Reporting and Protections
Seeking Advice or Assistance
To have a culture of scientific integrity The adherence to professional practices, ethical behavior, and the principles of honesty and objectivity when conducting, managing, using the results of, and communicating about science and scientific activities. Inclusivity, transparency, and protection from inappropriate influences are hallmarks of Scientific Integrity. [EPA 2025 Scientific Integrity Policy], there must be policies and training to support that culture, a place to turn for advice Information or assistance provided by the Scientific Integrity Official or any Deputy Scientific Integrity Official, including general discussions of administrative processes and procedures, clarifications of potential scientific integrity issues, clarification of any aspect of EPA’s Scientific Integrity Policy, and discussion of whether a concern is a scientific integrity issue. Advice and other early consultations are not considered allegations of a loss of scientific integrity Failure, intentional or not, to adhere to the Scientific Integrity Policy or to the principles of honesty, objectivity, and transparency; professional practices; and/or ethical behavior when conducting, managing, using the results of, and communicating about science and scientific activities. [EPA 2025 Scientific Integrity Policy]. [EPA 2025 Scientific Integrity Policy] to prevent a loss of scientific integrity Failure, intentional or not, to adhere to the Scientific Integrity Policy or to the principles of honesty, objectivity, and transparency; professional practices; and/or ethical behavior when conducting, managing, using the results of, and communicating about science and scientific activities. [EPA 2025 Scientific Integrity Policy], and a recourse procedure when lapses are alleged to have occurred. EPA's procedures focus on prevention by encouraging employees to identify situations early that could lead to violations and by providing for timely advice or assistance from the Scientific Integrity Official, the Deputy Scientific Integrity Officials and immediate supervisors.
Reporting an Allegation of a Loss of Scientific Integrity
If advice and assistance does not resolve the issue, an allegation An accusation of a suspected loss of scientific integrity or violation of the EPA's Scientific Integrity Policy that is specifically designated as an allegation by the submitter. [EPA 2025 Scientific Integrity Policy] may be filed. To report an allegation of the loss of scientific or scholarly integrity, submit it in writing to the Scientific Integrity Official (SIO), one of the Deputy Scientific Integrity Officials (DSIOs), or the Office of Inspector General.
Any matter concerning an allegation of a financial conflict of interest From a federal ethics perspective, the term “conflict of interest” refers to representational or financial conflicts as defined in the conflicts of interest laws codified in Title 18 of the United States Code, §§ 201 to 209. Whether an employee has any federal ethics conflict is determined by Agency ethics officials only and subject to federal ethics laws for any disclosure. [EPA 2025 Scientific Integrity Policy] or other ethics issue involving federal employees will be referred to the appropriate Deputy Ethics Official or Office of General Counsel/Ethics.
Allegations may be submitted by individuals or entities, internal or external to the Agency. An initial notice of an allegation of scientific and scholarly misconduct or loss of scientific integrity loss of scientific integrity reported to the SIO or DSIO should contain the following information:
- The name, affiliation and signature of the person(s) submitting the allegation and the name and organization of the person(s) alleged to have committed the misconduct or actions leading to the loss of integrity. If submitted electronically, it must be from an email readily linked to the identity of the person submitting.
- A description of the alleged misconduct or loss of integrity that includes:
- Date
- Circumstances
- Location
- An explanation of how the allegation relates to scientific and scholarly misconduct or loss of integrity and that demonstrates the impact of the alleged misconduct or loss of integrity.
- A statement explaining any personal or professional extenuating circumstances, non-scientific disagreements or conflict(s) of interest the person making the allegation has with the subject(s), entity(ies) or situation(s), named in the allegation.
- A statement indicating if this allegation is being considered or has been submitted elsewhere, such as:
- Another EPA office
- Court of law
- Other jurisdiction
- Complaint process
- Governmental office
- EPA's Office of Inspector General
Contacts for Reporting an Allegation
- Scientific Integrity Official
- Scientific Integrity Official: Francesca Grifo, Ph.D.
- Deputy Scientific Integrity Officials
- Office of Inspector General Hotline
- Office of General Counsel/Ethics
Whistleblower Protections at EPA
The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 bolstered the protections and rights found in the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989. The enhanced Act provides whistleblower protection for government scientists who challenge censorship of scientific information or make whistleblower disclosures related to the integrity of scientific processes. In response, the EPA Office of Inspector General (OIG) has designated a Whistleblower Protection Coordinator to be responsible for educating employees about whistleblower protections, rights and remedies.