EPA Whistleblower Attorney in New York, NY

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for enforcing the United States environmental laws, including those related to safe water, clean air, and natural resource conservation. Unfortunately, major cities such as New York are not known for their environmental friendliness.

From companies dumping waste into the Hudson to federal contractors misusing cleanup funds, you can blow the whistle on EPA violations in New York. Discuss the protections and potential compensation available to you with experienced defense lawyer Peter Katz by calling (609) 849-3179 or connecting with his legal team online.

Types of EPA Violations in New York

Whistleblowers are generally insiders, including employees and contractors, with first-hand information regarding potential violations of environmental regulations. Common EPA whistleblower claims include the following:

Overcharging/Claims Fraud

Both the State of New York and the federal government earmark substantial resources for environmental improvement and cleanup projects. These funds are generally granted to contractors, who are in turn responsible for fulfilling the contract and billing the government. EPA contractor fraud often involves overcharging for cleanups or making fraudulent representations during the bidding process. Insiders with knowledge about misused government funds can file whistleblower claims under the federal False Claims Act (FCA) or New York False Claims Act (NYFCA).

Scientific Integrity Violations

The EPA has established specific whistleblower procedures for reporting scientific or scholarly integrity violations, including financial conflicts of interest and ethics-related issues. If you’re a researcher or government scientist with knowledge regarding scientific censorship or integrity, confidentially discuss your rights under the Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 (WPA) with attorney Peter Katz before submitting an official allegation.

Breaches of Environmental Law

If you have first-hand knowledge regarding major breaches of the following environmental laws, discuss your rights with an EPA claims attorney:

• Clean Air Act
• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
• Safe Drinking Water Act
• CERCLA (Superfund)
• Toxic Substances Control Act
• Oil Pollution Act
• Endangered Species and Wildlife Protection Acts

Some whistleblowers are entitled to compensation for reporting environmental breaches and can also obtain specific damages during private civil litigation.

Financial Compensation and Protections Available to Environmental Whistleblowers

Both the FCA and WPA provide whistleblowers with anti-retaliation protections if they make good faith fraud allegations, raise concerns about EPA violations internally, or otherwise participate in an investigation. Employers may not demote, fire, harass, threaten, or otherwise retaliate against good-faith whistleblowers. If they engage in unlawful retaliation, affected employees can obtain significant damages.

The FCA provides specific financial incentives to blow the whistle on EPA fraud due to these inherent risks. The first whistleblower can work with a dedicated FCA lawyer to file a ‘qui tam’ lawsuit on the government’s behalf. If the litigation is successful, whether privately pursued or taken over by the government, the whistleblower can recover between 15 and 30% of any financial award the government obtains. They can also recover reimbursement for attorneys’ fees and court costs.

Consult Our Experienced EPA Whistleblower Lawyer in New York

If you suspect EPA contractor fraud, scientific integrity breaches, or have first-hand knowledge of significant environmental violations, immediately contact experienced NY environmental whistleblower attorney Peter Katz. He can help you confidentially file your claims and obtain substantial whistleblower compensation. Call (609) 849-3179 or connect with him online today.