THE NEWS ROOM

 FOR RELEASE:
 August 18, 2010

THE BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT, 
REGULATION AND ENFORCEMENT 

Office of Public Affairs 


Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement
Announces Misconduct Reporting Hotline

WASHINGTON, DC – Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) Director Michael R. Bromwich today announced the creation of a new online and telephone hotline for reporting misconduct and unethical behavior involving BOEMRE personnel, and misconduct by persons and companies who interact with BOEMRE personnel.

In one of his first steps in reforming the bureau, Director Bromwich established an Investigations and Review Unit (IRU), a team of prosecutors, FBI agents, and enforcement officials whose mission is to: promptly and credibly respond to allegations or evidence of misconduct and unethical behavior by bureau employees; pursue allegations of misconduct by oil and gas companies involved in offshore energy projects; and assure the Bureau's ability to respond swiftly to emerging issues and crises. The IRU will evaluate all information submitted through the hotline and will, where appropriate, investigate allegations of misconduct.

“The creation of the IRU and the launch of this hotline are critical steps in our work to reform this agency. We will take reported actions of misconduct, either within BOEMRE or by industry, very seriously and will investigate these allegations promptly and aggressively,” said Director Bromwich.

Allegations of misconduct or unethical behavior involving BOEMRE personnel or persons who interact with BOEMRE personnel can be reported online by going to www.boemre.gov/iru or by calling 877-440-0173 or 202-208-5646. The Department of the Interior’s Office of the Inspector General may also, as appropriate, investigate such allegations.

The new hotline and the IRU are integral to BOEMRE’s ongoing efforts to revise and reform its enforcement and ethics policies. Use of the hotline by anyone with relevant information will enhance BOEMRE’s ability to detect and, where necessary, move swiftly to address misconduct and unethical behavior.

Contact: BOEMRE Public Affairs