What is the difference between environmental violations and environmental emergencies?
An environmental violation is a situation which does not comply with an existing environmental law or regulation. An environmental emergency is a sudden threat to the public health, or the well-being of the environment, arising from the release or potential release of oil, radioactive materials, or hazardous chemicals into the air, land, or water. Examples of environmental emergencies include: • Oil and chemical spills • Radiological and biological discharges • Accidents causing releases of pollutants If you are involved in or witness an environmental emergency, you must call the National Response Center at: 1-800-424-8802. For more information, see the Concerned Citizens page on Environmental Emergencies.
