EPA Inspector General launches probe into agency's East Palestine derailment response
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Inspector General announced that his office has launched an inquiry into the agency’s response to the February 3 train derailment in East Palestine.
According to a publicly released memo from EPA Inspector General Sean O’Donnell to EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore, the inquiry will include interviews, data collection, as well as analysis of various issues, including hazardous waste disposal, air and water monitoring, soil and sediment sampling, and risk communication.
The memo, dated Monday, March 27, says the Inspector General’s staff may contact individuals in the EPA Region 5 divisions as well other EPA program offices.
Response by the EPA, FEMA, National Transportation Safety Board, and other government agencies to the derailment and subsequent cleanup efforts, have come under scrutiny by elected officials and has been the subject of three hearings by Congressional committees.
In an open letter to EPA officials, 123 organizations and individuals noted that the agency delayed a decision to start testing for dioxins in East Palestine following the derailment, further asking that the EPA conduct the testing instead of Norfolk Southern Railroad.
“The dioxin sampling plan must be transparent and released for public input,” said the letter dated March 12. “Without comprehensive testing, the people in East Palestine and other communities in Ohio and Pennsylvania will not know the extent to which dioxins are an issue.” The letter was published on the toxicfreefuture.org website.
The Inspector General's memo requests that anyone with knowledge of potential fraud, waste, abuse, misconduct, or mismanagement related to the inquiry contact the EPA’s Inspector General’s Office.
The Office of Inspector General was created by Congress as an independent office within EPA using separate funding to conduct audits, evaluations, and investigations, as well as make recommendations to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness; and prevent and detect fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, and misconduct for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.
Under the Inspector General Act of 1978, the Inspector General is authorized to have timely access to personnel and all materials necessary to complete its objectives. EPA employees are legally required to cooperate with and fully disclose information to the OIG.
Region 5 Administrator Shore has been requested in the memo to “immediately resolve the situation” if an EPA employee or contractor refuses to provide requested materials to the Inspector General’s Office, or otherwise fails to cooperate with the OIG.
The memo directs that unresolved access to matters could be reported to Shore and Congress.
