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Office of Inspector General

Congressional and Media Protocols

April 2018 

Congressional Requests

As Congress is one of the OIG’s primary customers, we carefully consider written requests from any committee or member of Congress that we audit, evaluate or investigate issues within our authority or jurisdiction. The OIG will not begin such work without a written request. Given our limited resources, the OIG may not be able to undertake all requests received from Congress as we must give priority to our mandated work. Congressional mandates include requirements for work directed by statutes or committee reports. Therefore, the OIG recommends that members of Congress and committees consult with the OIG prior to submitting a request so that the OIG can best understand any factors that would affect the priority the OIG will assign to that request.

Media

The OIG’s Office of Congressional and Public Affairs is the primary point of contact for all media inquiries on matters related to the OIG, which ensures that they are handled expeditiously. We understand and appreciate that reporters often work under short deadlines, so our goal is to respond to any inquiry within one business day. We will respond only to media inquiries that pertain to the OIG; inquiries that are program- or policy-oriented will be referred to the EPA’s Office of Public Affairs.

For explanations of some commonly asked questions and misunderstood terms, visit our Frequently Asked Questions and Terms page.

For EPA OIG media inquiries, call the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at (202) 566-2391 or contact Jennifer KaplanJeffrey Lagda or Kentia Elbaum

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OIG Independence of EPA

The EPA's Office of Inspector General is a part of the EPA, although Congress provides our funding separate from the agency, to ensure our independence. We were created pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended Exit.

Environmental Protection Agency  |  Office of Inspector General
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2410T)  |  Washington, DC 20460  |  (202) 566-2391
OIG Hotline: 1-888-546-8740.