The EPA just distributed a news release, and I’d like to give you an update on the Norfolk Southern train derailment that occurred in East Palestine, Ohio. I want to start by thanking all the emergency responders, including EPA personnel, and other essential government personnel, who were on the ground since day one and ensured that there was no loss of life due to this disaster. The response has now transitioned from the emergency phase to the environmental cleanup phase, and the EPA has ordered Norfolk Southern to conduct all necessary actions associated with the cleanup.
Under the legally binding order, Norfolk Southern is required to identify and clean up contaminated soil and water resources, reimburse EPA for cleaning services to be offered to residents and businesses, attend and participate in public meetings at EPA’s request and post information online, and pay for EPA’s costs for work performed under this order. The EPA will approve a workplan outlining all steps necessary to clean up the environmental damage caused by the derailment, and if the company fails to complete any actions as ordered by the EPA, the Agency will immediately step in, conduct the necessary work, and then seek to compel Norfolk Southern to pay triple the cost.
The EPA states that Norfolk Southern will pay for cleaning up the mess they created and for the trauma they’ve inflicted on this community. The EPA will continue to coordinate closely with our local, state, and federal partners through a whole-of-government approach to support the East Palestine community during the remediation phase. To the people of East Palestine, EPA stands with you now and for as long as it may take.
To address the concerns of residents regarding potential indoor contamination, the EPA will offer cleaning services to area businesses and families. The Agency has extensive experience with similar cleaning programs in other Midwestern communities. Under the terms of the order, Norfolk Southern will reimburse EPA for the costs of these cleaning services. More details about how community members can request this service will be available this week.
The EPA issued this unilateral administrative order pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, which gives EPA the authority to order those responsible for pollution to clean it up. The order takes effect two days after signature, though the cleanup work has already begun and will continue.
The EPA’s order marks the transition of the multi-agency response from its “emergency phase” to a longer-term remediation phase. To help implement the order, the EPA will establish a “unified command structure” to coordinate the clean-up related efforts of FEMA, HHS, Ohio EPA, Ohio EMA, PA DEP, as well as Norfolk Southern. This approach is frequently used in situations where multiple agencies need to work together. In this case, the response includes federal, state and local agencies across multiple states.
Finally, to allay concerns of residents regarding potential contamination, the EPA has assisted with indoor air monitoring of more than 550 homes under a voluntary screening program offered to residents, and no detections of vinyl chloride or hydrogen chloride were identified above levels of concern. The EPA is continuing to provide screening to all residents within the evacuation zone.
For more information about the EPA’s ongoing response to the East Palestine train derailment, please visit their website:
https://response.epa.gov/EastPalestineTrainDerailment
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