vvEPA U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Office of Inspector General "tiSPEC T0 t 4 :/ho3 ~ cO ORGANIZATION PROFILE as of March 2020 ------- RETURN ON INVESTMENT 2020 Budget: $53.1 million Returns: $61.1 million PAYROLL PERCENTAGE of budget 809®9£®nnojt998M U.S. EPA OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL ------- OCTOBER 2019 - MARCH 2020 INVESTIGATE Company's owner sentenced for fraudulent certification Based on a tip provided to the OIG Hotline, we investigated a company for fraudulently certifying to the EPA that 830 homes in Florida met ENERGY STAR standards. In October 2019, the company's owner was sentenced to 36 months of probation and fined $31,125 for making a false statement to the EPA. As a direct result of this investigation, in March 2020, the EPA debarred both the owner and his company from participating in federal contracts and assistance activities for three years. This investigation illustrates how our work is not done in a vacuum and how working collaboratively with hotline complainants, whistleblowers, and the Agency helps us both detect and prevent fraud. 2 ------- ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT Diagnosed EPA hurricane responses regarding air quality and water systems, and reported environmental and human health impact improvement opportunities for future disaster emergency responses including procedural, partnership, data, and communication reforms. Alerted the EPA and public of potential exposure to contamination after discovering slag, a waste material from historical mining and smelting, being provided or sold as a souvenir in Anaconda, Montana, despite the material being unapproved for that usage. Identified areas for improvements in the "circuit rider" program to better detect and prevent pesticide misuse and unnecessary risks to human health and the environment in Indian country. Mitigated harmful human health impacts by alerting EPA management to inform residents living near facilities with significant ethylene oxide emissions about their elevated cancer risks. Uncovered EPA's failure to assess potential air quality impacts on children's health for proposed Glider Repeal Rule allowing used engines in heavy-duty trucks. HOTLINE OIG_Hotline@epa.gov | 888-546-8740 @EPAoig EPA. gov/O IG YouTube.com/EPAoig ------- |