EAST PALESTINE, Ohio - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan was in East Palestine Tuesday to provide updates on the ongoing Federal Response to the Norfolk Southern train derailment. 

East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway joined the EPA leader on Tuesday, who was visiting for a third time in weeks since the tragedy.

Regan said the future of the community is bright, and stated that he loved the village, vowing his department would be there "for as long as it takes," Regan said.

Regan repeated that the US EPA is holding Norfolk Southern accountable for the toxic train derailment of February 3, sharing that the railroad owner has agreed to comply with the EPA mandate for the cleanup of the community. Regan said that if at anytime Norfolk Southern fails to comply with the order, the government would step in to complete the work and would fine the railroad triple the cost in accordance to the powers of the EPA.

Regan was asked about the testing being conducted, including for dioxins, a hazardous byproduct from the control vinyl chloride burn. Regan said he has heard the concern from the residents, and the students of the local district he visited earlier and would take the issue back to Washington D.C .for response.

Regan was repeatedly hammered over the question of testing for dioxins by 21 News Madison Tromler and other media. Regan said the EPA was doing all the proper testing and called on the Ohio Department of Agriculture and Governor DeWine to lead the response on that effort over concerns of farm animals.

Regan claimed there were no gaps the testing, and when asked what specific list of chemicals and byproducts is the EPA is for, he said "if there are gaps... we want to address those gaps."

Regan repeated that he hears the community's concerns "loud and clear" and will be taking those back to D.C.

Regan was joined by U.S. EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore as they opened the new Community Welcome Center at 25 North Market Street. 

The center will be available to members of the East Palestine community, where they can meet staff from the EPA and other agencies to learn more about services available to the community.