Air Complaint: For example, does it involve air pollution activities such as burning of garbage or rubbish? Or does it involve the releasing of smoke or other particulate matter from a facility?
Asbestos Complaint: For example, does it involve the demolition or renovation without proper precautions of an old building that could contain asbestos?
Hazardous Waste Complaint: For example, does it involve the spilling or dumping of used oil or a hazardous waste?
Mining Complaint: For example, how long has mining activity been taking place? Can you provide an estimate of the number of dump trucks in/out of the mine per day? Can you provide the names of rivers or creeks being affected? Can you provide the names or numbers of roads, streets or highways affected? For coal mines that are affected by blasting, do you have the address or location of the property or structures damaged by blasting?
Petroleum Product Spills and Leaks: For example, are you reporting a fuel spill, or do you have water in your gasoline tank?
Solid Waste / Illegal Dumps Complaint: For example, does it involve the improper storage or dumping of household waste?
Water Complaint: For example, does it involve stormwater runoff from construction sites or industrial facilities, or discharges of treated or untreated wastewater?
Harmful Algae Bloom Complaint:
For example, an area of a waterbody, typically a cove on a lake or reservoir, that is covered by bluish-green scum or thick mat.
What is a harmful algae bloom? Every healthy waterbody contains microscopic algae. Under certain conditions, rapid growth of an algal species can form a visible scum or mat near or on the water’s surface.
Do algae blooms pose a health risk? Yes. Some blooms produce toxic substances that can cause, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rashes, and paralysis. Toxic blooms are caused by a group of algae called “blue-greens” or cyanobacteria. These events are known as “Harmful Algae Blooms”. Cyanobacteria don’t always produce toxins, but it is not possible to tell just by looking at the bloom. It’s best to avoid contact with water if you see an algal bloom.
The complaint submission should include a detailed description of bloom location, color, size, any distinct odors, and should be accompanied with photos. Your submissions will provide useful data on tracking bloom occurrence throughout the state.
Nuisance Algae Bloom Complaint:
For example, an area of waterbody, typically a stream or river, that is covered by dense vegetation that may or may not be attached to the stream bottom. Nuisance algae is often very dark green and can stretch up to 1 meter (3ft) in length.
What is nuisance algae bloom? Nuisance algal blooms are blooms formed from algal species that don’t produce toxins. These blooms are still not good for the waterbody because they still consume a lot of oxygen and shade out light that would be available to other plants.
Do algae blooms pose a health risk? Aside from being aesthetically displeasing, nuisance algae pose little human health risk. Tracking nuisance blooms will provide useful data on occurrence and distribution of these events throughout the state.