Lion's Take on the 'Squidpocalypse'

On August 16, 2026, at about 9:27 AM ET, a group of squids took over a section of a Rhode Island street. They blocked the road for hours. Their demands were unclear. The whole village of Narragansett feared a diminished appetizer selection.

All jokes aside, on that day, at that time, a truck’s trailer detached, overturned, and spilled two tons of squid onto the street. Thankfully, nobody was injured. This was a dangerous incident, but no matter what anyone says about the smell, it was not a hazmat incident.

This is a good opportunity to go over reporting that would have been required if this had been a hazmat incident.

Reporting Hazmat Transportation Incidents

If this were a hazmat incident, it would have to be reported. So, let’s answer these questions:

• Who submits a hazmat incident report?
• Who must be notified of the incident and when?
• When must reports occur?

Who Submits a Hazmat Incident Report?

The duty to report a hazmat transportation incident falls to the “person” in physical possession (PIP) of the hazmat at the time of the incident. That might be a driver, a package sorting facility, or the shipper/receiver.

Who Must Be Notified of the Incident?

As Soon As Possible: Reporting to the National Response Center

The PIP must notify the National Response Center (NRC) by phone* as soon as possible (but no later than 12 hours after the incident) if, as a direct result of hazardous materials, any of the following serious incidents occur as a direct result of hazardous materials:

• A person is killed or must be admitted to a hospital.
• The public must be evacuated, or a major transportation artery or facility must be shut down, for more than an hour.
• The operational flight plan of an airplane must be changed.
• There is a fire, breakage, or spillage of radioactive materials or an infectious substance other than a regulated medical waste.
• There is a release of more than 119 gallons or 882 lbs. of marine pollutants.
• A battery or battery-powered device incident leads to a fire, violent rupture, explosion, or dangerous evolution of heat aboard an aircraft.
• There is a life-threatening situation in the judgment of the PIP.

[49 CFR 171.15]

National Response Center phone numbers: 800-424-8802 (toll free) or 202-267-2675.

Within 30 Days: Reporting to US DOT

Whenever an incident occurs that requires an immediate phone report to the NRC, the person in possession must also submit a written incident report to US DOT within 30 days (Form F 5800.1).

The following types of incidents do not require an immediate report, but do require the written incident report to DOT within 30 days:

• There is an unintentional release of hazmat or discharge of any quantity of hazardous waste.
• There was certain damage to cargo tank trucks.
• Someone discovered an undeclared shipment of hazmat.
• A fire, violent rupture, explosion, or dangerous evolution of heat derived from a battery or battery-powered device.

[49 CFR 171.16]

Video: Reporting Hazmat Transportation Incidents