North America and the Caribbean

BARBADOS

Environmental Protection Department

Country Barbados Information provider Y
International Advice provider Y
Regional Centre X Response capability Y
Government X 24 Hour service N
Commercial Subscription required N
Academic
Tel:  +1 246 535 4600 or +1 246 535 4601
Fax: +1 246 228 7103
Description: The Environmental Protection Department is the Government Department responsible for environmental protection through the promotion of sustainable practices, education, partnerships and the enforcement of legislation. Bodies responsible for marine environmental protection, both from land-based activities and from sea-based activities are the following: Coastal Zone Management Unit, Coast Guard, Chief Parliament Counsel, National Conservation Commission, Ministry of International Transport - Harbour Master, and Port Authority. The Environmental Protection Department opening hours are Mon-Fri: 08:15am -16:30pm local time (4 hours behind GMT).
 

USA/CARIBBEAN/HAWAII

Marine Spill Response Corporation (MSRC)

Country USA/Caribbean/Hawaii Information provider Y
International X Advice provider
Regional Centre X Response capability Y
Government 24 Hour service Y
Commercial X Subscription required Y
Academic
Tel:  +1 703 326 5617
Fax: +1 703 326 5660
"Call for Response" via customer login page at: www.msrc.org
Web site: www.msrc.org
Description: MSRC offers oil spill response services and aims to mitigate damage to the environment. These services include response to oil spills of any size, shoreline cleanup and hazardous material spill response. MSRC also provides additional response capabilities through a network of contractors that make up MSRC's Spill Team Area Responders or STARs to assist response to oil spills outside the US. MSRC has dedicated resources in the continental US, Hawaii, and the Caribbean and is well positioned to provide rapid response in these areas. MSRC offers response and cleanup services in the "Oceans", "Inland", and "Rivers and Canals" operating environments on the US East, Gulf and West coasts, the Caribbean and the Hawaiian Islands.
 

CANADA

National Environmental Emergencies Center, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Country Canada Information provider Y
International X Advice provider Y
Regional Centre X Response capability Y
Government X 24 Hour service Y
Commercial Subscription required N
Academic
Tel: +1 819 997 3742
Fax: +1 819 953 5361
Web site: www.ec.gc.ca
Description: Canada's Environmental Emergencies Program deals with prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. The Environment and Climate Change Canada's National Environmental Emergencies Center (NEEC) provides 24-hour, seven-day-a-week response support and advice to the lead agency in the event of an environmental emergency. The program is composed of a regulatory and policy body in Gatineau, Québec and a preparedness and response team in Montreal, Québec. These teams work in collaboration with other specialized agencies to provide advice to prevent, prepare for and respond to environmental emergencies. In the event of an environmental emergency, federal and provincial/territorial authorities need to be notified.
 

Canadian Transport Emergency Centre (CANUTEC)

Country Canada Information provider Y
International Advice provider Y
Regional Centre X Response capability Y
Government X 24 Hour service Y
Commercial Subscription required N
Academic
Tel:  +1 613 996 6666 or +1 888 226 8832
Fax: +1 613 954 5101
Web site: www.tc.gc.ca
Description: CANUTEC is operated by the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Directorate of Transport Canada. CANUTEC provides a national bilingual (French and English) advisory service and is staffed by professional chemists experienced and trained in interpreting technical information and providing emergency response advice. CANUTEC staff provide advice and information by telephone. In some instances, standard information and data can also be transmitted in printed copy to the site. This complements the verbal advice and recommendations given by CANUTEC staff members. CANUTEC can also provide communication links with the appropriate industry, government or medical specialists. The shipper of the dangerous goods involved can also be linked to the site to deal with instructions on cleanup, disposal and/or recovery. CANUTEC also offers a 24-hour emergency telephone service. Shippers, who wish to use CANUTEC's emergency telephone number on their dangerous goods shipping documents, must first register with CANUTEC at +1 613 992 4624. In Canada, registration with CANUTEC is free of charge. 
 

USA

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Country US Information provider Y
International Advice provider Y
Regional Centre X Response capability
Government X 24 Hour service
Commercial Subscription required N
Academic
National Response Center (24/7) Tel: +1 800 424 8802 (To report oil and chemical spills)
Web site: www.epa.gov
Description: US EPA employs 18,000 people across the country, including the headquarters offices in Washington, DC, 10 regional offices, and more than a dozen labs. EPA leads the nation's environmental science, research, education and assessment efforts. Each EPA Regional Office is responsible within its states for the execution of the Agency's programs. The National Response Center (NRC) (detailed information provided below) is the point of contact for reporting all hazardous substances releases and oil spills.

 

US Coast Guard National Response Center

Country US Information provider Y
International Advice provider N
Regional Centre X Response capability Y
Government X 24 Hour service Y
Commercial Subscription required N
Academic
(24/7) Tel: +1 800 424 8802 (To report oil and chemical spills)
Email: NRC@uscg.mil
Description: The primary function of the National Response Center is to serve as the sole national point of contact for reporting all oil, chemical, radiological, biological, and etiological discharges into the environment anywhere in the United States and its territories. In addition to gathering and distributing spill data for Federal On-Scene Coordinators and serving as the communications and operations center for the National Response Team, the NRC maintains agreements with a variety of federal entities to make additional notifications regarding incidents meeting established trigger criteria. The NRC is staffed by Coast Guard personnel who maintain a 24 hour per day, 365 day per year telephone watch. NRC Watch Standers enter telephonic reports of pollution incidents into the Incident Reporting Information System (IRIS) and immediately relay each report to the pre-designated Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC). The NRC also provides emergency response support to the FOSCs and has the ability to quickly place them in direct contact with expert technical support centers (ATSDR, CDC, CHEMTREC) if needed.
 

US Coast Guard 

Country US Information provider Y
International Advice provider N
Regional Centre X Response capability Y
Government X 24 Hour service Y
Commercial Subscription required N
Academic
To report oil and chemical spills, call the National Response Center
Tel: +1 800 424 8802
Web site: www.uscg.mil
Description: As an integral part of the Headquarters Command Center, the primary function of the National Response Center is to serve as the sole national point of contact for reporting all oil, chemical, radiological, biological, and etiological discharges into the environment anywhere in the United States and its territories. The NRC is staffed by Coast Guard personnel.
 

US National Response Team

Country US Information provider Y
International Advice provider Y
Regional Centre X Response capability N
Government X 24 Hour service N
Commercial Subscription required N
Academic
To report oil and chemical spills, call the National Response Center
Tel: +1 800 424 8802 (from USA) or 202 267 2675
Web site: www.nrt.org
Description: US NRT provides technical assistance, resources and coordination on preparedness, planning, response and recovery activities for emergencies involving hazardous substances, pollutants and contaminants, hazmat, oil, and weapons of mass destruction in natural and technological disasters and other environmental incidents of national significance. There are 13 Regional Response Teams (RRTs) that cover each of the ten federal regions as well as Alaska, the Caribbean and the Pacific Basin.

 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

Country US Information provider Y
International Advice provider Y
Regional Centre X Response capability Y
Government X 24 Hour service Y
Commercial Subscription required N
Academic
Emergency Response (24/7) Tel: +1 770 488 7100
Web site: www.atsdr.cdc.gov
Description: The ATSDR (an agency of the US Department of Health & Human Services) serves the public by using the best science, taking responsive public health actions, and providing trusted health information to prevent harmful exposures and disease related to toxic substances. ATSDR is directed by a congressional mandate to perform specific functions concerning the effect on public health of hazardous substances in the environment. ATSDR Emergency Response Teams are available 24 hours a day, and are comprised of toxicologists, physicians, and other scientists available to assist during an emergency involving hazardous substance in the environment.
 

National Emergency Management Association (NEMA)

Country US Information provider Y
International Advice provider Y
Regional Centre X Response capability N
Government X 24 Hour service N
Commercial Subscription required N
Academic
Tel: +1 859 244 8000
Fax: +1 859 244 8239
Description: NEMA’s mission is to provide national leadership and expertise in comprehensive emergency management; serve as a vital emergency management information and assistance resource; and advance continuous improvement in emergency management through strategic partnerships, innovative programs, and collaborative policy positions.

 

CHEMTREC

Country US Information provider Y
International Advice provider Y
Regional Centre X Response capability Y
Government 24 Hour service Y
Commercial X Subscription required Y
Academic
Tel:  +1 800 262 8200 (within the US) or +1 703 741 5500 (outside of the US)
Emergency Call Centre (24/7) Tel: +1 800 262 8200
Fax: +1 703 741 6037
Description: CHEMTREC is a hotline for fire fighters, law enforcement, and other emergency responders to obtain critical information and assistance for emergency incidents involving chemicals and hazardous materials. CHEMTREC’s Center is linked to the largest network of chemical and hazardous material experts in the world including chemicals and response specialists within the ACC membership, response specialists within the carrier community, public emergency services, and private contractors. When necessary, ESS can establish direct communications between these experts, CHEMTREC personnel, and the responders at the scene of an incident. CHEMTREC provides a free service for emergencies and the public.
 

CHEM-TEL INC

Country US Information provider Y
International Advice provider Y
Regional Centre X Response capability Y
Government 24 Hour service Y
Commercial X Subscription required Y
Academic
Tel:  +1 813 248 0573 (Mon-Fri 8:30-5:30)
Emergency Toll-free (US) Tel: +1 800 255 3924
From outside of US Tel: +1 813 248 0585
Fax: +1 813 248 0582
Email: ers@chemtelinc.com (Emergency response inquiries)
Description: Chem-Tel, Incorporated was founded in 1989 to provide 24-Hour Emergency Response Telecommunication Services and Incident Mitigation Assistance for the many industries manufacturing/shipping hazardous materials. Chem-Tel incorporates health and safety response services, comprehensive environmental services, disaster prevention/assistance services, custom programming and web development in the scope of services provided. Chem-Tel’s 24-hour Emergency Response Communicators are highly trained hazardous materials specialists that can deal with virtually any type of hazmat related incident. The staff work with state-of-the-art telecommunication and computer systems, along with one of the largest MSDS databases in North America.
 

3E COMPANY

Country US Information provider Y
International Advice provider Y
Regional Centre X Response capability N
Government 24 Hour service Y
Commercial X Subscription required Y
Academic
Emergency Toll-free Tel: +1 800 451 8346
Tel for outside US & Canada: +1 760 602 8703
Description: 3E Spill Hotline services provide customers with timely information resources and professional guidance for chemical spill management, 24-7-365. Also, to ensure compliance with regulations administered by the EPA, DOT and OSHA, as well as state regulatory reporting requirements, 3E's professionals determine if immediate and/or follow-up reports are necessary and file them on the customer's behalf.
 

Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R), National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Country US Information provider Y
International Advice provider Y
Regional Centre Response capability N
Government Y 24 Hour service Y
Commercial Subscription required N
Academic
OR&R Headquarters Tel: +1 301 713 2989 (ext. 122)
Fax: +1 301 713 4389
Hazardous Materials Response Division 
Tel: +1 206 526 6317 (24 hour)
Fax:  +1 206 526 6329
Description: NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) protects the coastal environment from oil spills and hazardous waste sites, and restores damaged natural resources. OR&R provides scientific support and training for chemical spill response and damage assessments in coastal waters. OR&R also leads the cleanup of Alaska's Pribilof Islands, and coordinates NOAA's efforts in coral reef conservation, and marine debris prevention and cleanup. To report a chemical spill in US waters, call the US Coast Guard National Response Center at +1 800 424 8802.