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Emergency Environmental Cleanup Guide
Does your community have commercial properties with:
- Abandoned buildings housing containers of chemicals, hazardous waste or oil;
- Improper storage of chemicals, hazardous waste or oil;
- Contaminated soil or drinking water;
- or Poor compliance with environmental, fire code or worker protection standards?
EPA can help
The Agency's Emergency Response and Removal Program conducts cleanup operations at hazardous waste sites, responds to chemical and oil spills, and removes abandoned chemicals from communities before the materials cause direct harm to the public or contaminate soil or drinking water.
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ABANDONED CHEMICALS EPA responds promptly to investigate reports of chemicals (drums, pails, bottles, or other containers) in abandoned commercial or industrial buildings. If EPA determines that a site containing abandoned chemicals presents an immediate and substantial threat to public health and safety, EPA can take corrective action by directing the responsible party to clean up and remove the materials or by initiating a Removal Action under Superfund authorization. These cleanups, which are generally completed within one year, are conducted when hazardous substances pose an imminent threat to the public or the environment. Because Superfund holds that owners of property are generally responsible for cleanup costs, some municipalities have expressed concern about being liable on the properties that they own. However, Superfund contains an exemption from liability specifically for Governmental entities, such as municipalities, if they are the owner of a contaminated property acquired in connection with a bankruptcy, tax delinquency, abandonment, or similar circumstance, as long as they did not cause or contribute to the contamination. More information on this exemption is available through the Superfund Ombudsman. |
Oil or Abandoned Chemicals National
Response Center New
York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) - Division
of Environmental Remediation To report environmental incident in NJ, call: 1-877-WARNDEP / 1-877-927-6337 |
| COMMUNITY ACCESS The EPA Superfund Ombudsman serves as a point of contact for the public, industry and government representatives to resolve concerns and provide information and guidance on Superfund issues. EPA Community Involvement Coordinators are also available to answer questions and provide information to the public. |
Superfund Ombudsman EPA Region 2 - Superfund Ombudsman Questions or complaints concerning EPA's Superfund
program: |
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CHEMICAL SPILL RESPONSE EPA provides technical assistance (including air monitoring) and logistical support to local emergency response organizations responsible for responding to chemical spills and air releases. EPA can fund a spill cleanup in the absence of appropriate actions by the responsible party. In addition, improper storage or segregation of chemicals in a warehouse may pose the threat of an accidental release, which EPA can take action to correct. EPA also responds to investigate reports of illegal dumping of chemicals and/or hazardous waste. |
Release from Underground Petroleum Storage Tanks New
Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) - Site Remediation
Program Underground Staorage Tanks Information To report environmental incident in NJ, call: 1-877-WARNDEP / 1-877-927-6337 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) - Spill Response and Remediation(518) 402-9549 |
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OIL SPILL RESPONSE EPA responds to oil spills to ensure proper cleanup, and investigates reports of discharges of oil from facilities and reports of improperly stored oil. EPA inspects commercial, industrial and government facilities for compliance with federal oil storage and emergency response regulations. Underground petroleum storage tank programs are administered by each state (NY or NJ) environmental agency. |
Public Outreach EPA
Region 2 Superfund - Brownfields Resource Directory |
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HAZARDOUS WASTE Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) EPA=s RCRA program inspects operating facilities and investigates reports of improper storage or disposal of hazardous waste. EPA can take necessary corrective actions, including inspections or enforcement actions, against the facilities, to ensure compliance with hazardous waste storage and disposal regulations. |
Hazardous Waste EPA
Region 2 - RCRA Hazardous Waste Compliance New
Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) - Hazardous
Waste Regulation New
York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) - Hazardous
Waste Program |
