As business and industry officials return to their facilities in the wake of Hurricane Ike in the Houston/Gulf Coast area, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reminding them to report spills to the National Response Center.
"The center is integral to these facilities' long-established procedures in response to natural disasters like hurricanes," EPA stated in a news release. "The center serves as the sole point of contact for reporting all oil, chemical, radiological, and biological releases in the United States."
Industries, businesses, and residents that encounter spills or discharges in the hurricane's aftermath should contact the center immediately at 800-424-8802 or 202-267-2675.
The response center supplies EPA's response personnel with incident reports of oil discharges and chemical releases. The information helps EPA determine the agency's next steps in responding to the natural disaster. EPA also coordinates with state and local agencies to support the affected communities.