Protect the Environment: Report a Violation

Report an oil spill or other environmental emergency that poses a sudden threat to public health.

For emergencies and other sudden threats to public health, such as:

• oil and/or chemical spills
• radiation emergencies
• biological discharges

call the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.

For pesticide poisoning, call 911 if the person is unconscious, has trouble breathing, or has convulsions. Otherwise, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

Report a possible violation of environmental laws or regulations

Fill out the form at epa.gov/tips. If you don't have Internet access, call the EPA office in your area of the country. Many issues are handled at the local level. You may first want to try contacting your local government office for concerns about trash, litter, strange odors, recycling pickup, and household chemical disposal, including paints, pesticides, oil, antifreeze, etc. You can find information about your local government in the blue pages of your telephone book or by contacting your public library.

For concerns that may not be handled at the local level, the next step is to contact your state environmental agency. Information about state agencies can be found in the blue pages of your telephone book.

What's a violation versus an emergency?

An environmental violation occurs when an activity or an existing condition does not comply with an environmental law or regulation. Environmental violations can include (but are not limited to):

• smoke or other emissions from local industrial facilities;
• tampering with emission control or air conditioning systems in automobiles;
• improper treatment, storage, or disposal of hazardous wastes;
• exceedances of pollutant limits at publicly-owned wastewater treatment plants;
• unpermitted dredging or filling of waters and wetlands;
• any unpermitted industrial activity; or
• late-night dumping or any criminal activity including falsifying reports or other documents.

An environmental emergency is a sudden threat to the public health or the well-being of the environment, arising from the release or potential release of oil, radioactive materials, or hazardous chemicals into the air, land, or water.

Examples of environmental emergencies include:

• oil and chemical spills
• radiological and biological discharges
• accidents causing releases of pollutants

These emergencies may occur from transportation accidents, events at chemical or other facilities using or manufacturing chemicals, or as a result of natural or man-made disaster events. If you are involved in or witness an environmental emergency that presents a sudden threat to public health, you must call the National Response Center at: 1-800-424-8802.

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