Environmental Justice and Public Health

The District of Maryland is committed to addressing all environmental justice concerns and ensuring safe living and working conditions for our entire community. Our goal is to work with our local and federal partners to ensure environmental laws are enforced, so we can help reduce harms to our natural resources and focus on maintaining safe and healthy communities. The U.S. Department of Justice enforces the Nation’s civil and criminal environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and hazardous waste laws. We also protect natural resources and handle cases relating to tribal rights and resources. Working with our U.S. Department of Justice partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office seeks to secure environmental justice for all communities, to ensure that everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards and equal access to a healthy environment in which to live, learn, play and work.

Contact Information:
Community members who are interested in learning more about our Environmental Protection Practice are encouraged to contact the U.S. Attorney's Office Environmental Protection and Civil Rights Team via email or by leaving a voice mail listed above. U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron encourages residents to contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (410) 209-4965 or email us at USAMD.Environment@usdoj.gov with concerns regarding health and environmental hazards. Notifying the U.S. Attorney’s Office helps us protect the community from harmful violations of federal health and safety laws.

Other Contact Information:
If the violation impacts:

• Air quality
• Climate Change
• Chemicals and Toxics
• Health
• Land, waste, and cleanup
• Water
   

Report the violation to the Environmental Protection Agency at:
https://echo.epa.gov/report-environmental-violations

If the violation concerns workplace conditions such as chemicals or noxious fumes:
Contact the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) at 1-800-321-6742 

If the violation concerns pesticides harming Wildlife:
Contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 1-800-344-9453

If the violation concerns the destruction of Wetlands:
Contact your local district branch of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Office at 1-800-832-7828

If the violation concerns medications, cosmetics, biological products, and other products for human consumption:
Contact the FDA at 1-888-463-6332

To report an Oil or Chemical Spill:
Contact the National Response Center at 1-800-424-88022