Ohio oil and gas spill reporting: the 30-minute rule

When brine or oil gets out, the clock starts the moment you know about it. Ohio wants a reportable release called in within 30 minutes. Here's what counts as reportable, what to have ready when you call, and what follows.

Last checked against official sources October 25, 2026 · Written by Green Collar Industries, a veteran-owned operator in Coshocton County, Ohio

Call within	30 minutes of becoming aware of a reportable event, unless that's impracticable
Brine	More than about 42 gallons (1 barrel) in 24 hours outside secondary containment, or from a registered hauling vehicle
Oil or condensate	More than about 210 gallons (5 barrels) outside containment; more than about 25 gallons in sensitive areas
Any amount	Oil that leaves a film or sheen on water
Written report	Within 30 days for oil, condensate, refined product, sheen and hazardous substance releases
State one-call line	1-844-OHCALL1 (1-844-642-2551)
Rule	Ohio Administrative Code 1501:9-8-02

What has to be reported

The thresholds are 24-hour totals that reach the environment outside secondary containment:

Release	Reportable when it's more than
Brine or semi-solid waste	About 42 gallons (1 barrel), including from a registered hauling truck
Oil or condensate	About 210 gallons (5 barrels)
Oil or condensate in an urban area, a drinking-water protection zone or a 100-year floodplain	About 25 gallons
Refined oil products	About 25 gallons
Oil reaching water	Any amount that leaves a visible film or sheen
Hazardous substances	The federal reportable quantity

Some events are reportable regardless of volume: gas blowouts, uncontrolled pop-off releases in urban areas, releases that threaten public safety, hydrogen sulfide above 20 ppm for more than 10 minutes, any release that injures or kills someone, and fires or explosions where an emergency responder was called.

Making the call

Report by the toll-free number or electronic method the division designates on its website. Ohio's oil and gas one-call line, 1-844-OHCALL1, reaches the state agencies that respond to oil and gas emergencies. If anyone is in danger, call 911 first. A contractor working for you has to tell you within 30 minutes, and call the division directly if they can't reach you.

Have these ready, as far as you know them:

Your name and a phone number to reach you.
Where it happened: county, township, directions and GPS coordinates.
The well's permit or API number, or the hauler's registration number.
What happened, what was released, about how much, and when it started and stopped.
Where it went: soil, a ditch, a creek.
What you've done so far, whether responders were called, and anyone evacuated or hurt.

After the call

Oil, condensate, refined product, sheen and hazardous substance releases need a written follow-up report on the division's form within 30 days. The chief can ask for one on other events too, and you can amend a report at any time.

Where operators get tripped up

Waiting to measure. The 30 minutes runs from when you know, not when you've finished cleaning up. Call with your best estimate.
Forgetting containment counts. A release that stayed inside secondary containment generally isn't reportable; one that got past the berm is.
Converting in your head. Thresholds are in gallons and tank gauges are in barrels: 1 barrel is 42 gallons, so 5 barrels of oil is the 210-gallon line.
Losing the 30-day report. Put the written report on the calendar the day you call.

How WellCollar handles it

Know in seconds whether to call

Log a release in WellCollar and it tells you whether it's reportable as you fill it in, shows the 30-minute countdown and the state line, and builds the call sheet from the well record: location, GPS, API number, amount and what you've done. One tap records the call, and the 30-day written report goes on your to-do list. Included in Core.

See compliance

Official sources

This guide explains the rules in plain English and is not legal advice. Forms and rules change, so check the current form and your permit before you file. Last checked October 25, 2026.

More filing guides

Other guides operators use

Ohio Form 10 annual production reportWho files, what goes on it per well, and the March 31 deadline.Ohio Class II disposal well quarterly reportShipments, monthly volumes and pressures, plus the February 15 disposal fee.Ohio idle wells and temporary inactive statusWhen an idle well must be plugged or registered, the fees and the six-month inspections.Ohio Class II integrity testingThe pressure limit formula, MIT every five years and the yearly shut-off test.Checking Ohio brine haulersRegistration, insurance and what to keep on file before you take a load.Texas Form PR monthly production reportLease-by-lease oil and gas, disposition codes and the monthly due date.Texas Form H-10 disposal well reportMonthly pressure and volume monitoring, reported once a year on your field's cycle.Splitting production from a shared tankHow to divide oil and water hauls across the wells that feed one tank.

Questions

Common questions

How fast must an oil and gas spill be reported in Ohio?

Within 30 minutes of becoming aware of a reportable event, unless that's impracticable (OAC 1501:9-8-02).

How much brine is reportable in Ohio?

More than about 42 gallons (1 barrel) in 24 hours released outside secondary containment, or from a registered brine hauling vehicle.

How much oil is reportable in Ohio?

More than about 210 gallons (5 barrels) outside secondary containment, or more than about 25 gallons in an urban area, drinking-water protection zone or 100-year floodplain. Any oil that leaves a sheen on water is reportable.

Is a written report required after an Ohio spill?

Yes, within 30 days for releases of oil or condensate, refined oil products, releases causing a sheen, and hazardous substances.

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