Jordan Anderson
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
(TNS)
Feb. 14—The tiny village of East Palestine in Ohio is still reeling from the aftermath of a train derailment earlier this month that has prompted concerns over hazardous material, and local and state officials working to manage the impacts.
On Tuesday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine called on Congress to take action. At a news conference, he said he was told the train was not considered a high hazardous material train, so it was not required to notify the state it was passing through.
"Frankly, if this is true, and I'm told it's true, this is absurd and we need to look at this and Congress needs to take a look at how these things are handled," Mr. DeWine said. "We should know when there are trains carrying hazardous material going through the state of Ohio."
Mr. DeWine's update came a day before a town hall is scheduled at East Palestine High School. Since the Feb. 3, accident, at least five lawsuits have been filed against the transit company Norfolk Southern. Gov. Josh Shapiro also sent a letter to Norfolk Southern saying he had "serious concerns" about the company's management of the incident.
Meanwhile, a letter sent by the Environmental Protection Agency to Norfolk Southern shows additional contaminants have, or may be, released into the environment than previously reported. The agency continues daily air testing in the area, detecting no levels of concern yet.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg weighed in on the issue Monday night in a series of tweets.
"I continue to be concerned about the impacts of the Feb 3 train derailment near East Palestine, OH, and the effects on families in the ten days since their lives were upended through no fault of their own," Mr. Buttigieg wrote.
I continue to be concerned about the impacts of the Feb 3 train derailment near East Palestine, OH, and the effects on families in the ten days since their lives were upended through no fault of their own. It's important that families have access to useful & accurate information:
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) February 14, 2023
He also emphasized the importance of access to accurate information, adding that the Department of Transportation has supported an investigation led by The National Transportation Safety Board. The results of that investigation will be used to "ensure accountability," he said.
About 50 cars, including 10 carrying hazardous materials, derailed Feb. 3, which investigators said was caused by a broken axle. Security camera footage from businesses in Salem, Ohio, recently revealed that Norfolk Southern train had traveled at least 20 miles with a malfunctioning axle before derailing.
The incident prompted an evacuation of thousands of residents for nearly a week.
Three days after the accident, authorities released and burned the toxic vinyl chloride inside five tanker cars, fearing a "catastrophic" explosion may be imminent. Officials warned it would send hydrogen chloride and phosgene, a highly toxic material previously used as a choking agent in World War I, into the air.
Residents were told they could return home last Wednesday. But locals have remained concerned about the toxic materials that could still be lingering in their homes and businesses.
They'll have their chance to speak in a question-and-answer session during an informational town hall meeting 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Environmental impacts
A letter from the EPA sent to Norfolk Southern on Friday outlined various hazardous substances that may be released in the environment, including three that were not previously reported.
The EPA listed ethylhexyl acrylate, which may cause irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. It also listed isobutylene, which can cause headache, dizziness, lightheadedness and fatigue, and ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, which can irritate the eyes, skin and respiratory tract.
EPA also found materials released during the incident were "observed and detected in samples" from Sulphur Run, Leslie Run, Bull Creek, North Fork Little Beaver Creek, Little Beaver Creek and the Ohio River. The letter stated that materials were seen entering storm drains.
The agency also wrote that contaminated soil and liquids were "observed and potentially covered and/or filled" during the reconstruction of the rail line, including "portions of the trench/burn pit" that was used for the burn off of vinyl chloride.
The EPA notified the company that it may be financially liable for cleanup costs for contamination from the incident.
According to a Feb.13 update by the EPA, community air monitoring in East Palestine is continuing. The EPA reported that no detections of vinyl chloride or hydrogen chloride have been identified in the screened homes.
As of Feb. 12, 291 homes had been screened. Local schools and the library were screened that day as well, the EPA stated.
EPA's air monitoring stations throughout the area did not "detect anything above the action level" as of Monday, according to the agency.
As the EPA's Friday letter confirmed, several waterways have seen contamination since the incident. On Feb. 10, EPA said it took water samples in Sulphur Run and planned to collect more samples of surface water at several points of nearby water streams.
Norfolk Southern contractors installed a dam and a water bypass at Sulphur Run to prevent further contamination of downstream waters, the EPA reported.
As testing continues, locals are growing increasingly worried about the health of local wildlife. East Palestine residents have reported sick and dead animals in the area, including fish, chickens and foxes.
This week, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources estimated about 3,500 fish have died in the derailment's aftermath.
Lawsuits
At least five lawsuits across state and federal courts have been filed by residents affected by the derailment. The suits, which could later be consolidated, allege negligence by Norfolk Southern.
Some residents argue that the company owes at least $5 million and lifetime medical expenses.
One lawsuit calls for the rail operator to set up health monitoring for residents in Ohio and Pennsylvania. It also asks the company to pay for medical screenings and care for anyone living within a 30-mile radius of the derailment to determine who was affected by toxic substances.
A fifth suit alleges that people within 30 miles of the derailment should be permitted to join the legal action, while others suggested those within a one to two mile radius.
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