OIG Hotline Poster
Per the requirement, EPAAR 1503.500–71
,
you may download or print the OIG Hotline poster (11x17 PDF). Posters may also be obtained by contacting the OIG at (202) 566-2476.
Fraud is a false representation about a material fact. It is any intentional deception
designed to unlawfully deprive the United States or EPA of something of value or to secure
for an individual a benefit, privilege, allowance, or consideration to which he or she is
not entitled. Following are key fraud indicators; this list is not all-inclusive:
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. Most waste does not involve a violation of law; rather, waste relates primarily to mismanagement, inappropriate actions, and inadequate oversight.
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. Abuse also includes
misuse of authority or position for personal financial interests or those of an immediate or close family member
or business associate. Abuse does not necessarily involve fraud or violations of laws, regulations, or provisions
of a contract or grant agreement. Following are examples of abuse; this list is not all-inclusive:
The EPA Office of Inspector General provides the following brochures that provide additional details regarding fraud, waste, abuse:
Deterring Fraud, Waste and Abuse of EPA Funds (PDF)
Disuadiendo el fraude, mal gasto y abuse de los fondos de la EPA (in Spanish) (PDF)
When Good Money Goes Bad - True Stories of Grant Fraud at EPA (PDF)
When Good Money Goes Bad - True Stories of Contract Fraud at EPA (PDF)
When Good Money Goes Bad - True Stories of Fraud in the EPA Superfund Program (PDF)
Prevention, Detection, and Reporting for Federal, State, Local, and Tribal Administrators (PDF)
Prevention, Detection, and Reporting Contractors, Awardees, and Recipients (PDF)
The EPA OIG hotline receives complaints of fraud, waste, and abuse in EPA programs and operations including mismanagement or violations of law, rules, or regulations by EPA employees or program participants. Complaints may be received directly from EPA employees, participants in EPA programs, or the general public.
The EPA OIG hotline is staffed by federal law enforcement agents. Hotline complaints may be submitted by mail, telephone, fax, or e-mail. Hotline complaints are reviewed by auditors, evaluators, and/or criminal investigators as conditions warrant. The initial receipt of any complaint or allegation must be handled by an OIG special agent. No other OIG employees are authorized to receive complaints or allegations on behalf of the OIG.
Upon receipt of a specific allegation of fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement, the OIG may take any one of the following actions:
All matters significant enough to require a response are monitored until the necessary resolution action is planned or taken. Allegations with limited specificity or merit may be held in abeyance until further specific details are reported. Complaints are analyzed to identify trends which should be considered in the audit and investigative planning processes.
Top of pageFraud, Waste, or Abuse in EPA Programs
The purpose of the EPA OIG Hotline is to receive complaints of fraud, waste, or abuse in EPA programs and operations including mismanagement
or violations of law, rules, or regulations by EPA employees or program participants. Examples of reportable violations include:
Please be as specific as possible. Provide relevant names, dates and times, locations and, where appropriate, include the name of the contractor or grantee, and contract or grant numbers, and award dates. Other helpful information includes:
Minor incidents, such as, minor time and attendance abuse, or misuse of Government property should be reported to appropriate program managers. Personnel matters involving requests for individual relief should be handled through the appropriate grievance process with management, and offices of personnel, equal employment and civil rights. For other questions and concerns not involving fraud, waste, or abuse in EPA programs, please see these helpful Resource Links on our About webpage.
Top of pageConfidentiality, Anonymity, & Whistleblower Protection
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.
Whistleblower Protection Act
The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 (WPA) and the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 Enhanced by the Act of 2012 provides protection rights for Federal employees against retaliation for whistleblowing activities. Under WPA, Federal employees may seek whistleblower protection from the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) . OSC is an independent executive agency whose responsibilities include investigating whistleblowers' complaints and litigating cases before the MSPB. MSPB has the authority to enforce their decision and to order corrective and disciplinary actions. Actions ordered can include restoring one's job, reversing suspensions, taking disciplinary action against a supervisor, and reimbursing attorney fees, medical and other costs, and damages.
Protection Under Environmental Statutes
Whistleblower protection provisions are written into six environmental statutes:
Employers subject to the provisions of the above statutes may not discriminate against any employee who engages in whistleblowing activities related to the above statutes. The Department of Labor has found that Federal employees may be covered by these protections. Complaints may be filed with the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Top of pageRole of the Whistleblower Protection Ombudsman
The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012
was signed into law on November 27, 2012. The Act strengthens protection for federal employees
who blow the whistle on waste, fraud, and abuse in government operations.
Whistleblower disclosures can save lives as well as billions of taxpayer dollars. They play a critical role in keeping our
Government honest, efficient, and accountable. Recognizing that whistleblowers root out waste, fraud, and abuse, and protect
public health and safety, federal laws strongly encourage employees to disclose wrongdoing. Federal laws also protect whistleblowers from retaliation.
The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 directs Inspectors General to designate a Whistleblower Protection
Ombudsman. The Ombudsman’s role is to educate agency employees about prohibitions on retaliation for protected disclosures,
and educate agency employees who have made or are contemplating making a protected disclosure about the rights and remedies
against retaliation for protected disclosures. The Ombudsman is prohibited from acting as an employee’s or
former employee’s legal representative, agent, or advocate.
Definition of Whistleblowing
Disclosure made to:
Alleging:
Any reported disclosures are reviewed by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel
. OSC will evaluate the
allegation(s) to determine whether it fits within those types of allegations listed above and
whether it is substantially likely that any such allegation can be proven.
If OSC determines that the substantially likely standard is met, OSC will refer the matter
back to the originating agency for investigation by the Inspector General. The IG will submit
a report of its findings to OSC and the whistleblower gets to submit comments on this report.
OSC will make comments on the IG report and recommendations based on the IG’s findings before
sending it to the President and the appropriate congressional oversight committee(s).
Whistleblowers are Protected
It is a prohibited personnel practice for management to retaliate against whistleblowing federal employees. OSC receives, investigates,
and prosecutes allegations of prohibited personnel practice, with an emphasis on protecting federal government whistleblowers and
other complainants. The federal workforce has been protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989. That law, however,
contained loopholes and was open to interpretations that were contrary to the interests of whistleblowers. Congress
passed the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 to close these loopholes and clarify the
interpretations, strengthening protections for whistleblowers.
To mention just a few of the enhancements:
National Defense Authorization Act enhancements:
The FY 13 National Defense Authorization Act contains provisions that essentially extend whistleblower protections, now applicable to Federal employees, to private sector based Federal
contractors and grantees. These provisions, as applicable to DOD are final. For the rest of the Federal government, it is a four-year pilot program.
Feeling Retaliated Against for Speaking Up?
Whistleblowing Resources
U.S. Office of Special Counsel
(202) 254-3600
Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012
Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 Enhanced by the Act of 2012
Contact the EPA Whistleblower Protection Ombudsman
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Inspector General
Whistleblower Protection Ombudsman
1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20460
whistleblower_protection@epa.gov
(202) 566-1513
EPA OIG Hotline for Reporting Fraud, Waste, and Abuse in EPA Programs
To determine whether your information is appropriate for the EPA OIG Hotline, please refer to the "What to Report to the EPA OIG Hotline" section above prior to initiating contact.
Postal Mail U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
Telephone and Fax Toll-Free: 1-888-546-8740 (Nationwide) |
E-mail
WARNING
The identity of an individual who chooses to make a complaint via the Internet E-Mail system cannot be protected by the EPA OIG. By choosing to use electronic mail, you are NOT anonymous and you give up any right to confidentiality. An individual who desires confidentiality MUST make the complaint(s) in person, by telephone, or U.S. Mail, and must request confidentiality.
You can choose to email the Hotline at: OIG_Hotline@epa.gov
to report fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement to EPA's OIG