East Palestine Update - 3/10/23
(EAST PALESTINE, Ohio)— The following are updates from the State of Ohio regarding remediation work at the site of the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Delay to Contaminated Soil Removal
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine today expressed serious concerns regarding the stall in the removal of contaminated soil from East Palestine.
There is currently a pile of approximately 24,400 tons of excavated soil waiting for removal from East Palestine, versus only 2,980 tons that have actually been removed.
Governor DeWine and Ohio EPA remain concerned that the threats of future contamination and future injury to public health cannot be fully eliminated until the contaminated soil is removed from East Palestine.
"The needs of this community are essentially getting lost in all this red tape, and piles of hazardous soil must not continue to sit stagnant in East Palestine," said Governor DeWine. "While I understand the steps the U.S. EPA is taking to ensure that the waste is disposed of in a safe and proper matter, the fact that waste removal has stalled is outrageous. I'm calling on the U.S. EPA and Norfolk Southern to identify and subsequently authorize more sites to take this waste immediately. All licensed hazardous waste facilities in the country are well equipped to dispose of this soil - and, quite frankly, much more dangerous waste - in a safe manner. It’s time to get this process moving.”
In all circumstances involving hazardous waste in the United States, the waste must be disposed of at a permitted hazardous waste treatment and disposal facility. All permitted treatment and disposal facilities must meet the requirements of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act’s (RCRA) hazardous waste permitting program, which ensures the safe management of hazardous waste in a manner that protects public health and the environment.
However, the U.S. EPA has taken the approach of requiring pre-approval of all disposal and transport of contaminated soil and liquids from the East Palestine derailment site. This approval is an additional step above and beyond all other applicable safety management regulations required under RCRA and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
 Photo of excavated soil in East Palestine
Hazardous Waste Removal
According to the Ohio EPA, approximately 4.85 million gallons of liquid wastewater have been hauled out of East Palestine in total.
- Approximately 352,000 gallons have been shipped to Vickery Environmental in Vickery, Ohio, to be disposed of through deep well injection.
- Approximately 4.18 million gallons have been shipped to Texas Molecular in Deer Park, Texas, to be disposed of through deep well injection.
- Approximately 320,000 gallons have been hauled to Detroit Industrial Well in Romulus, Michigan to be disposed of through deep well injection.
The Ohio EPA reports that approximately 2,980 tons of solid waste have also left the derailment site.
- Approximately 520 tons have been hauled to Ross Incineration Services in Grafton, Ohio, to be incinerated.
- Approximately 1,270 tons have been hauled to Heritage Thermal Services in East Liverpool, Ohio, to be incinerated.
- Approximately 440 tons have been shipped to U.S. Ecology Wayne Disposal in Belleville, Michigan, to be placed in a landfill.
- Approximately 750 tons have been hauled to Heritage Environmental Services in North Roachdale, Indiana, to be placed in a landfill.
Municipal Water Testing
Ohio EPA has begun publishing two new data tables to more easily communicate information related to chemical detections in the weekly sampling of raw well water and treated drinking water from East Palestine’s municipal drinking water system.
At this time, no chemicals associated with the derailment have been detected in either the raw or treated water. Contaminants unrelated to the derailment have been identified in the raw well water, but those contaminants are eliminated through the water treatment process. Trace amounts of by-products of drinking water chlorination are the only substances found in the treated water. Only water that has been treated is distributed to customers.
Summary of Detections in East Palestine's Raw Well Water
Summary of Detections in Treated Drinking Water
Turtle Necropsy Results
Final necropsy and lab testing results on a deceased snapping turtle from the East Palestine area show no evidence to support chemical toxicity as a cause of death. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources submitted six deceased animals found in or around Sulphur Run to the Ohio Department of Agriculture's Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory last month. The final results on four raccoons and one muskrat are still pending.
Ohio Department of Agriculture Farming Meeting
B-roll from yesterday's meeting with local farmers and an interview with Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge is available for media use.
VIDEO: Ohio Department of Agriculture Meeting with Farmers
Health Assessment Clinic
The Ohio Department of Health’s Health Assessment Clinic in East Palestine, operating in partnership with the Columbiana County Health District, is operating on a walk-in basis. Residents should arrive at least an hour before closing to ensure there is enough time to be served.
Clinic hours for next week are:
Monday-Tuesday: Noon to 6 p.m.
Wednesday: Noon to 8 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The clinic is located at the First Church of Christ, 20 West Martin St. For information, call the Columbiana County Health District at 330-424-0272.
Coping with Trauma
According to the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, traumatic events, such as the train derailment, can cause intense stress, anxiety, and worry, especially in the first several weeks following the event.
Local certified professionals are onsite at the East Palestine Mobile Health Clinic and are ready to assist anyone who has questions or concerns. In addition, any resident can call the Ohio CareLine at 1-800-720-9616 at any time of day for free, confidential, emotional support from a trained professional.
For more information about local behavioral health resources and providers, contact the Columbiana County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board at https://www.ccmhrsb.org/.
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