Report a spill of oil or hazardous materials

All oil and hazardous materials spills cause environmental damage. The sooner a spill is reported, the quicker it can be addressed, resulting in less harm.

How to report a spill

How you report a spill depends on if you saw the spill, or are responsible for the spill.

General public
If you spill

If you see a spill in water, report it by calling 1-800-OILS-911 (Washington Emergency Management Division, 24/7).

You can also use this phone number to report spills to land or air. During regular business hours, you can call the appropriate Ecology regional office.

Spills of oil or hazardous materials to water must be reported immediately to help reduce impacts to the environment. Failure to report a spill you're responsible for could result in penalties.

If a spill occurs

Stop the spill and warn others in the area immediately.
Shut off any ignition sources, including cigarettes.
Contain the spill.
Report the spill immediately to BOTH:
- 1-800-258-5990 (Washington Emergency Management Division)
- 1-800-424-8802 (National Response Center)

There are no penalties for reporting a spill unnecessarily, but there may be significant penalties for not reporting one.

Reporting different types of spills

Type of spill	Reporting requirements	Required contacts
Oil and hazardous substance spills to water	Report it immediately.	The National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 Washington Emergency Management Division at 1-800-258-5990
Release of hazardous or extremely hazardous substance	Report it immediately. See full EPCRA reporting requirements.	The State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) at 1-800-258-5990 Your Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) The National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802
Dangerous waste	Report it immediately.	Call 911 Notify the appropriate Ecology regional office For unplanned episodic events, also contact an HWTR regional office within 72 hrs.
Leaking underground storage tanks	Report within 24 hours.	Notify the appropriate Ecology regional office
Oil spills to ground	Report within 90 days. Oil industry contingency plan holders may have different reporting timeframes designated by their contingency plans.	Notify the appropriate Ecology regional office
Spills to air	Report within 90 days.	Notify the appropriate Ecology regional office

Contact information

Report spills to water immediately by calling 1-800-258-5990.

If you spill, you must also call 1-800-424-8802.

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Report a spill of oil or hazardous materials

How to report a spill

If a spill occurs

Reporting different types of spills

Related links

Contact information