East Palestine residents advised of possible odors as derailment cleanup continues
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio - The EPA has announced that people living around East Palestine can expect to see work crews as their contractors, and those from Norfolk Southern will begin soil sampling in the village over the next few days.
The samples will be taken from agricultural, residential, commercial, and recreational properties in both Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Agricultural properties are a high priority given the upcoming planting season for area farmers, according to the EPA which says it will work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state agriculture departments, as well as health agencies, to conduct the field work and interpret the results.
According to a statement from the EPA, they will share the information with farmers and the rest of the community.
Soil samples will be taken in the locations most likely to have been affected by the fires at the derailment site and the plume, with the first preliminary results expected in the coming days.
The EPA said that its contractors will be taking several samples at the same locations as Norfolk Southern to confirm the accuracy of the railroad’s results.
The EPA announcement came less that a day after U.S. Senator J.D. Vance told a congressional committee hearing on Thursday that “a vast hill of poison soil” sat in the middle of town for a week until it tested negative for dioxins.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s office reported on Thursday that residents in and around the area may notice an odor from the derailment site as contractors excavate contaminated soil from underneath the railroad tracks.
In addition, independent contractors on Thursday conducted high-pressure washing in underground culverts off Sulphur Run in East Palestine.
Officials say the washing process removes contaminated sediment in the culverts that is contributing to indoor air odors in some area homes and businesses.
Norfolk Southern says it is offering temporary lodging assistance for residents who live within a mile of the derailment site.
According to a media release from DeWine’s office, the relocation offer is voluntary and is being provided as an option for residents who may feel more comfortable staying elsewhere as the track work continues.
Residents can get more information by calling (800) 230-7049 or by visiting the Family Assistance Center at Abundant Life Church in New Waterford, Ohio.
According to the Ohio EPA, approximately 4.39 million gallons of wastewater and 2,880 tons of solid waste have been hauled out of East Palestine since remediation work began.
The wastewater has been taken to Vickery Environmental in Vickery, Ohio, Texas Molecular in Deer Park, Texas, and Detroit Industrial Well in Romulus, Michigan to be disposed of through deep well injection.
The solid waste is being taken to Ross Incineration Services in Grafton, Ohio and Heritage Thermal Services in East Liverpool, Ohio, to be incinerated.
Other solid waste is going to landfills at the U.S. Ecology Wayne Disposal in Belleville, Michigan and Heritage Environmental Services in North Roachdale, Indiana.
