The Fish and Boat Commission this week introduced a new toll-free hotline for the public to report suspected pollution incidents or fish kills.
The number – 1-855-FISH-KIL (1-855-347-4545) – provides the public with a way to quickly alert PFBC staff to suspected environmental incidents, according to Board President William Worobec.
“Timely notification is the number one critical factor in dealing with suspected pollution cases and protecting our aquatic resources,” he said. “The sooner we know about an incident, the sooner we can evaluate it and, if necessary, implement a response plan. As more time passes between an incident and our evaluation, we reduce our chances of clearly indentifying the source of the suspected pollutant.”
President Worobec emphasized that the number is to be used only for reporting suspected cases of pollution or fish kills and is not meant for general inquires related to license sales, boat registrations or other agency issues.
“We want the public to be vigilant and to help us protect our aquatic resources,” he said. “But we also expect them to be responsible and to use the hotline only for its intended purpose.”
Callers using the hotline – which is available for use - will be directed to the PFBC’s Bureau of Law Enforcement in Harrisburg, where staff will answer calls from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Calls received after hours or on weekends will be sent to a voice mailbox where the caller can leave a message. PFBC staff will review voice messages and respond as soon as possible.
If someone spots a suspected incident and believes it is an immediate threat to public safety or the environment, they should dial 911 or the Department of Environmental Protection’s emergency number at 1-800-541-2050.
To assist the public with understanding this new resource, the PFBC has prepared a list of Frequently Asked Questions, which appear on the PFBC website.
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