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Environmental Emergencies | en
español
Whom to notify and how to be prepared in case of an environmental emergency.
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. 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. While there are
many other serious environmental problems with which EPA is concerned,
these activities are focused generally on sudden, immediate threats.
To Report Oil and Chemical
Spills,
call the National Response Center:
1-800-424-8802
Different Kinds of Environmental Emergencies
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Chemical
spills/accidents - In response to the public concern
about chemical spills and accidents, EPA created its Chemical Emergency
Preparedness Program (CEPP) as a voluntary program to encourage state
and local authorities to identify hazards in their areas and to plan
for potential chemical emergencies. This local planning complements
emergency response planning carried out at the national and regional
levels by the National Response
Team 
and Regional Response Teams.
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Oil spills
- This Web site provides information about the U.S. EPA's program
for preventing, preparing for, and responding to oil spills that occur
in and around inland waters of the United States.
Who plans for and responds to these emergencies?
There is a complex system of responsibilities for these types of emergencies
because there are many parts to them. In general, responsibilities are
spread across the federal, state and local sectors, depending upon the
size and type of the emergency and involve the environmental, emergency
management, public safety, and public health agencies of the three levels
of government. In addition, industry has a very important role to play
in preparing for and responding to such emergencies.
Some Important Key Groups
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The National Response Team
is made up of fifteen federal agencies with responsibilities for preparing
for, or responding to, major oil or hazardous chemical emergencies.
EPA is the chair with the U.S Coast Guard as vice-chair, and corresponding
regional teams are in each of the ten federal regions.
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Area Contingency
Committees are made up of regional representatives which specifically
plan for oil spills.
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The Federal Response Disaster Group is made up of over 30
federal agencies with responsibilities for preparing for or responding
to major national disasters.
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The Federal Radiological
Preparedness Group is made up of 17 federal Departments and
Agencies. They respond to radiological emergencies under the Federal
Radiological Emergency Response Plan (FRERP).
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The American Red Cross
is America's largest humanitarian organization, helping people each
year prevent, prepare for and cope with emergencies.
Click here for more information
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
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