Environmental Management

Spill Reporting: Release of Hazardous and Regulated Substances to the Environment

Hazardous and regulated material spills released into the environment must be reported to a manager or supervisor to initiate reporting and cleanup activities by properly trained responders. Installation heads should maintain and reference any facility-specific spill, emergency response, or contingency planning documents. Additionally, Postal Service™ policy requires the completion of PS Form 8187, Hazardous and Regulated Substance Release Notification, to internally report the release of these materials.

Common reportable materials used at USPS^® sites that may prompt additional reporting requirements to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, state, or local regulatory agencies, depending on the quantity released into the environment include the following:

 

Oil
Brake fluid	Grease (including cafeteria grease)	Mineral spirits
Diesel fuel	Heating oil	Motor oil
Gasoline	Hydraulic fluid	Transmission fluid
Gear oil	Kerosene	Used oil

 

Chemicals
CFC-12 (R-12 refrigerant)	Friable asbestos	Propylene glycol
De-icing products (e.g., calcium chloride, sodium chloride, calcium magnesium acetate)	Lead	Soaps/detergents
Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF)	Mercury	Sulfuric acid
Ethylene glycol (antifreeze)	Mineral spirits	Water treatment chemicals
Floor wax	Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)	Windshield washer fluid

In general, spills to the environment must be reported if they reach:

n Stormwater drains or ponds

n Dry wells or catch basins

n Septic system

n Sanitary sewer

n Surface water

n Soil

n Groundwater

n Waterways

As soon as any known release to the environment has occurred, Postal Service employees must immediately contact the site installation head, manager, or supervisor, who must do the following:

n After taking action to protect human health and safety, refer to facility-specific spill or emergency response documents and follow the prescribed requirements.

n Immediately report spills to your designated USPS Environmental Specialist (blue.usps.gov/sustainability/regional-environmental-compliance-all.htm) and the designated safety specialist for the site.

n Complete and submit PS Form 8187, Hazardous and Regulated Substance Release Notification (blue.usps.gov/formmgmt/forms/LiveCycle/psform8187_042016_lc.pdf).

n Consult your designated USPS Environmental Specialist to make the appropriate federal, state, and local environmental agency notifications. The applicable reporting requirements vary depending on location and the type and quantity of the material released.

For more information about spill reporting, review the Environmental Compliance Bulletin for Reporting Releases to the Environment at blue.usps.gov/sustainability/environmental/_pdf/sop-reportingreleases.pdf.

— Environmental Affairs and
Corporate Sustainability, 10-16-25