EPA Pauses, Restarts Ohio Derailment Toxic Waste Shipments

Hello, and welcome to the latest update on the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Today is February 27th, 2023.

In case you missed the news, on February 3rd, 38 train cars derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, with 11 of them carrying hazardous materials, causing fears of an explosion due to the hazardous chemicals. The derailment resulted in the evacuation of the area, and residents expressed concerns about potential health and safety risks.

Federal and state officials claimed that it was safe for evacuated residents to return to the area, as air testing in the town and inside hundreds of homes had not detected any concerning levels of contaminants. However, activists such as Erin Brockovich called for more answers from the government as people continued to report feeling ill in the wake of the derailment.

Later, hazardous waste from the derailment site was shipped to disposal facilities in Michigan and Texas without the knowledge of officials in those states. Michigan and Texas officials expressed surprise and concern that Norfolk Southern had shipped some of the contaminated waste to disposal facilities in their states.

February 25, 2023 – EPA Halts Toxic Waste Shipments From Ohio Derailment Site, Press Conference

On February 25, 2023, representatives from various federal and state agencies held a press conference to provide updates on the Norfolk Southern freight train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The conference featured speakers from the EPA, Ohio EPA, Ohio Department of Development, FEMA, CDC, and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). The officials discussed their efforts to support the community affected by the incident and shared updates on the ongoing cleanup process.

During this press conference, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it had ordered shipments of hazardous waste out of East Palestine to stop after complaints from residents and officials in other states. EPA regional administrator Debra Shore instructed Norfolk Southern to pause transporting any more waste products from the derailment site until federal officials could review the routes and disposal facilities.

The EPA stated it has conducted 574 home re-entry screenings and air monitoring at 15 stations within the community. The agency has also committed to ensuring that all waste is disposed of safely and lawfully at EPA certified facilities. Ohio EPA Director Ann Vogel gave an update on the cleanup process, which is moving into the remediation phase, and has made progress in cleaning up sulfur and Leslie Run.

Lydia Mihalik, Director of the Ohio Department of Development, pledged to help people and businesses in the community get back to life as they knew it before the accident and to provide assistance and help to those who need it. FEMA and the Biden-Harris Administration have also announced that federal interagency teams from FEMA, HHS, EPA, and the CDC will conduct outreach to help provide support for residents of East Palestine.

The CDC stated it is leading a scientific team that is conducting assessments of chemical exposure and planning to conduct surveys to gather information from residents and businesses in the area. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is also reaching out to households with informational sheets containing contact lists and instructions for accessing resources.

During the press conference, questions were raised about the safety of drinking water, the removal of contaminated waste, and reports of illnesses in the community. The officials emphasized that they are monitoring the situation closely and taking steps to ensure the safety and well-being of the community.

You can view the conference by clicking play on the following YouTube video:

February 26, 2023 – Toxic Waste Shipped to Michigan and Then Returned to Ohio

On February 26, the Ohio governor’s office announced that 15 truckloads of contaminated soil had already been disposed of at a licensed facility in Michigan, while Shore stated that material shipped out to sites in other states but later returned to East Palestine would now be shipped to the two Ohio sites.

February 27, 2023 – EPA Resumes Toxic Waste Shipments From Ohio Derailment Site

On February 27, the EPA announced that shipments of toxic waste from the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment would resume, as EPA-certified facilities that can accept some of the waste had been identified, which meant shipments could restart. Norfolk Southern would also begin shipping solid waste to an incinerator in East Liverpool, Ohio, and additional solid waste disposal locations were being sought.

The EPA has assured residents that the transport and disposal of the waste will be subject to federal review and approval, and that all disposal facilities will meet the necessary standards. However, some officials and residents in Michigan and Texas have expressed concern about the waste that was shipped to disposal facilities in their states without their prior knowledge. They are calling for greater transparency and oversight in the handling of hazardous waste from train derailments and other environmental disasters.

The resumption of the waste shipments comes after the EPA ordered a temporary halt on February 25, in response to concerns about the transportation routes and disposal facilities. The decision to resume the shipments has been praised by some as a necessary step in the ongoing cleanup efforts, while others remain cautious and concerned about the potential risks and consequences.

As the cleanup and investigation continue, it remains to be seen what the long-term effects of the derailment will be for the residents and communities of East Palestine and beyond. The derailment has had a significant impact on the community and the environment, and it is crucial that the hazardous waste is disposed of safely and lawfully to minimize the risk of further harm. The EPA and other agencies are closely monitoring the situation and working to ensure that the cleanup and disposal of hazardous waste are done safely and lawfully.

Residents and officials in the surrounding areas have expressed mixed reactions to the resumption of the shipment of toxic waste. While some are relieved that the cleanup can continue, and the hazardous waste will be disposed of safely and lawfully, others remain concerned about the potential risks and long-term effects of the spill.

The derailment serves as a reminder of the importance of proper handling and disposal of hazardous materials, and the need for greater oversight and transparency in the transportation of such materials. The EPA’s actions to halt and resume the waste shipments demonstrate the agency’s commitment to protecting public health and the environment, and their continued efforts to hold those responsible for environmental disasters accountable.

In the case of the East Palestine derailment, Norfolk Southern has taken responsibility for the incident and has been working with federal and state agencies to clean up the site and dispose of the hazardous waste. The company has also pledged to review and improve its safety protocols to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

While Norfolk Southern’s efforts to clean up the site and dispose of the hazardous waste are commendable, some residents and officials remain concerned about the long-term effects of the spill. The derailment site is located near the Little Beaver Creek, a tributary of the Ohio River, which provides drinking water to millions of people in the region. Concerns have been raised about the potential impact of the hazardous waste on the water quality and the health of those who rely on the river for drinking water.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) has been conducting water testing in the area to assess the impact of the derailment on the water quality. Initial tests have not detected any concerning levels of contaminants, but the OEPA will continue to monitor the situation closely.

The EPA and other agencies are also closely monitoring the situation to ensure that the cleanup and disposal of hazardous waste are done safely and lawfully. The resumption of the waste shipments is subject to federal review and approval, and all disposal facilities will be required to meet the necessary standards.

Conclusion

As the cleanup and investigation continue, it is important to remember the lessons learned from this incident. The derailment serves as a reminder of the importance of proper handling and disposal of hazardous materials, and the need for greater oversight and transparency in the transportation of such materials. The EPA’s actions to halt and resume the waste shipments demonstrate the agency’s commitment to protecting public health and the environment, and their continued efforts to hold those responsible for environmental disasters accountable.

It is also important to remember the impact that environmental disasters can have on local communities. The residents of East Palestine have been directly impacted by the derailment, and their concerns and questions should not be dismissed or ignored. It is crucial for federal and state agencies to work closely with local communities to address their concerns and provide them with the information and resources they need to protect their health and safety.

The East Palestine derailment is a reminder that we must remain vigilant in our efforts to protect public health and the environment. We must hold those responsible for environmental disasters accountable, and we must work together to ensure that proper safety protocols are in place to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. Only by working together can we create a safe and sustainable future for ourselves and for generations to come.

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