People who live and work in the area impacted by the February 3 Norfolk Southern chemical train derailment and controlled burn are being invited to a forum Thursday night on surface water.

Being held at the First United Presbyterian Church, 109 West Rebecca Street, the event is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, 2023.

The Way Station and First United Presbyterian Church will host an informational session with representatives from the Ohio EPA about surface water quality.

Topics will include the cleanup of Leslie Run and Sulfur Run; how waterways are tested for contamination; and the impact of the derailment downstream.

The EPA has been collecting surface water samples to analyze chemicals including volatile organic compounds, butyl acrylate, and ethylene glycol monobutyl ether.

The Ohio EPA and Norfolk Southern have also collected samples.

U.S. EPA surface water sample locations were selected based on site observations and how water flows from the site to nearby creeks.

Samples were collected in Sulfur Run, Leslie Run, and other waterways downstream to the Ohio River.

Most of the equipment has been removed from Sulphur Run after surface water sampling continued to show favorable results.

The EPA says sediment cleaning in the stream has led to improvements in water quality and reduction of contaminants as well.

Norfolk Southern continues daily surface water sampling of affected waterways under Ohio EPA oversight.

According to the EPA, wastewater is collected to ensure water does not leave the derailment site or staging piles of contaminated soil.