance, Performance Results, Procurement, Emergency Management and Building Support Services to serve the needs of our customers. We look forward to providing you with professional, timely, value added products and services.
You can contact the Office of the Chief of Staff at:
(202) 566-0847
(202) 566-0857 FAX
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Inspector General
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2410T) EPA Mailing Addresses
Washington, DC 20460
Office of Counsel
Alan Larsen, Counsel to the Inspector General
Eric Hanger, Deputy Counsel
The Office of Counsel (OC) provides independent legal and policy advice to all components of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) on a variety of substantive and procedural matters relating to the OIG’s audit, program 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 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.
You can contact the Office of Counsel at:
(202) 566-0863
(202) 566-0870 FAX
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Inspector General
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2411T) EPA Mailing Addresses
Washington, DC 20460
Office of Audit
Melissa Heist, Assistant Inspector General for Audit
Richard Eyermann, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audit
The Office of Audit (OA) designs and implements long-term, nation-wide audit plans to improve the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of Agency programs and prevent fraud, waste, and mismanagement. The Office also leads and participates in multi-agency projects to address government-wide management issues.
OA performs financial, performance, forensic and external audits related to the following areas:
- financial statements
- contracts
- assistance agreements
- systems of internal control
- program performance
- manpower analyses
You can contact the Office of Audit at:
(202) 566-0824
(202) 566-0900 FAX
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Inspector General
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2421T) EPA Mailing Addresses
Washington, DC 20460
Office of Congressional and Public Affairs
Eileen McMahon, Assistant Inspector General for Congressional and Public Affairs
Nancy Long, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Congressional and Public Affairs
The Office of Congressional and Public Affairs performs communications functions. Specifically:
Congressional and Public Affairs staff provide communications and liaison services to Congress, the public, and the media. The staff edit, publish, and distribute OIG reports that address needed Agency improvement, and manage information posted on the OIG Website.
You can contact the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at:
(202) 566-2391
(202) 566-2549 FAX
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Inspector General
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2491T) EPA Mailing Addresses
Washington, DC 20460
Office of Cyber Investigations and Homeland Security
Melody Upah, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Cyber Investigations and Homeland Security
The Office of Cyber Investigations and Homeland Security is responsible for identifying and investigating attacks against EPA's computer and network systems to protect EPA resources, infrastructure, and intellectual property from individuals and entities whose intent is to do harm. The Office ensures the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of EPA programs through the proactive use of open source and law enforcement data bases to provide accurate and valuable information enhancing the capabilities of EPA OIG personnel to meet their mandated requirements.
The Office creates and inspires public confidence through the implementation of a comprehensive EPA OIG Hotline program providing individuals with the means to provide tips and inquiries that assist in developing audits and investigations. The Office, through its coordination and liaison contacts with emergency response agencies from within the federal, State, and local governments, enhances EPA's operational readiness capabilities, ensuring EPA becomes one of the Best in Class organizations for readiness response.
You can contact the Office of Cyber Investigations and Homeland Security at:
(703) 347-8340
(703) 347-8302 FAX
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Inspector General
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Mailcode 8431P (Room N-4330) EPA Mailing Addresses
Washington, DC 20460
Office of Investigations
Patrick Sullivan, Assistant Inspector General for Investigations
Michael Daggett, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations
Craig Ulmer, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations
The Office of Investigations manages, sets policy, coordinates, and has overall responsibility for criminal investigations of allegations of:
- Financial fraud involving EPA programs or funds (i.e. Contract Fraud, Grant Fraud, etc.)
- Employee Misconduct
- Intrusion into EPA systems and computers
- Threats against EPA employees, contractors, facilities and assets
- Assaults on EPA employees or contractors and other acts of violence committed in EPA facilities
- Impersonating EPA Officials
- Counterfeiting or misuse of EPA official insignia, logos or credentials
- Theft of property or funds within EPA facilities
In addition, the Office of Investigation is responsible for the OIG Hotline, which receives complaints of fraud, waste, and abuse in EPA programs and operations.
You can contact the Office of Investigations at:
(202) 566-0819
(202) 566-0814 FAX
(888) 546-8740 OIG Hotline
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Inspector General
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2431T) EPA Mailing Addresses
Washington, DC 20460
Office of Mission Systems
Patricia Hill, Assistant Inspector General for Mission Systems
Yvonne Kinney, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Mission Systems
The Office of Mission Systems advances the OIG mission by:
- providing economic, efficient, and effective information technology systems;
- assessing the Agency's Information Resources Management operations and security; and
- providing data mining and analysis for OIG staff in performing audits, evaluations, and investigations.
You can contact the Office of Mission Systems at:
(202) 566-2683
(202) 566-2710 FAX
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Inspector General
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2441T) EPA Mailing Addresses
Washington, DC 20460
Office of Program Evaluation
Carolyn Copper, Assistant Inspector General for Program Evaluation
Jeffrey Harris, Acting Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Program Evaluation
The Office of Program Evaluation (OPE) manages, coordinates, and has overall responsibility for leading the design and implementation of program evaluations within the OIG. OPE evaluations use design and methodology strategies that maximize innovation, identify new issues, and focus on increased understanding of EPA programs.
OPE designs long-term, multi-office, multi-agency program evaluation plans; coordinates the execution of these evaluations; synthesizes findings from these reviews; and provides for the timeliness, tone, quality, and objective review of the resulting reports.
You can contact the Office of Program Evaluation at:
(202) 566-0832
(202) 566-0837 FAX
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Inspector General
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2460T) 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 Office of the Inspector General (OIG) conducts annual financial audits, and annual evaluations of information security. The OIG also conducts evaluations of CSB programs.
In addition to audits and evaluations, 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
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:
- Domestic Working Group Grant Accountability Project
- Terms & Acronyms used by EPA.
- EPA People Locator
- EPA Hotlines
- EPA Program Offices
- EPA Regional Offices
- EPA Laboratories and Research Centers
- State and Territorial Governments
- Local Governments
- Tribal Governments
- USA.gov
- IGnet
- Directory of Inspectors General
- Federal Register
- Regulations.gov
- The White House
