EAST PALESTINE, Ohio - This Friday it will be four weeks since the Norfolk Southern toxic train derailment in East Palestine. 

 

Yet the agencies tasked with organizing clean-up on both the federal and state level have yet to give details about specific tests or scientific methods being used to test the well water or air samples.

 

Some residents believe the lack of transparency means the contamination is worse than the agencies want residents and the world to know otherwise they would let people know what tests are being used, what chemicals are being tested for and what byproducts are being tested for, what are normal levels and if there are better tests for the toxic chemicals that were on the derailed train or formed in the water runoff, the fire, or the planned explosion.

 

They believe the data and information should all be posted publicly for other scientists to review and for them to see. People there say if they don't understand the information or testing they will find people who do.

 

In East Palestine, it wasn't the federal, or state government helping, Instead Arrowhead Wine Cellars and in Erie trucked in a water buffalo for a family's horses that drink up to 130 gallons of water a week.

 

Still, four weeks after the Norfolk Southern toxic train cars derailed and led to thousands of gallons of chemicals entering waterways and possibly ground well water families are still waiting for test results.

 

"We're approaching a month. This is ridiculous, what are we subjected to? What are we consuming?" Linda Murphy asked.

 

Over 50 families depend on well water in East Palestine to shower, bathe, for their horses and livestock, or to water crops, and are left in the dark.

 

21 News asked the US EPA why?

 

"The testing of private wells is done by the Columbiana Health Department in collaboration with Norfolk Southern. They are taking split samples at the same time from the well and sending them to two different labs. I have not seen those results and I don't know how long it takes to get them. Again that's private information provided to the good owner. It's not being made public,"

 

21 News believes how many of the 50 wells have been polluted with dangerous contaminants is a public record and should be. We are not asking for individual addresses but for the total number of private wells tested to date, the results that have come back and whether any shows high levels of any of the contaminants or toxins released into the air or water runoff from thousands of gallons of water put on the rail cars to put out the flames and stop a massive explosion from taking place.

 

21 News will also be requesting information on what lab is doing the testing for the Columbiana Health Department, how long the test results will take, and what chemicals are being tested for, and what methods of testing are being used.

 

Linda Murphy believes Norfolk Southern having the testing done could be an olive branch to try and show they are doing what is right, or that it could serve as a neutral control.

 

However, she and others worry if the test shows conflicting results, then the lower results would the lower results be used in court against the test showing a homeowner well was no longer safe to use.

 

Other homeowners with private wells who didn't want to talk on camera asked why Norfolk Southern was allowed to contract with a lab, and if they used the same lab for each rail derailment. 

 

They ask if this is the same or similar to letting a fox guard a hen house or letting criminals process the crime scene.

 

21 News put that question to the panel from government agencies answering questions.

 

"This was an arrangement prior to the U.S. EPA taking over the whole emergency response and remediation in the early days the Ohio EPA that was doing that," U.S. EPA Region Five Administrator Debra Shore said.

 

Shore directed us to ask the Ohio EPA. 

 

The U.S. EPA says the samples are split and sent to two different labs for results.

 

Homeowners with wells want each individual result not a split between two results. Some are seeking independent tests.

 

And they want information and transparency on what chemicals or chemical byproducts are being tested for or looked for in the water.

 

They also wanted to know the method of the tests being used. The acceptable amount and whether their water well exceeds or is under the safe levels for drinking water. 

 

Plus they want to know if the tests being used are the best tests to search for contaminants and toxins.

 

Linda tells us both persons collecting samples of well water, from the Columbiana Health Department or the company hired by Norfolk Southern had no idea of what testing method was being used,  no list to hand her, and a flyer with a name and number to call for information or questions. 

 

"I was questioning what they would be testing the well for and they replied by saying we're only here to collect the samples mam," Murphy said.

 

That lack of transparency makes residents wonder what else is being buried. They point out the EPA found Norfolk Southern to rebuild the rail in East Palestine over contaminated dirt to get the trains back running prior to folks being told it was safe to go back to their homes.