Is there anyone I could call/email? Would it make a difference?

Question

Upon driving past a stream located near a coal breaker, it seemed like quite a bit of sulfur was flowing into the stream. Haha, I guess I'm doing my part for earth day, even if it's a few days late. Considering I just noticed it, I'm quite sure it's been doing that for a while, so..

I saw the numbers on http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=461121&depNav=|

but I'm kind of doubtful that this would qualify as an "environmental emergency/incident".

So, what are my options? I'm also kind of doubtful that any of the environmental agencies around here would be interested enough to do anything about it anyway, especially not anytime soon... so would there be anything I could do if I got a group together that was interested in cleaning it up, or anything I could do as an individual, etc? This is coming off as sounding incredibly lame in my head, but I guess every step counts, right?

Answer 1

If you don't think it's an emergency, just call the general number under Headquarters for each region, they should be able to point you in the right direction.

Answer 2

One thing a lot of people don't know is that the EPA issues "exemptions" to big time polluters and allows them to pay a fine instead of fixing the problem!  I think this is a ripoff for the taxpayers who are taxed to pay for enforcement.  Many of the worst polluters go this route because it is cheaper for them.  I live right near one of the worst in the country.  Ironically, it is a county water purification plant!  This is basically the same idea as carbon credits, licensing the destruction of the environment.  As an environmentalist I'm against carbon credits too.  They didn't work in Europe, and they won't work in the USA..

Mine, and the others are all listed on the EPA web page as public information.  You want to find and browse the list.  If yours are on there, there isn't a darned thing you can do.

Answer 3

Report it to the local police agency tell them to tell the EPA

Answer 4

If you really want to raise an alarm, I would write a letter to the state environmental agency and I would put a cc: at the bottom and copy the company who is responsible and the local newspaper.   Just make two photocopies of the letter, use a highlighter to highlight each name, and then send the copy to the entity that you highlighted.

What this really does is lets the EPA know that you've alerted the media, and it lets the company know that you've alerted the EPA.   So everyone knows that everyone else is watching.

Be sure, though, that you've got your facts straight.  Do not say that it was sulfur unless you were sure that it was sulfur - say that you smelled a sulfury smell.  Use dates - when did you see this?  Exactly where?   Most of all, make no assumptions - just describe exactly what you saw.  Then say how concerned you are.

I've used this technique before (writing a letter to an entity and then copying other interested parties) with great success.

Good luck.