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 pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended Exit.

Learn more in our OIG Brochures on Fraud, Waste and Abuse. For explanations of some commonly asked questions and misunderstood terms, visit our Frequently Asked Questions and Terms page.

What We Do

Conduct independent audits, evaluations and investigations; make evidence-based recommendations to promote economy, efficiency and effectiveness; and prevent and detect fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement and misconduct for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. We also provide hotline services to our agencies. 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 a premier oversight organization trusted to speak the truth, promote good governance, and contribute to improved human health and the environment. We provide solutions to problems that ultimately result in making America a cleaner and healthier place.

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Vision, Mission and Core Values

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IG Biography

Acting Inspector General Charles J. Sheehan

click to enlargeCharles J. Sheehan became Deputy Inspector General of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in April 2012. Before his appointment, Mr. Sheehan served four years as Judge on the EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board. Prior to this, he was the Regional Counsel for EPA Region 6, comprising Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Before entering the EPA, Mr. Sheehan was General Counsel of the U.S.-Mexico Border Environment Cooperation Commission. For nearly 15 years, he was a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice, most of that period with the department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, where he represented the EPA and other federal agencies in enforcement and defensive litigation in district and appellate courts under major federal environmental statutes. 

Mr. Sheehan earned a bachelor’s degree from Boston College and a Juris Doctor degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. He is a member of the bar of the District of Columbia.

How We Are Organized

Explore the EPA Office of the Inspector General organization chart and learn more about the different offices within the OIG.

Immediate Office of the Inspector General

Charles J. Sheehan, Acting Inspector General
Biography of the Inspector General

Edward S. Shields​, Acting Deputy Inspector General

Edward Shields, currently serving as acting Deputy Inspector General, is the Assistant Inspector General for Management within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Inspector General (EPA OIG).  

Mr. Shields has over 30 years of government experience in auditing, human resources, budget and IT. He started his auditing career performing contract and financial auditing with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Contract Audit Agency.  His focus then shifted to IT auditing, which eventually led him to the EPA OIG in 1994.  During his time at the EPA OIG, Mr. Shields has effectively held multiple leadership positions that also include Audit Team Leader, Director for IT Audits, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Human Capital and Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Mission Systems.  

Mr. Shields earned a bachelor’s degree from Bowie State University, is the proud father of two children and resides in the greater Washington, D.C., area with his wife, Eleanor.

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Office of Audit and Evaluation

Kevin Christensen, Assistant Inspector General for Audit and Evaluation
Richard Eyermann, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audit and Evaluation
Christine El-Zoghbi, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audit and Evaluation

The Office of Audit and Evaluation designs and implements long-term, nationwide audit plans to improve the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of agency programs and prevent fraud, waste and mismanagement. This office leads and participates in multi-agency projects to address governmentwide management issues. This office also includes a multidisciplinary workforce that evaluates the design, implementation and measurement of EPA programs including evidence of program effectiveness and results. 

This office performs audits related to the following areas:

• Air
• Contracts and assistance agreements
• Efficiency
• Environmental research
• Financial statements
• Forensic reports
• Information resources management
• Land cleanup and waste management
• Toxic, chemical management and pollution prevention
• Water

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Office of Investigations

Craig Ulmer, Acting Assistant Inspector General and Current Deputy Inspector General for Investigations
Allan Williams, 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.

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Office of Counsel & Congressional and Public Affairs

Counsel

Eric Hanger, Acting Counsel to the Inspector General
VACANT, 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, 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.

Congressional and Public Affairs

VACANT, Assistant Inspector General for Congressional and Public Affairs
Jennifer Kaplan, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Congressional and Public Affairs

The Office of Congressional and Public Affairs (OCPA) communicates with Congress, the news media and the general public about the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG’s) work, including responding to inquiries and requests. OCPA edits, publishes online and disseminates OIG reports and correspondence. This office also is responsible for managing the OIG’s website and social media platforms, creating multimedia products, operating the OIG’s main phone line and email inbox, and handling internal communications.

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Office of Management

James A. Nussbaumer, Acting Assistant Inspector General for Management
Stephanie Wright, Acting Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Management

The Office of Management (OM) serves as the corporate focal point, under the Immediate Office of the Inspector General. OM 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.

OM is comprised of three directorates which provide support services for Budget, Planning, Performance Results, Human Resources, and Information Technology. These directorates form the cornerstone of the available management services within the OIG. The Business Analysis and Results (BAR) Directorate supports budget formulation and execution, planning and policy and facilities management. The Human Resources Directorate (HRD) provides operational support for Human Resource activities such as recruiting and staffing while the Human Capital component addresses employee development and employee relations. Lastly, the Information Technology Directorate (ITD) provides software development, infrastructure and technical support services along with Information Security, Records and Property Management. 

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 U.S. CSB is authorized by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 Exit and became operational in January 1998.

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) conducts annual financial audits and evaluations of information security. The OIG also reports on CSB programs.

In addition to audits, 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 Exit

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: