Indiana Spill Reporting Quick Reference - Who to Call and When
Indiana spill reporting: who to call, reportable quantities, timelines, and follow-up. Covers 327 IAC 2-6.1, UST releases under 329 IAC 9, and NRC reporting.
Overview
When a spill or release occurs in Indiana, reporting requirements come from several different rules with different triggers, timelines, and phone numbers. The primary state rule is the Indiana Spill Rule (327 IAC 2-6.1), administered by IDEM’s Office of Land Quality Emergency Response Section. UST petroleum releases have a separate reporting track under 329 IAC 9, and federal reporting to the National Response Center may also apply.
Missing a required notification can result in enforcement action, even if the spill itself is properly cleaned up. This page covers the most common reporting scenarios. It does not cover every possible situation - transportation incidents, air emissions, and NPDES permit exceedances involve additional requirements.
When in doubt, call. IDEM’s own guidance states that it is better to find out a spill is not reportable than to be in violation of the Spill Rule.
Quick Reference: Who to Call
| Situation | Who to Call | Phone | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reportable spill under the Indiana Spill Rule (damage to waters, wellhead area thresholds, etc.) | IDEM Emergency Response Section | (888) 233-7745 (toll free) or (317) 233-7745 | Within 2 hours |
| UST petroleum spill or overfill of 25 gallons or more | IDEM Emergency Spill Hotline | (888) 233-7745 (toll free) or (317) 233-7745 | Within 24 hours |
| CERCLA hazardous substance exceeding RQ or oil to navigable waters | National Response Center (in addition to IDEM) | (800) 424-8802 | As soon as possible |
A single event can trigger reporting to multiple parties. For UST petroleum releases that also meet the general Spill Rule thresholds, both sets of obligations are satisfied by the same phone call - but the stricter 2-hour timeline governs. Federal NRC reporting is always in addition to state reporting.
Indiana Spill Rule (327 IAC 2-6.1)
What Triggers a Report
Under 327 IAC 2-6.1-5, the following spills are reportable:
Spills that damage waters of the state so as to cause death or acute injury or illness to humans or animals.
Spills from a facility in a delineated public water supply wellhead protection area when the amount exceeds the following thresholds: hazardous substances or extremely hazardous substances exceeding 100 pounds or the reportable quantity (whichever is less), petroleum exceeding 55 gallons, or objectionable substances as defined in the rule.
Spills that damage waters of the state and are located within 50 feet of a known private drinking water well beyond the facility boundary, within a karst area, or that affect outstanding state resource waters, salmonid fisheries, or other specially classified waters.
Any spill for which a spill response has not been performed.
Indiana recognizes that certain areas of the state have unique geology. A large section of the mid-southern part of the state is a karst region, and portions of Saint Joseph, Elkhart, Kosciusko, and LaGrange Counties contain a sole source aquifer. Spills in these areas receive particular scrutiny.
Who to Notify and When
When a reportable spill occurs, you must complete all of the following within 2 hours of discovery (327 IAC 2-6.1-7):
- Contain the spill, if possible, to prevent additional material from entering waters of the state.
- Undertake or cause others to undertake a spill response.
- Communicate a spill report to IDEM’s Office of Land Quality, Emergency Response Section at (888) 233-7745 (in-state toll free) or (317) 233-7745 (out-of-state). IDEM’s emergency responders are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Exercise due diligence to notify affected downstream water users within 10 miles (for surface water spills) and affected property owners or occupants (for soil spills outside the facility boundary).
If circumstances of the emergency make reporting within 2 hours impractical, notify as soon as possible. The burden of proving the delay was necessary falls on the responsible party.
What to Report
Report the total amount spilled, not just the amount unrecovered. Provide as much of the following as is known at the time:
Name and phone number of the contact person. Location and source of the release. Chemical name or identity of the substance. Estimated quantity released. Time and duration of the release. Environmental media affected. Actions taken to respond and contain the release.
Written Follow-Up
IDEM may request a written copy of the spill report. If requested, submit to: IDEM Office of Land Quality, Emergency Response Section (MC 66-30), 2525 N. Shadeland Ave., Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46219-1787.
Unlike Ohio (which requires a written follow-up within 30 days for all reportable releases), Indiana only requires the written report if IDEM specifically requests it in writing.
Spill Response Confirmation
When spill reporting and response have been completed per the rule, IDEM will issue a letter confirming compliance with 327 IAC 2-6.1 and stating that no further action is required under this rule (327 IAC 2-6.1-9). This letter addresses only the spill response - it does not address cleanup obligations that may arise under other programs such as the VRP or State Cleanup Program.
Federal Reporting - National Response Center
In addition to Indiana notifications, you must also call the National Response Center (NRC) at (800) 424-8802 for:
Any release of a CERCLA hazardous substance exceeding its reportable quantity. Any discharge of oil to navigable waters (any visible sheen).
The NRC is a 24-hour federal reporting hotline. Calling the NRC does not satisfy your Indiana reporting obligations, and calling IDEM does not satisfy your federal obligations. You must make both sets of calls.
UST Petroleum Releases (329 IAC 9)
Petroleum releases from underground storage tank systems have a separate reporting track through IDEM’s LUST Section, within the Office of Land Quality.
What Triggers a UST Report
A release or suspected release must be reported when any of the following occur:
Spilling, leaking, or discharging of petroleum from a UST system into groundwater, surface water, subsurface soils, or the environment. Confirmed contamination of subsurface soil or groundwater through laboratory analysis. Monitoring results indicating a potential release. Free product discovered during monitoring or closure activities.
Who to Notify
Report to IDEM’s emergency response 24-hour spill hotline at (888) 233-7745 (in-state toll free) or (317) 233-7745 as soon as possible but within 24 hours of discovery (329 IAC 9-4-4).
If the spill also meets the general Spill Rule triggers under 327 IAC 2-6.1 (for example, it damages waters of the state or exceeds wellhead protection area thresholds), the 2-hour timeline from the Spill Rule applies instead of the 24-hour UST timeline. Both obligations are satisfied by the same phone call since the number is the same - but the stricter timeline governs.
UST Closure Reporting
When a UST system is permanently closed, the owner or operator must provide IDEM’s Closure Coordinator at least 14 days advance notice of the scheduled closure date and time. IDEM Petroleum Branch staff may inspect closure activities on-site. Failure to provide advance notice or to update IDEM of schedule changes is a violation of 329 IAC 9-3-1(a).
Contact the UST Branch at (317) 233-5745 or the Closure Coordinator for scheduling.
Secondary Containment (327 IAC 2-10)
Indiana requires secondary containment for aboveground storage tanks containing liquid hazardous materials. Facilities must provide secondary containment and a spill response plan. The rule applies to AST systems constructed after June 27, 1999. Thresholds vary depending on whether the facility is in a wellhead protection area (275 gallons) or not (660 gallons).
Comparison to Ohio Spill Reporting
| Indiana | Ohio | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary rule | 327 IAC 2-6.1 | ORC 3750.06 |
| Reporting timeline | Within 2 hours | Within 30 minutes |
| Who receives the report | IDEM Emergency Response Section | Ohio EPA SERC, local fire dept, county LEPC |
| Written follow-up | Only if requested by IDEM | Required within 30 days for all reportable releases |
| UST reports go to | IDEM Emergency Spill Hotline (same number as Spill Rule; 24-hour timeline vs. 2-hour) | BUSTR (State Fire Marshal) within 24 hours |
| Key difference | Reporting triggered primarily by damage to waters of the state or wellhead area thresholds | Reporting triggered by RQ exceedance leaving the property boundary |
The most significant difference is the reporting trigger. Ohio’s general reporting triggers when a regulated substance exceeds its RQ and leaves the facility property line. Indiana’s Spill Rule triggers are more focused on damage to waters of the state and proximity to sensitive receptors (wellhead protection areas, private wells, karst). This does not mean Indiana is less stringent - the specific thresholds in wellhead protection areas (55 gallons petroleum, 100 pounds hazardous substances) are lower than many federal RQs.
Common Mistakes
Assuming the 2-hour window means you have time to investigate before calling. The 2-hour clock starts at discovery. Report what you know and update later. Timely reporting is more important than immediately determining fault or the exact quantity.
Not reporting the total amount spilled. Indiana requires you to report the total amount spilled, not just the unrecovered portion. If 200 gallons spilled and you recovered 180, report 200.
Assuming the 24-hour UST timeline always applies. A UST petroleum release that also meets the general Spill Rule triggers under 327 IAC 2-6.1 (damage to waters, wellhead area thresholds) must be reported within 2 hours, not 24. Both requirements go to the same IDEM spill hotline - the stricter timeline governs.
Confusing the spill response confirmation letter with site closure. IDEM’s confirmation letter under 327 IAC 2-6.1-9 only confirms compliance with the Spill Rule. If contamination remains in soil or groundwater, further investigation and cleanup may be required under the VRP, State Cleanup Program, or other programs following the R2 process.
Forgetting NRC reporting. CERCLA hazardous substance releases exceeding the RQ require a separate call to the NRC at (800) 424-8802, regardless of Indiana state reporting.
Not notifying downstream water users and affected property owners. The Spill Rule requires due diligence in notifying affected downstream water users within 10 miles and affected property owners for soil spills that cross the facility boundary. This requirement is separate from calling IDEM.
Source
327 IAC 2-6.1: Spills; Reporting, Containment, and Response. 329 IAC 9: Underground Storage Tanks. 327 IAC 2-10: Secondary Containment of Hazardous Materials. IDEM Emergency Response Section guidance (in.gov/idem/cleanups). 40 CFR Part 302: Designation, Reportable Quantities, and Notification (CERCLA).