Rules and Laws Governing the Voluntary Action Program

Non-Emergency Calls, General Questions, and Concerns

Ohio EPA is currently operating with most staff working remotely. If you are working with our staff on a current project and you know the name of the employee you are working with, email them at firstname.lastname@epa.ohio.gov or call them directly.

Ohio EPA's spill hotline should only be used to report emergencies involving the release of any material that impacts public health or the environment, including chemicals, petroleum, manure, fires/explosions, or to make an emergency notification to Ohio EPA as required by law or by permit.

The regulated community should use the main division number for routine business.

For all other calls, including questions or concerns about environmental issues, please use the toll-free numbers listed below for the nearest district office or contact the public involvement coordinator for your region.

If you receive voice mail when contacting us, please leave a message including a call back phone number and someone will return your call the next business day. To reach a specific individual, please use our phone directory. We also encourage you to email your question or concern when possible.

• Ohio EPA’s main phone line - (614) 644-3020
• Division/Office phone numbers
• E-Check 1-800-CAR-TEST (1-800-227-8378)
• Contacts by County
• Central District Office 1-800-686-2330
• Northeast District Office 1-800-686-6330
• Northwest District Office 1-800-686-6930
• Southeast District Office 1-800-686-7330
• Southwest District Office 1-800-686-8930
• State of Ohio phone search (type environmental into the Agency field to see all Ohio EPA employees)

Submit an Online Environmental Complaint

Information provided in the online form may be used by Ohio EPA to investigate and potentially seek penalties for violations of law. Therefore, the information provided must be true and accurate to the best of your knowledge. Ohio EPA will use the information you provide to determine whether an investigation is warranted.

You do not have to provide any personal information in order for Ohio EPA to review your complaint. However, by providing your name and contact information, Ohio EPA will be able to contact you to clarify information or gather additional information. Please note that if you provide us with contact information, under Ohio Public Records Law, that information will be considered a public record.

Each online submittal is assigned an identifier which can be used to search for the status of the complaint. Submitted complaints are read within two business days and, with limited exceptions, are investigated within 30 days.

Ohio EPA's spill hotline should only be used to report emergencies involving the release of any material that impacts public health or the environment, including chemicals, petroleum, manure, fires/explosions, or to make an emergency notification to Ohio EPA as required by law or by permit.

For all other calls, including questions or concerns about environmental issues, please use the toll-free numbers listed below for the nearest district office or contact the public involvement coordinator for your region.

If you receive voice mail when contacting us, please leave a message including a call back phone number and someone will return your call the next business day. To reach a specific individual, please use our phone directory. We also encourage you to email your question or concern when possible.

• Ohio EPA’s main phone line - (614) 644-3020
• Division/Office phone numbers
• E-Check 1-800-CAR-TEST (1-800-227-8378)
• Contacts by County
• Central District Office 1-800-686-2330
• Northeast District Office 1-800-686-6330
• Northwest District Office 1-800-686-6930
• Southeast District Office 1-800-686-7330
• Southwest District Office 1-800-686-8930
• State of Ohio phone search (type environmental into the Agency field to see all Ohio EPA employees)

Spill Hotline - Report a spill, release or environmental crime

Ohio EPA's spill hotline should only be used to report emergencies involving the release of any material that impacts public health or the environment, including chemicals, petroleum, manure, fires/explosions, or to make an emergency notification to Ohio EPA as required by law or by permit.

For all other calls, including complaints, questions, or concerns about environmental issues, contact the nearest district office to get to the right person faster. For E-Check, call 1-800-CAR-TEST (1-800-227-8378).

When reporting a spill, release or environmental crime through the spill hotline, be prepared with as much of the following information as possible:

• Responsible party (name of carrier, owner,operator or facility).
• Date/time (discovered/occurred).
• Location (address, cross street, mile marker).
• Material(s) (chemical, product, or common name).
• Quantity (estimated release/total).
• Hazards (extremely hazardous substance, placard, materials safety data sheet [MSDS]).
• Affected media/area (air, land or waterway, including threats to ditches, sewers, streams).
• Actions/notifications (evacuations,containment, contractor hired).
• Contacts on scene (responder cell phone number, responsible party, contractor, facility point of contact).
• Other useful information (truck DOT or rail car number, chemical UN ID number, MSDS, etc.).

more >