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Frequent Questions
EMERGENCY
NUMBERS
OTHER REGIONAL TELEPHONE NUMBERS
GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR LOCATION/HOURS
ANNOYING ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES
WORKPLACE CONCERNS
CONTACTING EPA FOR ASSISTANCE
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA)
REAL ESTATE
AIR ISSUES
ASBESTOS
CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS(CFC'S)/FREON
LEAD IN DRINKING WATER
LEAD IN PAINT
NOISE
ODORS
RADON
SUPERFUND/RCRA/CERCLA
WATER
WETLANDS CONCERNS
FINANCIAL STATUS REPORT (FSR)
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
SPILL LINE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCIES: 215-814-9016. NATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER: 1-800-424-8802. SPILLS IN WV - 1-800-642-3074.
OTHER REGIONAL TELEPHONE NUMBERS
REGIONAL OFFICE MAIN
LINE: 215-814-5000
TDD (HEARING IMPAIRED): 215-580-2024
REGIONAL OFFICE LIBRARY: 215-814-5254
HAZARDOUS WASTE LIBRARY: 215-814-5363
SUPERFUND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT HOTLINE: 1-800-553-2509
TOLL-FREE CITIZEN'S HOTLINE: 1-800-438-2474
PUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER: 1-800-438-2474
BUSINESS ASSISTANCE CENTER: 1-800-228-8711
GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR LOCATION/HOURS
Q. What are your hours?
A. Regional Office Hours are Monday through Friday, (national holidays
and weekends excluded): 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Library public hours: 8:00
a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Q. What is your mailing
address?
A. U.S. EPA Region III, 1650 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA
19103-2029
ANNOYING ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES
Some of these concerns are bothersome to people, but may not be hazardous to their health and well-being. Example: noise and non-toxic odors.
Q. Something annoying
is happening in my town. What is EPA going to do about it?
A. Usually the matter is a local or state issue. Citizens should talk
to town officials first, then to the state health department or the state
environmental department. For example, sewer issues are local; large-scale
environmental emergencies are the exception to this rule.
WORKPLACE CONCERNS
Q. How do I report alleged
problems regarding environmental practices in the workplace?
A. Is it an "inside-the-workplace" issue (work conditions)?
Call the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - see Yellow
Pages. If the report is for illegal dumping, see procedures in answer
shown above.
CONTACTING EPA FOR ASSISTANCE
Q. What do I do if I
have contacted the city/county/state and they weren't able to address
my concern?
A. Either call EPA, or send us an E-mail message describing your issue
and we will look into it and promptly get back to you.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA)
Q. What is the name,
address, phone and fax numbers for the Freedom of Information Act Officer?
A. Mr. Richard Van Holt, FOIA Officer, (3EA10) EPA Region III, 1650 Arch
Street Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029. Phone: 215-814-5553 Fax:
215-814-5102.
REAL ESTATE
Q. How do I find out
about the general, overall environmental quality about an area I am thinking
of moving to?
A. Contact the local health department or state environmental department.
They will have the most recent reports on air quality, water quality and
other items you may be concerned about.
Q. How do I find out
about existing environmental hazards on a property I am thinking of buying?
A. You may wish to check with the local health department or state department
of environmental quality for any specifics they may have. For individual
homes, you could hire a certified specialist to look for asbestos, radon,
lead-based paint and other hazards.
Q. I'm thinking of buying
property with a private well. How do I get the water tested?
A. Contact a commercial lab for costs and proper collection methods. You
may wish to talk to a sanitarian from your local health department.
AIR ISSUES
Q. How do I report an
air pollution problem (including dust)?
A. Call state department of environmental quality's air division. See
Yellow Pages for listing.
ASBESTOS
Q. I'm worried about
asbestos in place/removal/etc. Is it a problem?
A. If asbestos is in insulation around pipes, ceiling tiles, or floor
tiles, and is not broken or crumbling, it is best to leave it alone. If
it has to be removed, hire a certified asbestos contractor to do it. Verify
certification with your state environmental agency.
Q. What about asbestos
in public buildings, schools, and homes?
A. There are no state or federal regulations on homes. Schools are regulated
under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). Public buildings
are regulated under the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants. For both schools and buildings, look in the Yellow Pages for
a list of firms specializing in this work.
CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS(CFC'S)/FREON
Q. What are the new
requirements?
A. The kind of freon that harms the atmosphere will not be manufactured
after December 1995. It will still be available to certified technicians
for servicing existing equipment. Freon is required to be recycled. New
equipment uses alternative refrigerants. Shops that service refrigeration
equipment must have a certified recovery unit and certified technicians.
It is illegal to vent (release) freon to the atmosphere.
Q. Who can I call with
questions about CFC's/freon?
A. There is a toll free hotline at 1-800-296-1996. (10:00 a.m. - 4:00
p.m. Monday-Friday) For more information on this topic from EPA's National
WEB server click here.
LEAD IN DRINKING WATER
Q. I'm worried about
lead in water. What can I do about it?
A. Lead leaches into water sitting in lead pipes or pipes with soldering
in the distribution system, usually within a building or house. Before
consuming water, run the tap for 30 seconds. Always use cold water for
consumption and heat cold water for hot beverages.
LEAD IN PAINT
Q. How can I get lead-based
paint poisoning?
A. Poisoning can result from breathing lead paint dust or chewing lead-based
paint chips in properties where this type of paint was used. Peeling lead
paint may leave a film of lead dust on objects in your home. Be sure to
thoroughly wash surfaces on a regular basis and wash children's hands
before they eat. Paint for homes now has no lead, but paint for commercial
uses may still have lead. You should contact your local or state health
department if you need additional information. There is a Lead Hotline
you may wish to consult for further information at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323).
NOISE
Q. How do I report noise
problems?
A. Call your local government (city or county). There is no federal regulation
on noise levels.
ODORS
Q. How do I report an
odor problem?
A. There are no federal regulations governing this. Call your local your
health department (city or county). go to top of page
RADON
Q. How do I test for
radon in my home?
A. You can buy a canister at the hardware store or hire a testing company
to do it. Send the canister to the address shown on it. When you get the
results, call your state environmental agency or EPA for interpretation.
There is a Radon Hotline number you may consult for further information
at 1-800-SOS-RADON.
Q. What can I do to
reduce radon in my home?
A. Contact your state environmental agency for available information.
SUPERFUND/RCRA/CERCLA
Q. How do I get a Superfund
(SF) record (includes administrative records, guidance documents, info
on specific sites, etc.)?
A. Call the SF Records Center, 215-814-3236. You may also call the SF
Community Involvement Hotline at 1-800-553-2509.
Q. I have a question
about/need to obtain an ID number for hazardous waste.
A. For RCRA, call Harriet Morrell, 215-814-3408 (all states except Pennsylvania),
or Lynn Zhao, 215-814-1230 (Pennsylvania only).
Q. Can I access the
CERCLIS database?
A. No. The CERCLIS database contains restricted data and can be accessed
only by EPA employees. However, portions of information on the database
are releasable. For information about this contact Cornelius Carr at 215-814-3147.
Q. I want EPA to test
my soil for contaminants.
A. EPA does not test soil for property owners, except in emergency situations.
Contact your local health department if you have any concerns about this.
WATER
Q. I want EPA to test
my water.
A. EPA does not test water, except in emergency conditions. Contact a
certified testing laboratory in your area.
Q. What about bottled
water/purifying systems?
A. EPA does not have a policy or position on this. For other opinions,
contact your local office of the Food and Drug Administration, the International
Bottled Water Association (703-683-5213), or NSF International (313-769-5106).
NSF endorses a number of water purification products.
WETLANDS CONCERNS
Q. I suspect that wetlands
are being impacted by somebody's action? What can I do if I have questions?
A. Call your local construction code official or zoning board. They had
to approve the development, should have studied the environmental impacts
and allowed public comment before approving the development. See what
they tell you. If your answers aren't fully addressed, talk to other officials
higher up in the city, county, state, Army Corps of Engineers, or EPA.
FINANCIAL STATUS REPORT (FSR)
Q. Does Region 3 have
any information on Financial Status Reports?
A. Region 3 has posted a new page for Financial
Status Report Prep Package information. This new "post award"
package contains useful files for any of our Region III assistance recipients
who need to prepare and submit their Financial Status Reports (FSRs).
Updated: 11/05/2001
URL: http://www.epa.gov/region03/faq.htm
