In times of economic crisis, one obvious victim is environment. Under excuses of lack of resources for pollution control, businessmen and industrialists stop their investments in the area. This article shows that public administration could well help industry to control pollution at a low cost, the key for that being the figure of the environmental officer.Papel dos órgãos públicos no controle da poluição ambiental. Definição de auditor ambiental. Formação e funções do auditor ambiental. Exemplos de atuação do auditor ambiental. Trabalho desvinculado de consultoras. Preço reduzido de seus serviços.