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Contact MassDEP to file a complaint about the improper removal or handling of asbestos.
In Massachusetts, the local Fire Department and the local Board of Health serve as the primary responders for complaints and issues related to burning.
Contact your local Fire Department for questions or concerns on the outdoor burning of any material, including both the open burning of vegetation as well the outdoor burning of prohibited materials.
Contact Your Local Board of Health for questions or concerns on suspected indoor burning of prohibited materials such as construction debris, garbage or other wastes.
In Massachusetts, Boards of Health (BOH) work closely with MassDEP to address environmental and public health complaints. The Board of Health is the primary responder for dust, noise, odor, smoke, vehicle idling and air pollution complaints concerning activities at residences and at most local businesses. MassDEP is the primary responder for outdoor air pollution complaints involving large commercial, industrial, manufacturing and power plants.
Contact your local Board of Health for complaints on construction sites and/or sand and gravel operations.
Contact MassDEP to file a complaint about dumping or the improper disposal or storage of waste, including waste oil.
In Massachusetts, Boards of Health (BOH) work closely with MassDEP to address environmental and public health complaints. The Board of Health is the primary responder for dust, noise, odor, smoke, vehicle idling and air pollution complaints concerning activities at residences and at most local businesses. MassDEP is the primary responder for outdoor air pollution complaints involving large commercial, industrial, manufacturing and power plants.
Contact your local Board of Health for dust, noise, odor, smoke, vehicle idling and air pollution complaints concerning activities at residences and at most local businesses.
In Massachusetts, the Department of Agricultural Resources supports, regulates and enhances the rich diversity of the Commonwealth’s agricultural community to promote economically and environmentally sound food safety and animal health measures, and to fulfill agriculture’s role in energy conservation and production.
Contact the MA Department of Agricultural Resources for complaints concerning farms and animal operations.
Contact your local Board of Health for complaints on wood smoke, outdoor wood fired boilers, heating equipment and generators at residences, restaurants, campgrounds or commercial facilities.
In Massachusetts, local Police Departments and Boards of Health (BOH) work closely with MassDEP to address environmental and public health complaints about smoky and idling vehicles.
The Police Department is the primary responder for all smoky vehicle complaints while the local Board of Health is the primary responder for vehicle idling concerns in most towns.
In some larger communities, like Boston, dedicated units address idling complaints and enforce the anti-idling law.
Contact your local Board of Health for complaints about idling cars, trucks, buses or trains.
Contact the Air Pollution Control Commission (APCC)
Contact your local Police Department for complaints about smoky vehicles.
Massachusetts Vehicle Check
Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles
Contact MassDEP to file a complaint or report illegal operations, business activities, false reports or misleading information.
In Massachusetts, local Boards of Health (BOH) work with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) to address environmental and public health complaints related to indoor air quality.
Contact your local Board of Health as the primary responder for most indoor air quality complaints. The BOHs are charged with ensuring that homes meet the standards set forth in the State Sanitary Code Chapter II, 105 CMR 410.000, Minimum Standards of Fitness for Human Habitation. In commercial or public buildings, the BOH has the authority to investigate public nuisances M.G.L. c. 111 sec. 142.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Indoor Air Quality Program provides extensive information on indoor air quality concerns. DPH has the statutory responsibility to "conduct sanitary investigations and investigations as to the cause of disease…and shall advise the government concerning the location and other sanitary conditions of any public institution" (MGL c. 111 sec. 5).
In Massachusetts, MassDEP regulates and responds to complaints regarding solid waste landfills, transfer stations, recycling and compost operations.
Contact MassDEP to file a complaint about landfills or recycling operations.
Contact MassDEP to file a complaint on manufacturing facilities, power plants or other regulated sources of air emissions.
In Massachusetts, the local Board of Health is the primary responder for most noise disturbances in a community and works closely with both MassDEP and with local police departments to ensure that noise complaints are properly addressed.
Contact your local Board of Health for noise disturbances from business operations and activities, from campgrounds and other outdoor venues and from heavy equipment such as heating and ventilation systems, air conditioners, other rooftop machinery, wind turbines and construction.
Contact your local Police Department for disorderly conduct / disturbing the peace complaints and for noise disturbances from recreational vehicles such as dirt bikes and ATVs.
Contact MassDEP to file a complaint about pollution or improper discharge of waste to the water or to the ground.
In Massachusetts, the Department of Fire Services, the Division of Fire Safety issues Blasting Certificates of Competency and Explosives Users Certificates to blasters and blasting companies. These certificates document that the blaster is competent to conduct blasting operations, and that the company has shown evidence of both bonding and the required insurance.
Local fire departments may then issue a Permit to Blast to blasters and blasting companies who have these documents, have done all the correct planning and met all regulatory requirements (see 527 CMR 1.00). Local fire departments will not issue a blasting permit without all these conditions being met.
Contact your local Fire Department for complaints concerning blasting activities at quarries/mines.
In Massachusetts, MassDEP addresses complaints regarding asphalt, brick and concrete crushing and recycling activities.
Contact MassDEP to file a complaint about asphalt, brick and concrete crushing and recycling activities.
Contact MassDEP to file a complaint about septic systems, the discharge of sewage or other Title 5 related issues.
In Massachusetts, the local Board of Health is the primary responder for dust, noise, odor, smoke, vehicle idling and air pollution complaints concerning activities at residences and at most local small businesses. MassDEP is the primary responder for outdoor air pollution complaints involving large commercial, industrial, manufacturing and power plants.
Contact your local Board of Health for noise, dust, odor or pollution complaints about autobody shops, refinishers, painters, spray booths or other small businesses in your community.
In Massachusetts, the Department of Transportation is the primary responder for citizen complaints concerning state highways, traffic noise and noise barriers. Local Departments of Public Works (DPWs) are the primary responders for issues related to local streets and roadways.
Contact the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for complaints concerning state highways, traffic noise and noise barriers.
In Massachusetts' cities and towns, the local Department of Public Works (DPW) and the local Board of Health (BOH) work together to address environmental and public health complaints about town services and operations that are essential to a neighborhood's quality of life, such as street sweeping and repair, snow removal, sanitation, sewer repair and maintenance and garbage pickup and disposal.
Contact your local DPW for complaints about your town's services. Many Massachusetts towns have dedicated DPW staff to assist with citizen issues and concerns.
In addition, your local Board of Health may also be able to address concerns relative to your town's services and operations.
Contact MassDEP to file a complaint or report about suspicious activities at known or suspected waste sites.
Who should I contact?
Contact MassDEP to file a complaint or report an issue with activities in wetlands, including alterations to the wetland.
Areas of Critical Environmental Concern: Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation at 617-626-1394
Asbestos Contractor Licensing: Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety at 617-626-6960
Boat, Snowmobile, ATV Registrations: Environmental Police at 617-626-1610
Citizen's Hotline/Information Service: Secretary of State's Office at 800 392-6090
Coastal Issues: Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) at 617-626-1200
Dam Safety: Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation at 508-792-7716 ext. 600
Dredging: Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR oversees MassDEP-licensed work) at 617-626-1250
Electromagnetic Fields: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 888-372-7341
Environmental Impact Reports: Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office at 617-626-1031 or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 888-372-7341
Environmental Police Dispatch: Environmental Police at 800-632-8075
Fish Kills: Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game at 508-389-6330 during working hours; 800-632-8075 nights/weekends
Flood Control Planning: Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation at 617-626-1406
Flood Control Information: Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency at 508-820-2000
Forests and Parks: Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation at 617-626-1250
Freon: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 800-296-1996 or 617-565-3220
Hunting, Fishing: Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game at 508-389-6300
Indoor Air Pollution: Department of Public Health at 617-624-5757
Lead Poisoning: Massachusetts Department of Public Health at 617-624-5757
Lead Paint Abatement: Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety at 617-626-6960
Medical/Infectious Waste: Massachusetts Department of Public Health at 617-727-2660
Mosquito Control:: State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board at 617-626-1723
Occupational Health, Hygiene & Safety: Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety at 617-626-6945 or US Occupational Safety & Health Administration at 617-565-9860
Open Space/Land Acquisition: Executive Office of Environmental Affairs at 617-626-1250
Pesticides: Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources at 617-626-1776
Radiation Control: Massachusetts Department of Public Health at 617-242-3035
Rare & Endangered Species: Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game at 508-389-6360
Riverways Planning: Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game at 617-626-1540
Watershed Management: Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation at 617-626-1379
Wildlife Management: Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game at 508-759-3406
Worker Right-To-Know: Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety at 617-969-7177
Animal or Pest Problems: Animal Control Officer
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (CO): Fire Dept.
Chemical Spills: Fire Dept.
(See also: Report an Environmental Emergency)
Composting: Public Works Dept.
Docks & Moorings: Local Harbormaster
Drinking Water: Public Works Dept., Water/Sewer Dept. or Board of Health
Flood Plains: Conservation Commission or Conservation Agent
Hazardous Material Spills: Fire Dept.
(See also: Report an Environmental Emergency)
Household Hazardous Waste: Board of Health or Health Agent
Landfill: Board of Health, Health Agent or Public Works Dept.
Medical Waste: Board of Health or Health Agent
Noise Complaints: Board of Health, Health Agent or Police Dept.
Odor Complaints: Board of Health or Health Agent
Oil Spills: Fire Dept.
(See also: Report an Environmental Emergency)
Open Burning Permits: Fire Dept.
Open Space: Conservation Commission or Conservation Agent
Private Wells: Board of Health or Health Agent
Recycling: Public Works Dept.
Right-To-Know: Fire Dept., Board of Health, or Health Agent
Septic Systems: Board of Health or Health Agent
Sewers: Public Works Dept. or Water/Sewer Dept.
Transfer Stations: Board of Health, Health Agent, or Public Works Dept.
Underground Storage Tanks: Fire Dept. (See also: Report an Environmental Emergency)
Wastewater Treatment: Public Works Dept. or Water/Sewer Dept.
Waterfront Development: Conservation Commission or Conservation Agent
Wetlands: Conservation Commission or Conservation Agent
