Reporting Pollution
Regulatory agencies depend on YOU to inform them of environmental hazards, and a variety of city, state and federal agencies take environmental complaints depending on the issue and your location. Making environmental complaints is an important civic act.
Please email rzerbo@cleanair.org or call 215-567-4004 x130 for more information or for assistance in making an environmental complaint.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- You can report violations of environmental laws and regulations to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) here: https://echo.epa.gov/report-environmental-violations
- Click here for more information on contacting the EPA.
National Response Center
- Call the National Response Center if you witness a chemical or oil spill or any other pollution discharge into the environment. Please call 1-800-424-8802 or 202-267-2675. The National Response Center also accepts waste reports regarding agricultural operations.
- You may also report pollution from interstate commerce like railroads, airports, and maritime shipping hubs to the National Response Center.
- Learn more here:
- Nrt.org
- usa.gov/federal-agencies/national-response-center
- epa.gov/emergency-response/national-response-center
- https://www.epa.gov/emergency-response/national-response-system
Previous reports to the National Response Center: Nrc.uscg.mil
In order to make an effective report, you should also contact your county and/or state agencies. Please keep reading for more information on that.
Pennsylvania
- Report environmental incidents and hazards throughout the state of Pennsylvania to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) at this number: 866-255-5158
- Report emergencies, like oil spills, to the DEP: 1-800-541-2050
- Click here to view phone numbers for reporting incidents to DEP’s six individual regional agencies.
Visit this page to make an environmental complaint to DEP online: http://www.depgreenport.state.pa.us/EnvironmentalComplaintForm/
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Pennsylvania Counties
Both Philadelphia and Allegheny Counties have their own air quality agencies.
Philadelphia
- To report a variety of environmental hazards in Philadelphia please visit cleanair.org/complaints for more information.
Allegheny County
- To report a public health emergency in Allegheny County, please call 412-687-2243.
Click here to use the Allegheny County Health Department’s online air quality complaint form. (Please note that you have to first create an online account to use this form.)
