Filed Under: Federal | Long Island | Nassau

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250
Phone: (202) 720-8732
Website: http://www.usda.gov U.S. Department of Agriculture

One of the oldest agencies, USDA has expanded its scope beyond simple support for agriculture, to acting as national steward for farm, forest and ranch lands. And as the nation's farming population shrinks, the Department includes "supporting sound development of rural communities" and "providing economic opportunities for farm and rural residents" as part of its mission. USDA also works on expanding global markets for U.S. food exports and oversees several anti-hunger programs here and abroad.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
New York District Office
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278-0090
Phone: (212) 264-3996
Website: http://www.nan.usace.army.mil/

Corps Headquarters:
441 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20314
Phone: (202) 761-0008
Website: http://www.usace.army.mil

The Army Corps of Engineers provides technical assistance for major erosion and mitigation projects such as beach nourishment, dredging, inlet formation and management, and erosion control. The Corps also issues permits for wetlands development under the Clean Water Act. New York's office plays a pivotal role in several beach erosion projects on Long Island.

The Corps is organized geographically into eight divisions in the US and 41 subordinate districts throughout the US, Asia and Europe; districts oversee project offices throughout the world. Divisions and districts are defined by watershed boundaries, not by states.

U.S. Coast GuardU.S. Coast Guard
2100 2nd Street, SW
Washington, DC 20593
Phone: (202) 267-2229
Website: http://www.uscg.mil

The Coast Guard oversees maritime law enforcement, boating safety, search and rescue, aids to navigation, merchant marine safety and environmental protection. The Coast Guard works with the EPA on marine protection programs, including regulating the transportation of hazardous cargoes, oil pollution cleanup and marine salvage.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
Washington, DC 20207-0001
Phone: (800) 638-2772
Website: http://www.cpsc.gov
E-mail: info@cpsc.gov

CPSC is an independent federal regulatory agency created in 1972 to "protect the public against unreasonable risk of injuries and deaths associated with consumer products." Among its research is a chemical hazards program which keeps information on consumer products like household chemicals and paint removers, to formaldehyde in pressed wood.

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
1000 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20585
Phone: (800) dial-DOE
Website: http://www.energy.gov

The Department of Energy, created in 1977 in the midst of an energy (oil) crisis, has a mission to "foster a secure and reliable energy system that is environmentally and economically sustainable, to be a responsible steward of the Nation's nuclear weapons, to clean up our own facilities and to support continued United States leadership in science and technology."

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. EPA Region 2 Office
290 Broadway
New York, NY 10007-1866
Phone: (212) 637-3000
Website: http://www.epa.gov/region2

EPA Headquarters:
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460
Phone: (202) 260-5922
Website: http://www.epa.gov

EPA, created in 1970 under the Nixon Administration, is the nation's leading agency on environmental matters. The agency works with state and local governments to control and prevent pollution in areas of solid and hazardous waste, pesticides, water, air, drinking water and toxic and radioactive substances. EPA has the power to require clean up and issue fines to law-breaking polluters. The EPA Web site offers a plethora of information on the agency's activities, research and studies. Public inquiries should start with the regional office, which also has its own comprehensive website.

EPA Hotlines
In many situations, a phone call to EPA can provide you with the information you need to start working on environmental issues. Below is a list of some of the most useful EPA telephone numbers. For a complete up-to-date list, visit http://www.epa.gov/epahome/hotline.htm.

Acid Rain: 202-564-9620
Air Control Technology Assistance Center: 919-541-0800
Air Risk Hotline: 919-541-0888
Appropriate Technology (Dept. of Energy): 800-428-2525
Asbestos Ombudsman: 800-368-5888
Drinking Water: 800-426-4791
Emergency Planning & Community Right-to-Know: 800-424-9346
Energy Star Programs: 888-782-7937
Environmental Education: 202-260-4962
Environmental Justice: 800-962-6215
Ground Water: 202-260-7786
Hazardous Waste Ombudsman: 800-262-7937
National Response Center (U.S. Coast Guard): 800-424-8802
Pesticides (health effects, spills): 800-858-7378
Pollution Prevention Info (Exchange System): 703-821-4800
Pollution Prevention Clearinghouse: 202-260-1023
Radon: 800-767-7236
RCRA, Superfund, and Underground Storage Tanks: 800-424-9346
Small Business: 800-368-5888
Solid Waste Information Clearinghouse: 800-677-9424
Storm Water, NPDES Permitting: 703-821-4823
Stratospheric Ozone Protection (CFCs): 800-296-1996
Toxic Substance & Asbestos Information: 202-554-1404
Transporting Hazardous Materials (DOT/FEMA): 800-752- 6367
Waste Water : 800-624-8301
Wetlands: 800-832-7828

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
500 C Street SW
Washington, DC 20472
Phone: (202) 646-4600
Website: http://www.fema.gov

FEMA provides federal assistance and attention to events requiring emergency management, such as natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and floods. FEMA also deals with technological calamities and national security crises. FEMA was in charge of much of the federal assistance for the clean-up of Lower Manhattan after September 11, 2001.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
8987 Yellow Brick Road
Baltimore, MD 21237
Phone: (410) 238-4210
Website: http://www.usgs.gov

USGS is responsible for analyzing the quantity and quality of surface water, ground water and precipitation; and conducting research in geology and hydrology. Programs include extensive topographic and land use mapping, energy and mineral resource assessments and evaluations of natural disasters.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201
Phone: (202) 619-0257 or (877) 696-6775
Website: http://www.hhs.gov

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Phone: (800) 356-4674
Website: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Phone: (404) 639-3311 or (800) 311-3435
Website: http://www.cdc.gov

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
Phone: (888) 422-8737
Website: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov

These three agencies are part of the Department of Health. NIOSH provides research and evaluation studies of occupational injuries and hazardous substances in the workplace. These criteria are used by OSHA (see Dept. of Labor, below) for setting workplace safety standards. The CDC tracks and evaluates the incidence of disease and performs epidemiological studies. ATSDR conducts research focused on toxic substances and their effects on public health. Programs include health studies, substance-specific research and up-to-date disease registries.

National Institute of Environmental Health Services

PO Box 12233
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Phone: (919) 541-3345
Website: http://www.niehs.nih.gov

As an arm under the DOH's National Institutes of Health, the Institute conducts research, provides information and prevention programs, and educates the public on the health effects of various environmental factors, from mercury exposure to asthma to cancer.

National Pesticide Information CenterNational Pesticide Information Center
Oregon State University
333 Weniger
Corvallis, OR 97331-6502
Phone: 1-800-858-7378
Fax: 1-541-737-0761
Website: http://www.npic.orst.edu
E-mail: npic@ace.orst.edu

NPIC is a cooperative effort of Oregon State University and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It provides scientific information on pesticide-related subjects, including pesticide products, recognition and management of pesticide poisoning, toxicology, and environmental chemistry. It also has information on more than 600 pesticide active ingredients that are in over 50,000 products registered in the United States.

Department of the Interior (DOI)
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240
Phone: (202) 208-3100
Website: http://www.doi.gov

As the nation's principal conservation agency, the U.S. Department of the Interior has responsibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and natural resources. It manages nearly half a billion acres of federal lands, including the entire National Park System and large tracts land, especially in western U.S. The Department enforces the Endangered Species Act and manages national wildlife refuges. DOI also works with Native American leaders to insure that reservations receive adequate economic, educational and social services.

DOI's bureaus include: the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Minerals Management Service and U.S. Geological Survey.

U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530
Phone: (202) 514-2007
Website: http://www.usdoj.gov

DOJ is responsible for all enforcement actions that must be filed in court, and organizing evidentiary and other documents to prepare for litigation. Litigation actions are based on the protection, use, and development of the nation's natural resources and public lands, wildlife protection, Native American rights and claims, cleanup of hazardous waste sites, acquisition of private property for federal use and defense of environmental challenges to government programs and activities. DOJ's Environment and Natural Resources Division is the nation's environmental lawyer and the largest "environmental law firm" in the country.

U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Region 2:
201 Varick Street, Room 670
New York, NY 10014
Phone: (212) 337-2378

Headquarters:
200 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20210
Phone: (202) 693-1999
Emergency OSHA line: (800) 321-OSHA
Website: http://www.osha.gov

OSHA is responsible for issuing standards and rules for safe working conditions, tools, equipment, facilities and processes. Employers have the general duty of providing their workers a place of employment free from recognized hazards to safety and health, and must comply with OSHA standards. OSHA conducts workplace inspections to assure standards are followed.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
14th and Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20230
Phone: (202) 482-6090
Website: http://www.noaa.gov

NOAA, a division of the Department of Commerce, is known for its major role in monitoring and predicting climate activity, but it also charged with marine and coastal management, which includes maintaining fisheries and coastal ecosystems. Satellite and other graphical information is now available online.

Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation Program
Website: http://www.epa.gov/ORD/SITE/

The SITE Program is an EPA Program operated under the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response and the Office of Research and Development. This program encourages the development and implementation of innovative technologies for hazardous waste site remediation as well as continued monitoring of such Superfund sites.

National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Phone: (703) 605-6000 (sales desk)
Website: http://www.ntis.gov

NTIS is the central clearinghouse for technical information used for federal research, development and engineering reports. The NTIS collection contains nearly three million publications and other products covering 350 subject areas. Documents produced since 1990 are available online; an online database is available for detailed searches.

Toxicology Information Response Center (TIRC)
c/o Oak Ridge National Laboratory
1060 Commerce Park MS 6480
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
Phone: (865) 576-1746
Website: http://www.ornl.gov/TechResources/tirc/hmepg.html

TIRC is an information center offering direct access to virtually all of the world's scientific and technical databases and operates on a fee-for-use basis. TIRC's parent, Oak Ridge, is operated privately for the Department of Energy.

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590
Phone: (202) 366-4570
Website: http://www.dot.gov

DOT is responsible for setting standards for safety and providing funds to plan, construct and operate transportation systems by rail, highway, air or water, and for providing law enforcement and traffic management services for the nation's airspace and waterways. DOT also regulates manufacturers of containers and transporters of hazardous materials.