(A view of the scene Feb. 24, 2023, as the cleanup continues at the site of of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailment that happened on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Monday, March 6, 2023 that Norfolk Southern has pledged several million dollars to cover the cost of the response and recovery in Pennsylvania after last month’s derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals just across the border in Ohio. (AP Photo/Matt Freed, file)

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio – The EPA said Sunday night that they will hold the next community open house on Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at East Palestine High School. EPA staff will be available to discuss soil sampling results.
Last Friday, EPA notified Norfolk Southern of its obligation pursuant to the Unilateral Administrative Order to identify EPA-certified disposal facilities and ship waste safely and swiftly.
EPA’s letter to Norfolk Southern: Re: C5XR Unilateral Administrative Order Waste Disposal is located here: Norfolk Southern Letter Final (epa.gov)
EPA’s letter to State Commissioners, Directors, and Secretaries Re: Alert Disposal of Hazardous Waste Material from East Palestine, Ohio, Train Derailment Site is located here: EPA Memo to Alert Regarding Disposal of Hazardous
Waste Material from East Palestine, Ohio, Train Derailment Site

Response By the Numbers
• 6,186 tons est. of contaminated soil shipped (+93 tons from yesterday)
• 7.25 million est. gallons of liquid wastewater shipped (+186,577 million gallons from yesterday)
• 618 indoor air screenings
• The Welcome Center has received 338 visitors
Soil Removal at the Derailment Site:
Soil removal continues at the derailment site and approximately 6,186 tons of contaminated soil has shipped to disposal facilities. Work at the site includes removing tracks in sections, and removing soil and placing it in a staging area for disposal. Soil removal continues on the south track rail area; planning for the north track rail removal is underway. During the soil removal process, Norfolk Southern, with EPA oversight, will conduct soil sampling beneath the excavated rail track.
Liquid Waste Removal:
Wastewater is collected to ensure water does not leave the derailment site or staging piles of contaminated soil. Wastewater is generated after rain falls on contaminated soil and is collected and from cleaning and washing trucks before they leave site. An estimated 7.25 million gallons of wastewater has been shipped offsite to
appropriate disposal facilities.
Soil Sampling:
EPA and Norfolk Southern contractors continue to take soil samples at agricultural, commercial, recreational and residential properties in both Ohio and Pennsylvania. To date, 97 properties have been sampled. This soil sampling effort will help identify if contaminants, including SVOCs and dioxins, are present and may have been caused by the train derailment.
Preliminary soil sample results are coming back from the lab – this information will be shared with property owners and the public after quality checks are complete.

Air Quality:
To date, 618 indoor air screenings have been conducted. Air monitoring continues 24/7 at 23 stations throughout the community. No detections of vinyl chloride or hydrogen chloride have been identified.
During the soil removal at the derailment site, EPA and independent contractors are conducting air monitoring within the work zone and throughout the surrounding community. This includes continuous air monitoring and sampling at the site and throughout the community as well as the use of EPA’s Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer
(TAGA) mobile laboratory which is conducting an air monitoring route near the soil excavation area. EPA does not anticipate exceedances of levels of health concern as a result of the soil removal work.
See operational updates from other agencies supporting this incident response below.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• FEMA has been working closely with the state since the beginning of this incident and has been in constant contact regarding emergency operations since February 4—less than 12 hours after the train derailment.
• In total, FEMA deployed 70 personnel to help coordinate this multiagency effort and get the people of East Palestine connected to critical information and resources.
• Specifically, FEMA recently supported Interagency Community Outreach teams with door-to-door outreach in the affected area, sharing valuable information with residents and businesses.
• These teams engaged with affected residents in the community and more than 2,200 flyers were distributed to individuals or dropped off at their homes and businesses.
Department of Transportation (DOT)&National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
• DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) recently urged all railroad operators to create and maintain emergency response plans for the transport of hazardous materials, strengthen the accessibility of the AskRail system, and inform PHMSA when they identify responders who are not able to access PHMSA’s grant-funded training. Read the PHMSA Safety Advisory Notice: Railroad
Emergency Preparedness.
• NTSB, an independent federal agency, is leading the investigation into the cause of the derailment.
Read NTSBs recently issued an Investigative Update with factual findings on their investigation on the ground.
• Within hours of the derailment, staff from the Federal Railroad Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration staff were on the scene to support the NTSB investigation.
• Upon completion of the investigation, DOT will use all relevant authorities to ensure accountability and improve safety.
• DOT is demanding immediate actions from the Class I railroads, announcing continued and expanded action from DOT, and calling on Congress to take actions that will hold the industry accountable.
Norfolk Southern Corporation
• For daily updates community members can view the Norfolk Southern website
https://nsmakingitright.com/.
• Sign-ups are now available for the Norfolk Southern Rail Response Training Center Classes in Bellevue, OH.
Eight one-day classes are available, starting on March 21. This is a free 8-hour, hands-on class (8:30 am to 5:30 pm) and lunch will be provided.

• Go to this site to register: https://www.transcaer.com/training/training-events/oh/norfolk-southern-rail-response-training-center/25868. Other upcoming dates at the NS Rail Response Training Center are March 23, 25, 30 AND April 1, 6, 8, 13.

PITTSBURGH, PA – Pennsylvania U.S. Senator John Fetterman’s office today announced that it would open a Pittsburgh regional office at 310 Grant Street in downtown Pittsburgh. The office will open to the public in early April.

“Our team is proud to open another office to serve the people of Pennsylvania, this time in Pittsburgh,” said Joe Pierce, Senator Fetterman’s State Director. “This location will provide top services to the people of southwestern Pennsylvania as we continue to staff up our constituent services and outreach departments.”

The Pittsburgh office will be led by Western Pennsylvania Regional Director Elizabeth Casertano, an Allegheny County native. Casertano was Fetterman’s Deputy Political Director during his campaign and formerly served as the Executive Director of the Allegheny County Democratic Party.

The Pittsburgh office will be Senator Fetterman’s fifth open in-state office location. He has already opened offices in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Erie, and his Wilkes-Barre office will open to the public in early April. More offices will be opening in the coming weeks and months.

The full address for GPS is 310 Grant Street, Suite 1440, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

The office will house multiple senior-level staffers, in addition to constituent services and outreach staff for counties located in the southwestern part of the state.

HARRISBURG – State Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47) today announced the approval of more than $5 million in state funding for community improvement projects across the 47^th Senate District.

“I’m pleased to announce this critical funding for community improvement projects in the 47^th Senate District,” Vogel said. “It’s important that state government partners with our local cities, townships and boroughs to help pay for projects that benefit local communities.”

Vogel said the following Local Share Account Program grants were approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority and funded by local gaming revenue:

• The City of Aliquippa will receive $500,000 for infrastructure improvements to a city building.
• The Aliquippa Municipal Water Authority will receive $250,000 for the construction of a new collector well.
• Beaver Borough will receive $115,424 to purchase and install police radios.
• Beaver County Corporation for Economic Development will receive $300,000 for renovations of a building located in Beaver Falls City.
• Beaver Falls Municipal Authority will receive $1 million for renovations to the Chippewa water tank in Chippewa Township.
• Big Beaver Borough will receive $200,000 for storm drainage improvements and resurfacing of Eagle Rock Road.
• Center Township Sanitary Authority will receive $82,544 to purchase a utility dump truck for use in Monaca Borough and the townships of Center, Hopewell and Potter.
• Darlington Township will receive $300,000 for renovations to the area surrounding the municipal complex.
• Harmony Township will receive $519,900 to rehabilitate and renovate the municipal building.
• Hopewell Township will receive $93,240 for Hopewell Township Community Park playground equipment; $250,000 for the construction of a UV disinfection system at the Raccoon Creek Water Pollution Control Facility and associated tankage/electrical systems; $57,137 for new play equipment at Sharon Grange Park in Aliquippa; $149,888 for the purchase of a vactor truck; $500,000 for improvements to the Hopewell Township Wickham Village wastewater pollution control facility; and $68,984 for playground improvements at Woodlawn Park.
• Koppel Borough will receive $200,000 for streetscape improvements along Arthur Street.
• Marion Township will receive $631,176 to install water lines in Herman Road.
• Midland Borough Municipal Authority will receive $340,000 for the replacement of the main distribution line from the plant to Railroad Avenue.
• Monaca Borough will receive $284,500 for Civic Center site preparation and outdoor improvements.
• New Sewickley Township will receive $200,000 to purchase five new police vehicles.
• Patterson Township will receive $200,000 for the construction of a parking lot at Patterson Township Park.
• Rochester Borough Sewer and Maintenance Authority will receive $250,000 for a sanitary and combined sewer improvements project.
• Seven Fields Borough will receive $250,000 for renovation and rehabilitation of the community pool.

The following grants were awarded from the Multimodal Transportation Fund Program:

• Beaver Falls City will receive $750,000 for streetscape improvements along 7th Avenue.
• Big Beaver Borough will receive $250,000 to demolish and replace the Sherwood Drive bridge over Jordon Run.
• Ambridge Borough will receive $400,000 for streetscape improvements along Merchant Street.
• West View Water Authority will receive $336,384 to pave Tevebaugh Hollow Road located in Baden and Economy boroughs.
• Cranberry Township, Butler County will receive $391,212 to improve the intersection of Brandt Drive and Executive Drive.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing roadway improvement work on Dutch Ridge Road/Market Street (Route 4018/4020) in Brighton Township and Beaver Borough, Beaver County will begin Monday, March 20 weather permitting.

Single-lane alternating traffic will occur on Dutch Ridge Road/Market Street between Tuscarawas Road and Route 68 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays through December. Weekend work will occur.

The $4.38 million group paving job includes milling and resurfacing nearly seven miles of roadway, shoulder and base repair, drainage upgrades, guide rail updates, sign and pavement marking installation, and other miscellaneous construction activities.

Crews from Lindy Paving will conduct the work.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

HARRISBURG, PA:  The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reported today that the combined total revenue generated from all forms of gaming along with fantasy contests during February 2023 was $456,838,518, an increase of 21.60% compared to revenue generated in February 2022.

 

Sources of gaming revenue regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board include slot machines, table games, internet gaming, sports wagering, fantasy contests and VGTs. The Board has posted separate reports for these types of gaming on its website, https://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/.

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 17, 2023) – Highmark Health today announced that Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Chief Operating Officer James Benedict has been appointed as president of the network, effective immediately.  AHN is the Western Pennsylvania provider arm of Highmark Health, a Pittsburgh-based health and wellness organization that offers Blues-branded health insurance solutions in four states.

 

Benedict (JD, CPA, MAFIS, FACHE) joined AHN as its executive vice president and COO in 2017 and was one of the chief architects of the network’s successful operational turnaround and its nearly $2 billion capital investment and market expansion strategy.

 

That campaign to date has resulted in the considerable expansion of AHN’s clinical footprint, including the construction of AHN Wexford Hospital and four new neighborhood hospitals; six new cancer centers; multiple new multispecialty Health + Wellness Pavilions and other outpatient facilities; and significant investments in the capabilities of many existing AHN facilities.

 

In July 2020, Benedict moved to parent company Highmark Health, serving as its executive vice president, Living Health Partnerships and Operations, where he steered enterprise efforts to redesign the health care delivery system and help develop the organization’s “Living Health” model. During that time, he was also an important driver of Highmark Health’s and AHN’s COVID-19 pandemic response strategy.

 

To help address the many challenges facing the provider industry today, Benedict returned to his AHN COO role in late 2022 and in his new capacity as AHN president he will continue to report to Bruce A. Meyer, MD, MBA, executive vice president and Western PA market president for Highmark Health.

 

“Jim is an exceptionally talented, highly accomplished health care leader with a proven track record of successfully managing complex organizations, building high-performing teams, and helping institutions develop and execute winning strategies to fulfill their mission,” Dr. Meyer said. “As AHN’s president, Jim and his team will help further transform AHN into the provider pacesetter of our Living Health model, creating and supporting the clinical infrastructure and blended payer-provider solutions that deliver better value, better experiences and better outcomes for those we serve.”

 

A 30-year veteran of the health care industry, Benedict has extensive experience in hospital operations, physician practice management, and ambulatory operations, with previous executive leadership roles in nonprofit, public, academic, and international medical settings. He came to AHN in 2017 from TeamHealth, where he served as the executive vice president of anesthesia for U.S. operations and before that held various roles at the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals of Cleveland.

 

“It is an incredible honor and privilege to lead AHN and be part of this unique journey with Highmark Health to create a more effective, patient-centric and economically sustainable health and wellness model for the country,” Benedict said. “The challenges we face in our industry have been an inspiration to all of us who have spent the last several years building AHN’s foundation, improving the health experiences of our patients and making Western Pennsylvania a healthier place to live.  We still have a lot to do, but I am extremely proud of what our clinicians and the AHN/Highmark Family has accomplished to date and look forward continuing this vital work in improving equitable access to high quality, affordable healthcare alongside AHN’s and Highmark Health’s remarkable leadership and caregiving teams.”

 

Benedict received his undergraduate degree from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio, a Master’s in Accountancy from Cleveland State University, and his law degree from The Cleveland State University College of Law. He is also a non-practicing certified public accountant in Ohio, is admitted to the Ohio Bar and is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.