When pollutants are spilled into the environment, the ministry's primary role is to ensure that whoever is responsible for the spill contains it and cleans up the site in accordance with ministry guidelines.
What is a spill?
Spills are defined as releases of pollutants into the natural environment originating from a structure, vehicle, or other container, and that are abnormal in light of all circumstances. Spills must be reported immediately to the ministry and to the municipality when they cause or are likely to cause any of the following:
- impairment to the quality of the natural environment - air, water, or land
- injury or damage to property or animal life
- adverse health effects
- safety risk
- making property, plant, or animal life unfit for use
- loss of enjoyment of normal use of property, or
- interference with the normal conduct of business
If you believe you may have a spill or other environmental emergency, call the Spills Action Centre.
Spills Action Centre
5775 Yonge Street
5th floor
North York ON M2M 4J1
Toll Free: 1-800-268-6060
Tel: (416) 325-3000
Fax (416) 325-3011
Spills Action Centre
The Spills Action Centre, staffed on a 24-hour basis, receives and records province-wide reports of spills and coordinates appropriate responses.
If you believe you may have a spill or other environmental emergency, call the Spills Action Centre.
Spills Action Centre
5775 Yonge Street
5th floor
North York ON M2M 4J1
Toll Free: 1-800-268-6060
Tel: (416) 325-3000
Fax (416) 325-3011
The Spills Action Centre handles reports of spills and other environmental emergencies. Inquiries about other environmental issues should be directed to the ministry's Public Information Centre.
Learn more about the Spills Action Centre
For more information about the Spills action Centre, please read the following two documents:
Spills Action Centre mission and mandate
To enable the most effective response actions from all stakeholders to emergent undesirable environmental events by operating a 24-hour, province-wide, toll-free telephone reporting service with live answer from staff proficient in environmental law, policy, science and technology supported by procedures for activating and applying environmental expertise and resources;
And, through formal arrangements: provide a similar service to client agencies having parallel province-wide health, safety, or environmental mandates.
