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  • To whom do I report an oil discharge?

    A facility should report discharges to the National Response Center (NRC) at 1-800-424-8802 or 1-202-267-2675 . The NRC is the federal government's centralized reporting center, which is staffed 24 hours per day by U.S. Coast Guard personnel. If reporting directly to NRC is not practicable, reports also can be made…

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  • When must I report an oil discharge to NRC?

    Any person in charge of a vessel or an onshore or offshore facility must notify the National Response Center (NRC) immediately after he or she has knowledge of the discharge.

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  • Will boiling my water help?

    No. Boiling water will NOT reduce nitrate levels. In fact, it will make the level of nitrate worse because some of the water will evaporate but the nitrate will not. This increases the concentration of nitrate in water.

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  • How do I register renewable gasoline?

    See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Manufacturers/importers of renewable gasoline for on-road use are required to register the fuel with the EPA. To register, see: Register or Update a Fuel or Fuel Additive Request under 40 CFR Part 79 . Please indicate “renewable gasoline”…

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  • Where can I find the public list of registered fuels and fuel additives?

    See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . An online list of fuels and fuel additives registered with EPA is located here: Register or Update a Fuel or Fuel Additive Request under 40 CFR Part 79 .

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  • How do I register renewable diesel?

    See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Manufacturers/importers of renewable diesel for on-road use are required to register the fuel with the EPA. To register, see Register or Update a Fuel or Fuel Additive Request under 40 CFR Part 79 . Please indicate “renewable diesel”…

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  • What happens after a facility submits the information about an oil discharge to EPA?

    The EPA Regional Administrator will review the information submitted by the facility and may require a facility to submit and amend its SPCC Plan. Facilities and equipment that qualified for the new streamlined requirements may lose eligibility for those options as determined by the Regional Administrator. A state agency may…

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  • Who is subject to the Discharge of Oil regulation?

    Any person in charge of a vessel or of an onshore or offshore facility is subject to the reporting requirements of the Discharge of Oil regulation if it discharges a harmful quantity of oil to U.S. navigable waters, adjoining shorelines, or the contiguous zone, or in connection with activities under…

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  • When do I get an EPA assigned fuel ID/additive ID?

    See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . You will receive your assigned ID after registering your fuel and/or fuel additive with EPA.

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  • Is it safe to shower or bathe in water if it is over the nitrate MCL of 10 mg/L?

    Nitrate is only a concern for ingestion (eating and drinking). It is not absorbed through your skin. People who install filter systems for nitrate often install them just for their kitchen sink faucet, and they use that faucet for their cooking and drinking water.

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  • What is EPA doing?

    EPA is working with its governmental partners and other stakeholders to investigate and address the issue. Most recently, EPA issued a letter to the state of Minnesota requesting a plan of action to address nitrate contamination in drinking water.

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  • What should I do if my water has elevated nitrates and/or exceeds the MCL?

    If nitrate exceeds the MCL of 10 mg/L, you should find a safe alternative drinking water supply. The quickest thing to do is to begin using bottled water for drinking. Another option is to install a treatment that will remove nitrate from your water such as reverse osmosis or a…

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  • Why is nitrate contamination a concern?

    Nitrate is an acute contaminant, meaning that health effects can occur immediately (I.e. within hours or days) of short-term exposure. Too much nitrate in your body makes it harder for red blood cells to carry oxygen. While most people recover quickly, this can be very dangerous for infants and some…

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  • Reporting requirements for oil discharges

    What are the reporting requirements for discharges of oil? If a discharge of oil reaches waters of the United States, it is reportable to the National Response Center under 40 CFR Part 110 , which was established under the authority of the Clean Water Act. Discharges of oil must be…

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  • Which fuels require registration?

    See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Under Part 79, manufacturers and importers of gasoline and diesel fuels for use in a motor vehicle or additives for such gasoline or diesel fuel are required to register them with the EPA prior to sale.

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