For the first time since the fiery February 3rd derailment, normal train traffic is expected to be running again Next Week on both the north and south tracks in East Palestine.

 

That’s according to the latest information from the U.S. EPA which announced on Thursday that slow traffic was permitted to resume on both tracks last weekend following the replacement of the north track was completed on June 16th.

 

The south track closed on June 19 to complete remaining excavation activities near the N. Pleasant Drive crossing.

 

Train traffic should resume on both tracks by Monday, June 26, according to the EPA, which adds that vapor suppressants are being used to control odors around the work area and perimeter air monitoring stations are located around the rail work zone.

 

Air monitoring, which has been conducted at 23 locations around the community, will be reduced to 15 locations once excavation at the southern line is completed, at which time air monitoring operations will shift from track excavation monitoring to the car scrapping area and site waste removal.

 

The fifteen air monitor locations will monitor the air within a half mile of the site and sampling activities using summa canisters will continue.

 

According to the EPA, a review of data supports air monitoring trends that air quality has remained below screening levels.