Contact Us

To find contact information for an Ohio EPA staff member, go to the appropriate division or office, go directly to the county contact list or search for an employee’s phone number using the State of Ohio Employee phone search.

Please help protect Ohio’s environment by identifying and reporting environmental concerns and violations. If you are witnessing a significant release or an environmental emergency that is ongoing, please call Ohio EPA's 24-hour emergency hotline 1-800-282-9378 or (614) 224-0946. To report a suspected non-emergency, environmental violation or concern, contact the appropriate Ohio EPA district office during normal business hours (M-F between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.). Once a complaint is filed, Ohio EPA will further investigate your concerns.

• Illegal disposal and abandonment of waste (solid waste, hazardous waste, tires and construction and  demolition debris).
• Dumping or discharging industrial or agricultural waste into rivers, lakes ditches, storm sewers or to wastewater treatment plants.
• Malfunctioning wastewater treatment plants.
• Smoke or heavy dust emissions from industrial facilities.
• Drinking water with unusual tastes, odors or loss of water pressure.
• Burning of trash, garbage, oily wastes, tires and other materials.
• Destruction, draining and/or filling of wetlands.
• Demolition projects in buildings containing asbestos.
• Falsification of environmental documents such as manifests, sampling results and discharge reports.
• False statements made to regulatory personnel.

An environmental emergency is an immediate and significant threat to public health and/or the environment due to the release of materials to the environment. While an emergency can also constitute a violation, an emergency should be reported immediately to Ohio EPA’s 24-hour spill hotline at 1-800-282-9378 or (614) 224-0946. Examples of emergencies to be reported include:

• Petroleum spills;
• Chemical spill;
• Fires involving chemicals and/or petroleum;
• Accidents causing the release of pollutants to Ohio’s waterways. Industrial chemicals when not properly managed can cause environmental problems; in addition, spills of materials that seem harmless can cause environmental harm if not properly addressed.  For example, large spills of milk and molasses have caused fish kills in Ohio streams.

No, some issues may be under the jurisdiction of federal, other state or local agencies. Ohio EPA does not regulate the following. read more...

• Private septic systems serving one-, two-, or three-family homes (Ohio Department of Health)
• Private drinking water wells (Ohio Department of Health)
• Worker safety issues (Occupational Safety and Health Association)
• Radon and mold (indoor air quality) (Ohio Department of Health)
• Illegal collection of plants or capture or poaching of wildlife (Ohio Department of Natural Resources)
• Illegal mining (Ohio Department of Natural Resources)
• Noise (local ordinances)
• Drainage and flooding issues (local agency, soil and water conservation district)
• Petroleum and fuel underground storage tanks (USTs) (Ohio Department of Commerce, State Fire Marshal Division)

You do not have to provide any personal information in order for Ohio EPA to review your complaint. However, by providing your name and contact information, Ohio EPA will be able to contact you to clarify information or gather additional information from you to help investigate your concerns. All the information submitted, including your contact information may be considered public information and may be released upon request.

Disclaimer: Information provided in a complaint may be used by Ohio EPA to investigate and potentially seek penalties for violations of law. Therefore, the information provided must be true and accurate to the best of your knowledge. Ohio EPA will use the information you provide to determine whether an investigation is warranted.

If you think a company is having emission problems or causing other violations of Ohio EPA’s regulations, you can file a complaint with the local Ohio EPA district office. Our district offices help citizens who want to report an alleged violation of Ohio's environmental laws and conduct complaint investigations. 

The following toll-free hotlines are operated during business hours to offer advice and information, and to assist anyone who wants to submit a non-emergency complaint or to report an alleged violation of Ohio's environmental laws. You are also welcome to email your request or complaint. You may file a complaint anonymously.

When you talk with the district office, it is important to give as many details about the situation as you can, to help ensure that you are directed to the most appropriate division. Ohio EPA follows up on complaints or refers them to another regulatory agency when appropriate. Investigations may lead to enforcement against individuals or facilities.

Once a complaint is filed, the appropriate Ohio EPA division(s) follows up on the information by conducting a complaint investigation, often in coordination with the Office of Special Investigations, the criminal investigative branch of Ohio EPA.  

Examples of alleged violations reported to Ohio EPA include:

• illegal disposal or abandonment of waste (solid waste, hazardous waste and construction and demolition debris);
• burial of waste at unpermitted locations;
• unpermitted discharges into waters of the state or to wastewater treatment plants;
• unpermitted emissions of air pollutants;
• open burning;
• bypassing treatment systems;
• filling of wetlands;
• “rip and tear” asbestos projects;
• falsification of documents such as manifests, waste receipt logs and monthly operating reports; and,
• making false statements to regulatory personnel.

Verified Complaints

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. Ohio Revised Code 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.

An investigation of the allegations will be conducted. If the director determines a violation is evident, the director may issue an order to the violator to correct the problem or request that the Attorney General's Office begin legal proceedings. The Attorney General will dismiss the complaint if he or she determines that prior violations have terminated and future violations are unlikely to occur, or if there was no violation.