Report a Spill

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Iowa Spill Reporting / EPCRA Section 304: Emergency Release Notification

The State of Iowa requires any person manufacturing, storing, handling, transporting, or disposing of a hazardous substance to notify the department and local law enforcement of the occurrence of a hazardous condition. The notification should be made as soon as possible, but not later than six hours after the onset or discovery of the hazardous condition. Local law enforcement is also required by Iowa Code to report a "Hazardous Condition" to the department within six (6) hours.

EPCRA Section 304 Emergency Release Notification requires notification of federally reportable release to the National Response Center (NRC) and the department within 15 minutes. The federal reportable quantities are found in EPA’s List of Lists.

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Report a Spill

If you've found or witnesses a hazardous spill, contact Iowa DNR and local law enforcement. Make the call as soon as possible. If in doubt, report it! 

515-725-8694

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources' Hazardous Incident Tracking database tracks chemical spills and releases, manure releases, and continuous release notifications.

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Who needs to call?

Contact the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for any of the following situations as soon as possible but no later than required by law. The sooner you contact DNR staff, the more likely they can help you prevent additional risk to public health and safety, or damage to Iowa’s natural resources. 

Environmental Reporting Hotline Guide

 

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How do I know if it’s a hazardous condition?

  • Report it if a hazardous substance such as an acid, heavy metal, paint is involved and it has the potential to leave the property, reach a water of the state (surface or groundwater) or can be detected in the air at the facility’s boundaries.
  • Report it if there is a potential threat to public health and safety, or first responders (fire department, Haz Mat, public health and emergency management) respond to the incident.
  • Report releases that exceed a Federal Reportable Quantity to the National Response Center or to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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Definitions

  • “Hazardous Condition” means any situation involving the actual, imminent or probable spillage, leakage, or release of a hazardous substance onto the land, into a water of the state or into the atmosphere which, because of quantity, strength and toxicity of the hazardous substance, its mobility in the environment and its persistence, creates an immediate or potential danger to the public health or safety or to the environment.
  • “Hazardous Substance” means any substance or mixture of substance that presents a danger to the public health or safety and includes, but is not limited to, a substance that is toxic, corrosive, or flammable, or that is an irritant or that, in confinement, generates pressure through decomposition, heat, or other means. The following are examples of substances which, in sufficient quantity, may be hazardous: acids; alkalis; explosives; fertilizers; heavy metals such as chromium, arsenic, mercury, lead, and cadmium; industrial chemicals; paint thinners; paints; pesticides; petroleum products; poisons; radioactive materials; sludges; and organic solvents.
  • “Hazardous substances” may include any hazardous waste identified or listed by the administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency under the Solid Waste Disposal Act as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, or any toxic pollutant listed under Section 307 of the federal Water Pollution Control Act as amended to January 1, 1977, or any hazardous substance designated under Section 311 of the federal Water Pollution Control Act as amended to January 1, 1977, or any hazardous material designated by the secretary of transportation under the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 CFR 172.101).

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources' Hazardous Incident Tracking database tracks chemical spills and releases, manure releases, and continuous release notifications.

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Forms & Guides

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