Report a Release

Emergencies

Emergencies:  1-800-222-MEMA(6362)

If there is a release or spill that may affect state waters, land, air, or public health, immediately call the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) at 1-800-222-MEMA(6362).  This includes the discovery of petroleum product or petroleum vapors in utility lines, sewers, or third party properties or surface contamination in other areas at or around the UST facility.  Please follow up by reporting the release to MDEQ and confirm that the emergency situation was reported to MEMA.

Non-emergencies: contact MDEQ

If it’s suspected that product has leaked from an UST system:

• Take immediate action to prevent any further release of product (turn off the power to the pumps, stop the flow from the tanker truck, etc.).
• Refer to the Emergencies section above to determine if the situation should first be reported to MEMA at 1-800-222-MEMA(6362).
• Identify and mitigate all fire, explosion, and/or vapor hazards properly.
• Report the release to MDEQ within 24 hours by contacting MDEQ.
• Submit a written report within 10 days of the release to the MDEQ UST Branch, P. O. Box 2261, Jackson, MS, 39225-2261, using the Confirmation of a Release & Initial Abatement Activities form.

Examples of Reportable Releases:

• 1/8 inch or more of petroleum product found in any leak detection well, monitoring well, or containment sump (STP sump, dispenser sump, transition sump, etc.);
• petroleum product or water in a tank interstitial space;
• soil or groundwater samples indicating concentrations above the typical UST cleanup levels;
• high vapor readings in any leak detection well or monitoring well greater than or equal to 5,000 ppm for gasoline USTs/piping; 100 ppm for diesel, kerosene, or waste oil USTs/piping; and 100 ppm for mixed tank beds and/or piping trenches (e.g., containing both gasoline and diesel);
• a substantial increase in vapor readings in any leak detection well or monitoring well from the previous month;
• a precision tank and/or line tightness test failure or inconclusive result;
• failure to obtain a passing ATG test (0.2 gph leak test) within 30 days from the previous passing test;
• one month of failed results or 2 consecutive months of inconclusive results when using statistical inventory reconciliation (SIR);
• a spill or overfill in which more than 25 gallons of product is released;
• the discovery of petroleum product and/or vapors in the soil, utility lines, sewers, or other areas at or around the UST facility;
• unusual operating conditions such as erratic behavior of dispensing equipment (e.g., dispenser pumping slow), an unexplained loss of product (e.g., from inventory records), or an unexplained presence of water in the tank.