(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.