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EPA's Public Information Hotline Is a Success

Release Date: 8/5/1998
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

     The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 announced in Dallas today that its toll-free environmental information hotline has surpassed projections and handled almost  10,000 calls since its inception in March 1997.

     "The public’s response to this service shows that the citizens in the five-state region have a keen interest in their environment. EPA has a great deal of information and expertise, and it is often difficult for citizens to determine the correct person to answer a specific question. Using this hotline helps people find the information they want quickly and easily," EPA Regional Administrator Gregg Cooke said.

     Calling 1-800-887-6063 is toll-free within the five states of Region 6: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas. It is answered weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. After business hours, callers may leave messages with their area codes and phone numbers for prompt replies the following business day. Hotline staff includes employees fluent in Spanish.

     Callers have sought information about all aspects of our environment, including questions about the safety of their drinking water, the proper disposal of hazardous waste, how to protect our wetlands, and how to prevent exposure to asbestos, lead and other toxic materials.

     People want to know about their environment, and EPA has  made it easier to get the answers they want.