EPA to discuss derailment soil testing results at Thursday public meeting

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced that staff members will be available in East Palestine Thursday night to talk about results of soil testing being conducted following the February 3 derailment, chemical spill and fire in that community.

EPA representatives are scheduled to attend a community open house on Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at East Palestine High School.

EPA and Norfolk Southern contractors are collecting soil samples at agricultural, commercial, recreational, and residential properties in both Ohio and Pennsylvania.

As of Sunday, 97 properties have been sampled to help determine if contaminants, including Semi Volatile Organic Compounds and dioxins, are present and may have been caused by the train derailment.

Preliminary soil sample results are coming back from the lab. The EPA says the information will be shared with property owners and the public after quality checks are complete.

As of Sunday approximately 6,186 tons of contaminated soil has been shipped to disposal facilities.

Work at the site includes removing tracks in sections and removing soil and placing it in a staging area for disposal.

Soil removal continues on the south track rail area; planning for the north track rail removal is underway.

During the soil removal process, Norfolk Southern, with EPA oversight, will conduct soil sampling beneath the excavated rail track.

Last Friday, the EPA notified Norfolk Southern of its obligation to identify EPA-certified disposal facilities and ship waste safely and swiftly.

EPA Director Michael Regan also sent a letter to State Commissioners, Directors, and Secretaries that they are under a legal obligation to accept the waste at certified facilities.