The ability to detect a hazard and take corrective action can save lives. In Roseburg, Oregon, a number of years ago, several people observed a truck with an “explosives” placard on it parked by a lumberyard. Later that night, a fire broke out in a dumpster in the lumberyard, igniting the explosives. Eighteen city blocks were destroyed; 13 people were killed, and 125 others were injured. Had someone recognized that this location was a questionable one for a truck with this placard and called the police or fire department, this disaster could have been averted.

Hazardous waste sites knowingly or unknowingly affect thousands of communities across the country.

Sometimes there are sensory clues that indicate the presence of hazardous materials. However, sensory clues are the least dependable and potentially the most dangerous method of identification. Many materials do not have such warning signals as smell or taste. If you notice that an area has a terrible smell, your eyes water, your skin is irritated, or you begin to cough or feel nauseous, leave immediately and telephone your local police or fire department. If you encounter a suspicious substance, do not handle it yourself. You might only add to the problem.

Sometimes no sign reveals that hazardous chemicals exist beneath the surface of the ground, but occasionally unusual circumstances suggest their presence. Water that has an oily appearance, unusual algae growth, or white froth may be contaminated. Discolored soil, bare spots in the ground where vegetation has died off, dead animals, and the presence of metal drums or other specially designed containers also signal a potential problem. Should you ever actually see someone dumping what appears to be a hazardous material in a place not designed to receive it, note the identifying features of the person and vehicle and call the police immediately. “Midnight dumping,” whether by individuals or corporations, is a growing threat to public health that requires prompt attention.

Some State and local areas offer programs to help the public identify hazardous materials problems. The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, for example, has a program to sensitize people to evidence of illegal waste disposal. You may wish to inquire about similar programs in your area.

Your LEPC should be able to give you precise information about where reportable quantities of extremely hazardous materials are stored or released from fixed sites in your community. (Or, you can use the Toxic Release Inventory database to find this out for yourself.) Remember, however, that all the hazardous materials that might pose a problem may not be known to the LEPC. Hazardous materials of a type not on the list or stored at levels just below the reportable quantity may still cause a serious incident. Undocumented waste sites or underground storage tanks may exist, or large quantities of toxic materials may be regularly transported through your community.

In identifying where hazardous materials are found in your community, consider the five phases of a hazardous material’s “life”—production, transportation, storage, use, and disposal. At each phase, the possibility exists either for controlled, careful use or for shortsighted mismanagement.