Environmental Violations
Are you concerned about an environmental situation within your community
but don't know where to go for answers? Here is a list
of numbers to call to report any type of activity you suspect may
not be in compliance with federal environmental regulations. Information
is also provided on the difference between environmental
violations and environmental emergencies.
What types of activities might be considered environmental violations?
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;
- Late night dumping or any criminal activity including
falsifying reports or other documents.
What is the difference between environmental violations
and environmental emergencies?
An environmental violation is a situation which does not comply with
an existing environmental law or regulation. 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
If you are involved in or witness an environmental emergency, you must
call the National Response Center at: 1-800-424-8802. For
more information, see the Concerned Citizens page on Environmental
Emergencies.
Where do I report a suspected violation?
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 as well.
If you need to contact EPA regarding a suspected violation of an
environmental regulation, select the region where the activity is occurring
by clicking within the area of the map covered by the region, choose your
state in the pull-down menu below and select "Go" to go directly
to your region, or use the links located below the map to go directly
to a region.
Region
1 - (888)372-7341
Call this number to report suspected violations within the states of Maine,
New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut.
Region 2 - (212)
637-4080
Call this number to report suspected violations within the states of New
York and New Jersey. In Puerto Rico or US Virgin Islands, call (787) 729-6826.
Region 3 -
(800) 438-2474
Call this number to report suspected violations within the states of Delaware,
Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Region 4
- 1 (800) 241-1754 or (404) 562-9900
Call this number to report suspected violations within the states of Mississippi,
Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, North
Carolina.
Region
5 - (312) 353-2000
Call this number to report suspected violations within the states of Illinois,
Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
Region 6 - (214)
665-2210 or (800) 887-6063 (Region 6 states only)
Call this number to report suspected violations within the states of Arkansas,
Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Region 7 - (800)
223-0425
Call this number to report suspected violations within the states of Iowa,
Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.
Region 8 - (303)-312-6312
or (800) 227-8917 (Region 8 states only)
Call this number to report suspected violations within the states of Colorado,
Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
Region 9 - (415)
947-8713
Call this number to report suspected violations within the states of Arizona,
California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the territories of Guam and American Samoa.
Region
10 - (206) 553-4973 or (800) 424-4372
Call this number to report suspected violations within the states of Alaska,
Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
Additional Concerned Citizens Web Resources
Water | Prevention,
Pesticides & Toxics | Pesticides
| Solid Waste | Chemical
Emergency | Superfund
| Global
Warming |
Region 1: New England States | Region
2: NJ, NY, PR, VI | Region
6: AR, LA, NM, OK, TX | Region
8: Northern/Mountain States
|