In IDDE investigations, what is one essential action to take immediately upon discovering a discharge?

• A. Ignore it until the next quarterly report.
• B. Document the discharge, stop or isolate the source if safe, notify the supervisor, and begin corrective actions.
• C. Mask the discharge with soil cover.
• D. Rename the site.

Answer: (B)

Act quickly to contain and report the discharge. In IDDE investigations, the priority is to stop or isolate the source safely to prevent further pollution, document what you observe (where, when, and what you saw), notify your supervisor, and begin corrective actions to eliminate the illicit discharge. This sequence ensures containment, accountability, and rapid work toward a long-term fix, while also creating a clear record for compliance and future prevention. Ignoring the discharge, masking it, or renaming the site do not address the pollution or trigger the necessary response, so they aren’t appropriate courses of action.