In response to concerns from resident, U.S. EPA Administrator, Michael Regan is ordering Norfolk Southern to test directly for dioxins in East Palestine.

Should dioxins be found at a level that poses any substantial threat to residents and/or the environment, the EPA will direct the immediate cleanup of the area as needed.

The EPA will also require Norfolk Southern to conduct a background study to compare any dioxin levels around East Palestine to dioxin levels in areas not impacted by the derailment.

East Liverpool-based non-profit, River Valley Organizing released a statement saying this is only the first step, as more needs to be done by Norfolk Southern, the EPA and other local and federal officials.

"Folks need relocation and safe housing, independent testing they can trust and ongoing medical monitoring all paid for by Norfolk Southern," said Co-Executive Director, Amanda Kiger.

In addition, the EPA will continue sampling for "indicator chemicals," which based on the latest test results suggest a low probability for release of dioxin from this incident.

EPA's approach to addressing concerns regarding dioxins and "indicator chemicals like chlorobenzenes and chlorophenols that suggest the potential for the release of dioxins attributable to the derailment.

The EPA is currently analyzing for 19 chlorobenzene and chlorophenol compounds in East Palestine.

As of February 28, the EPA has collected at least 115 samples in the potentially impacted areas including air, soil, surface water and sediment samples. Currently, EPA's monitoring for these chemicals has suggested a low probability for release of dioxins.

EPA's air has detected only low levels of 1-4 dichlorobenzene typical of ancient background contaminations.