Report hazardous material spills and oil spills by calling 911 or calling the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.

On average, the federal government receives 12 reports of hazardous substance releases each day. In many cases, the person or company responsible for the release is the one who discovers and reports it. In other cases, local law enforcement or firefighters trained to recognize and respond to hazardous substance threats discover the release. Occasionally, ordinary people discover releases of hazardous substances while going about their daily activities.

Understanding of warning signs of a chemical release can mean the difference between a minor incident and a tragic one. Should you ever discover a release of hazardous substances, you should report it as soon as possible to local officials and take precautions to protect yourself and those nearby. Always put your own safety first. Responding safely to releases of hazardous substances requires the expertise and training of experienced professionals. Non-professionals trying to respond to these incidents can become part of the problem, not part of the solution.

Once a hazardous substance release has been discovered and reported, the federal government will take action established procedures for safe investigation and response to the threat.