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Report Suspected Enrironmental Problems!
Please report potentially hazardous spills, foul odors, dumping, or discoloration in water or along banks. If you see a potentially hazardous material flowing to a storm sewer, ditch or waterway, immediately call(depending upon site location):
Ohio River & Tributary pollution:
Ohio EPA Spill Line: 800-282-9378
Columbus Dept. Public Utlilities, Sewerage & Drainage Div.:
Water Pollution Prevention hotline: 614-645-STREam 7873 (24 hrs).
Sewer Maintenance Operations Center: 614-645-7102 (24 hrs).
Or contact City of Columbus Service Call Center: locally, 311, or 614-645-3111.
Columbus Sewer Overflow Discharge Information (includes GIS maps)
(for Alum Creek watershed - see SSO # 12-16,18,23, 41, CSO # 44)
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Federal Clean Water Act possible violations Notify Ohio EPA of land construction development (commercial, business or residential, roadways, etc.) with suspected issues and non-compliance matters in following Best Management Practices (BMPs).
Telltale signs: look for muddy colored standing water, dirty runoff, eroded ditches or ravines, dried mud in or around alleged site - streets, sidewalks, stream banks, tributaries, etc.
Matters can involve any dirt excavation, grading, and movement of soil without erected silt barriers; piles of dirt (dormant 7 days+) that haven't been stabilized from erosion with straw and grass seed; lack of large gravel to clean equipment's wheels before leaving work site; lack of temporary filter covers over storm sewer drain grates (catch basin inserts); lack of straw bales within small downstream nearby tributary to prevent sediment runoff; rerouting or covering or filling natural water tributaries creeks, streams, wetland, etc. without proper permits; and adding storm sewer outlets into existing creeks, rivers, or streams without proper permits.
Ohio EPA follows up on complaints, or refers them to another regulatory agency when appropriate.
To electronically request information or submit a complaint**, please e-mail your request or complaint to info-request@www.epa.state.oh.us; &/or in central Ohio you may contact directly:
Storm Water Coordinator, Ohio EPA, Central District Office Division of Surface Water
50 West Town Street, Suite 700, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
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**To submit a more formal complaint regarding an alleged violation of Ohio's environmental laws, citizens may submit a verified complaint to Ohio EPA. Upon receipt of a verified complaint, the Director of Ohio EPA must initiate a prompt investigation, to determine if the alleged violation has occurred, is occurring or will occur .
-The person submitting a verified complaint must claim that he/she has been or will be aggrieved or adversely affected by the alleged violation. The complaint must identify a violation of any law, rule, standard or order, license, permit, variance or plan approval. These violations must relate to air or water pollution, solid or hazardous waste, infectious wastes, construction and demolition debris or a public water supply. Also, alleged violations of a law, rule, standard or order may relate to cessation of chemical handling operations.
-The complaint must be in writing and labeled VERIFIED COMPLAINT. ORC Section 3745.08 requires the complaint to be verified by the affidavit of the complainant, his agent or attorney. The person before whom the affidavit is taken shall certify that it was sworn to before him/her and signed in his/her presence.
-Ohio EPA suggests the verified complaint identify the alleged violator, give detailed statements of fact, offer documentation of the violation (such as digital photos) and be mailed to the Director of the Ohio EPA.
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City of Columbus Recreation & Parks-Greenway trails
Report possible violations, destruction of Columbus parkland habitat, conservation easement, or property, trespassing, vehicle encroachment, etc. Include any photo documentation, date, time, location, & description of issue & concerns to:
Repair, maintenance, or service issues should be reported to the City of Columbus 311 Call Center, a single point of contact for citizens to submit a request for non-emergency city services within Columbus. Either call locally, 311, or 614-645-3111, or submit an electronic service request via http://311.columbus.gov.
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