How to Report a Spill or Environmental Problem

Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin

Reporting a spill?

  1. Contact the U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center at  800-424-8802 or the appropriate state agency (information below), then;
  2. Call ICPRB at 301-274-8133.

If possible, please have the following information available when calling:

  • Name and telephone number of person reporting the spill
  • Location of spill, including:
    • Name of affected stream
    • Street address and/or latitude & longitude
  • Identity of spill material
  • Date and time of release
  • Estimated quantity of material spill: total mass or volume or discharge rate

Suspected pollution incidents should be quickly reported to the authorities.

Oil or chemical spills are pollution events that can impact rivers and streams suddenly and acutely.  Speedy notification of a spill can greatly influence the amount of damage done. The ICPRB encourages the public to report incidents of pollution in the Potomac watershed to authorities, whether it is a foreign substance floating or dissolved in the water, discoloration or foaming, or a fish kill.

Click here to learn more about ICPRB’s spill-tracking tool, the Emergency River Spill Model.

Contact Information by Region or State

It is recommended that you contact a state-level agency to report an environmental problem. The numerous county and local governments in the watershed are quite varied—some have infrastructure in place to deal with these emergencies, while others are smaller and rely on state services. State level emergency offices are usually able to identify a local entity if appropriate.

Contact information for each state in the Potomac River basin can be found below. Each jurisdiction has a specific emergency contact number if the event is an immediate threat to public safety or the environment. These phone numbers are monitored 24 hours a day.

Download a PDF of the Contact List for Drinking Water Emergencies.

Regional Organizations

U. S. Coast Guard National Response Center

Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB)

Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG)

  • RICCS Roam Secure Alert Network/DC Homeland Security Emergency Management Agency
    24 Hours: 202-727-6161
  • Steve Bieber, Chief, Urban Watershed Programs and Homeland Security
    202-962-3219 (office); 202-222-5226 (cell)

U.S. EPA Region 3

Maryland

Drinking Water Emergency

Other Spill or Environmental Issue

If the incident is an immediate environmental threat, call the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) emergency number. For non-emergency events, please email MDE, fill out the online form, or call the relevant office.

 MDE Emergency Contact  866-633-4686
 Fish Kills and Algae Blooms  800-285-8195
 Hazardous Material & Oil Spills  866-633-4686
 Mining  410-537-3557
 Public Sewer Leaks/Overflows  410-537-3510
 Public Water Supply Problems  410-537-3706
 Sediment, Wetland  410-537-3510
 Underground Tank Leaks  410-537-3442

Pennsylvania

Drinking Water Emergency

  • Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) – S. Central Regional Office

Other Spill or Environmental Issue

In the case of an emergency, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). In case of a suspected pollution event that is a non-emergency, contact the Fish and Boat Commission.

 PA DEP Emergency Contact  800-541-2050
 PA Fish and Boat Commission  855-347-4545

Virginia

Drinking Water Emergencies

Other Spill or Environmental Issue

For emergency events, contact the Department of Environmental Quality Department (DEQ) of Emergency Services. If reporting an algal bloom, contact the Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force.

 Department of Emergency Services  800-468-8892
 Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force  888-238-6154

To report a non-emergency event such as a fish kill or related incident, contact the Department of Environmental Quality regional offices.

 Valley Regional Office  540-574-7800
 Piedmont Regional Office  804-527-5020
 Northern Regional Office  703-583-3800

Washington, D.C.

Drinking Water Emergency

  • District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE)
    • John Emminizer, Chief, Emergency Operations
      202-645-5665 (office); 202-281-0885 (cell)
      john.emminizer@dc.gov

Other Spill or Environmental Issue

For fish kills or other concerns regarding pollution in the Washington, D.C. area, please contact the District Department of Energy and Environment during normal business hours. If it is an after-hours emergency, dial 311 (call must originate in the District of Columbia) and the operators will contact the correct government officials.

 District Department of
Energy and Environment		  202-535-2600; DOEE.Enforcement@dc.gov
 After-Hours Emergency  311 (if outside the District, call 202-737-4404)

West Virginia

Drinking Water Emergencies

Other Spill or Environmental Issue

To report a hazardous material spill or other environmental emergency, contact the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). For non-emergency situations, contact the DEP customer service to reach an environmental advocate.

 WV DEP Emergency Contact  800-642-3074
 WV DEP Customer Service  800-654-5227
Contact us for more information