The state of Iowa requires any person manufacturing, storing, handling, transporting, or disposing of a hazardous substance to notify the department and local law enforcement of the occurrence of a hazardous condition (*.pdf file). The notification should be made as soon as possible but not later than six hours after the onset or discovery of the hazardous condition. Local law enforcement is also required by Iowa Code to report a "Hazardous Condition" to the department within 6 hours.

If the hazardous condition involves the release of an EPA regulated material (materials & reportable quantity) or an oil as defined by the EPA, the release may also be reported to the National Response Center at (800) 424-8802 within 15 minutes. To assist in the reporting of a Hazardous Condition the department has put together a reporting guide (*.pdf file). The State of Iowa also requires a written report of the incident be submitted to the department within 30 days of the incident. The department has created a 30 Day Written Report Form (word document) to assist in reporting.