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.

Top of Page

Vision, Mission and Core Values

Top of Page

IG Biography

Inspector General Sean O’Donnell

(click to enlarge)Sean W. O’Donnell was sworn in as the Inspector General of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on January 27, 2020. The mission of the Office of Inspector General is to promote economy and efficiency at the EPA and the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, as well as detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse related to the programs and operations of those two agencies. To this end, Mr. O’Donnell oversees a nationwide workforce of attorneys, auditors, special agents, and support personnel who support the Office’s mission by providing evidence-based reports to the agencies, the public, and to Congress.  

Prior to becoming the Inspector General, Mr. O’Donnell spent 15 years at the U.S. Department of Justice, most recently as a prosecutor in the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section. Over his career at the DOJ, he handled a wide range of criminal and civil matters, such as commercial and governmental fraud, corruption, and national security matters. In total, Mr. O’Donnell’s work in fighting fraud helped return approximately $3 billion to the U.S. Treasury and brought numerous individuals and corporations to justice. Mr. O’Donnell received numerous awards and honors at the DOJ, including the Attorney General’s Award and the Executive Office for United States Attorneys Director’s Award. 

Early in his career, Mr. O’Donnell clerked for U.S. Circuit Judge Raymond Gruender on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and U.S. District Judge Harry Lee Hudspeth on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. He also spent time in private practice, working on intellectual property and antitrust litigation, among other matters. Mr. O’Donnell is active in his community, having served on his city’s redistricting and ethics commissions. His contribution to youth sports in his community has been recognized through awards and other accolades.

Mr. O’Donnell has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Texas A&M University, a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Washington, and a master’s degree in economics and a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Deputy IG Biography 
 

Deputy Inspector General Charles J. Sheehan

Charles 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

Sean W. O’Donnell, Inspector General
Biography of the Inspector General

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

Edward S. Shields, Associate Deputy Inspector General

Return to OIG Org Chart

Office of Audit 

Katherine Trimble, Assistant Inspector General for Audit 
James Hatfield, Associate Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audit

The Office of Audit conducts financial and performance audits to determine the efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance of Agency  business operations and financial management. Audits assess the potential for fraud, waste, and abuse; the award and management of grants and contracts; management of information technology; and ways to realize cost savings and other efficiencies.

_{[1] “Agency” refers both to the U.S. Environment Protection Agency and the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.}

Return to OIG Org Chart

Office of Counsel

VACANT, Counsel to the Inspector General
Eric Hanger, Deputy Counsel to the Inspector General
Susan Barvenik, Associate Deputy Counsel

The Office of Counsel provides independent legal and policy advice to all components of the Office of the Inspector General 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, our Agencies, or the public.

Return to OIG Org Chart

Office of the Chief of Staff

Benjamin May, Chief of Staff
Jennifer Kaplan, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Congressional and Public Affairs

The Office of the Chief of Staff encompasses Strategic Planning and Initiatives, Congressional and Public Affairs, and Data Analytics directorates. SPI oversees the OIG’s strategic and annual plans; leads the development of top management challenges for the EPA and the CSB; and initiates projects to identify best OIG practices. CPA communicates with Congress, the news media, and the general public about the OIG’s work; edits, publishes online, and disseminates OIG reports and correspondence; manages the OIG’s website and social media platforms; and oversees the OIG Hotline.  DA supports the Office of Audit, the Office of Evaluation, and the Office of Investigations by leveraging advanced analytics that highlight key risk areas to program integrity within EPA programs and operations.  SPI, CPA, and DA support all aspects of the EPA OIG mission.

In addition, the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs is responsible for the OIG Hotline, which encourages suggestions for assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of agency programs, and receives complaints of fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement in EPA programs and operations, as well as violations of law, regulations and policies by EPA and CSB employees, grantees, contractors and program participants.

Return to OIG Org Chart

Office of Evaluation

VACANT, Assistant Inspector General for Evaluation
Rashmi Bartlett, Acting Assistant Inspector General for Evaluation
Christine El-Zoghbi, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Evaluation

The Office of Evaluation conducts evaluations of EPA programs and activities that support clean air, clear water, safer chemicals, cleaner communities, and scientific research. The office assesses the design, implementation, and measurement of EPA programs, including evidence of program effectiveness and results.

Return to OIG Org Chart

Office of Investigations

Helina P. Wong, Assistant Inspector General for Investigations
Craig Ulmer, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations
Allan Williams, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations

The Office of Investigations investigates allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct having an impact on EPA programs and operations. OI refers its findings to the U.S. Department of Justice for prosecution or to EPA or EPA OIG management for action. The types of allegations our special agents may investigate include, but are not limited to:

• Financial fraud, such as contract and grant fraud.
• Employee Integrity.
• Cybercrime.
• Laboratory Fraud.
• Theft of EPA property or funds.

Return to OIG Org Chart

Office of Management

Stephanie Wright, Assistant Inspector General for Management
VACANT, Acting Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Management
Jee Kim,  Associate Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Management

The Office of Management 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 Directorate supports budget formulation and execution, planning and policy, and facilities management. The Human Resources Directorate 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 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: