Report Incidents and Complaints

​Anyone can report an environmental complaint. All reports are confidential. DEP responds promptly and professionally to any complaint.

Online complaints are reviewed during business hours. Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Submit a complaint online(opens in a new tab)

What happens when you submit the online complaint form:  

1. The form asks for your name and a phone number and/or email address to reach you. The electronic form requires an email address, but to make an anonymous complaint, sign up for a free e-mail account. This will enable you to remain anonymous while still providing DEP with the ability to contact you.
2. It asks you to identify the location of the problem as best you can: such as the city, county, township, name of road or stream or river, etc. If you are unsure of the location you may be able to identify your location using a mobile device mapping application, such as Google or Apple Maps. It also asks for a description of the problem; please provide detailed information where possible.
3. You will get an email confirming that your complaint was received. When the investigation is completed, you will receive a follow-up email or phone call.

What happens when you call?

You will be directed to an automated system to connect you with a service representative in the appropriate regional office(opens in a new tab).  

The phone prompts are listed below by county. You don’t need to wait for the full recording and can select a number at any time. If your call is placed during business hours, you will be connected with the service representative in your region. If not, you will be able to leave a voicemail. 

Options, press: 

1. for the Southeast Regional Office serving: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia
2.  for the Northeast Regional Office serving: Carbon, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming  
3. for the Southcentral Regional Office serving: Adams, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry, York
4. for the Northcentral Regional Office serving: Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Sullivan, Tioga, Snyder, Union
5. for the Southwest Regional Office serving: Allegheny, Beaver, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Somerset, Washington, Westmoreland
6. for the Northwest Regional Office serving: Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Venango, Warren
7. If you are unsure which regional office is best for your complaint. You will be connected with an answering service that will take your information and contact the appropriate office.  
8. Repeat the automated menu

What happens when you are connected to a service representative? 

Note that you may get the voicemail line if it is after business hours or if the service representative is on the line with another caller. Please try to include the information below whether speaking with the service representative or leaving a voicemail. If you are more comfortable in a language other than English, say which language you would prefer to use and they will connect you with an interpreter.

1. If you call during business hours, the service representative will talk with you to gather your contact information and specifics on the nature of your concerns. The Department does accept anonymous complaints; however, if you choose to remain anonymous, DEP will not be able to follow up with you regarding the results of your complaint.   Complainant information is always kept confidential.
2. If you receive the service representative’s voicemail, please provide your name, phone number and/or email address to reach you. Identify the location of the problem as best you can: such as the city, county, township, name of road or stream or river, etc. If you are unsure of the location, you may be able to identify it using a mobile app, such as Google or Apple Maps. They’ll also ask you to describe the problem. 
3. The field inspector assigned to your complaint will contact you once they have conducted their investigation or if additional information is needed. If you’re leaving a voice mail, you can provide your phone number or email address and ask to be given updates. 

A​n environmental emergency is a situation requiring an immediate response. This may include discoloration of a waterway, a fish kill, spilled material, or other situation threatening public health and safety or the environment in some way that must be addressed in real time.

DEP works closely with local emergency responders and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) to review reported environmental emergencies. In the case of an environmental emergency, DEP will usually dispatch a member of their Environmental Emergency Response Team, whose members are highly trained, experienced emergency first responders.