Investigating the Accident of a Municipal Water Train Derailed on February 3: The Ohio River is a Safe Place to Discharge Fire Compounds
The train engineer applied the brakes on the train after he heard an alert about an overheating axle, the report states. “During this deceleration, the wheel bearing failed,” Homendy explained. “Car 23 derailed, and the train initiated an emergency brake application and came to a stop.”
The wheel set will be looked at for metallurgical test as part of the investigation. Investigators will return to complete an examination of the tank cars once they are fully decontaminated, the NTSB said.
Two local businesses reported by a local media to show glowing and flames from the train before it derailed are one of the videos being reviewed by the National Safety Board.
The village of 5000 people near the Pennsylvania border were evacuated after a train carrying hazardous materials derailed on February 3.
The wreckage burned for days as authorities worried about the possibility of a widespread, deadly explosion. Controlled detonations allowed for the release of a chemical which can kill quickly at high levels and increase cancer risk. The hazardous substance spilled into a trench, where it was burned away.
DeWine was told by the public utilities commission that the train was not a high hazardous material train.
The results of private water system tests show no harmful levels of contaminants, even after the results of lab tests linked to the Municipal water train wreck.
Kavalec said that the Ohio River, with its large size and ability to absorb pollutants, is the best place to discharge what she described as fire combustion chemicals.
The Ohio EPA has been working with other agencies in real time to get a handle on the chemicals. Kavalec said that it is moving about a mile an hour.
The “tracking allows for potential closing of drinking water intakes to allow the majority of the chemicals to pass. Kavalec said that this strategy and drinking water treatment are both effective at addressing the contaminants in the water and that they’re pretty confident that the “low levels” of the pollutants that remain are not being passed onto customers.
Still, authorities are strongly recommending that people in the area use bottled water for drinking, especially if their water is from a private source, such as a well.
The Ohio Environmental Response Agency’s Toxic Train Derailment, or ‘Anecdotes Are Challenged’
The director of Ohio’s Department of Natural Resources said there have been 3,500 fish deaths in Ohio’s waterways after the spill.
The estimation of the dead fish came after initial testing and sampling by the state agency, Mertz said. The number of fish killed didn’t seem to increase after the first couple of days.
So far, about 1.8 million gallons of liquid waste and 4,832 cubic yards of solid waste have been pulled from the derailment site, according to the office of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.
Kurt Kollar is the on-scene commander for the Ohio EPA’s Office of Emergency Response and said that some of the dirt pits are up to 8 feet deep.
Toxic train derailments don’t happen very often, but they can have serious consequences for human and environmental health when they do. Here are some questions that have been answered.
“Anecdotes are challenging because they’re anecdotes,” Vanderhoff said. Everything we have gathered so far is pointing to very low measurements.
Chemical spills on the railroads: How dangerous is it to burn liquid natural gas when it is transported by trains? The American Railroad Association warns against the consequences of a flawed regulation
America’s railroads move a lot of chemicals. According to the Association of American Railroads, 2.2 million carloads of chemicals were moved by freight trains.
Railroad accidents that resulted in hazardous materials being released resulted in just 14 deaths from 1994 to 2005 according to the agency’s website.
“It’s the mode of transportation that’s capable of moving bulk quantities,” Federal Rail Administration spokesperson Warren Flatau told CNN. The alternative to moving these commodities by truck is not seen favorably.
According to a USA Today analysis, the forms of transportation that are more prone to leaks are planes and highways.
Larger spills happen when trains derail. A Norfolk Southern train derailed in Pittsburgh in the middle of the night, releasing a strong odor and spilling a load of mouthwash. The Biden administration halted a rule that had allowed rail to transport liquid natural gas last year.
“The real issue is the risk of derailment and explosion,” Kimberly Garrett, a researcher and PFAS expert at Northeastern University. If natural gas were to go up in flames like the vinyl chloride would be devastating.
Air, soil and water tests after a freight train crash into an Ohio freight train in Clark County: Results from EPA air-water tests and public feedback
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency officials have been conducting air, soil and water tests since the controlled explosion of the chemicals inside the rail cars.
officials have sought to assure residents that the air and water monitoring has not found any issues. The EPA reported last week that they have done indoor air testing at a total of over 500 homes and found no evidence of pollutants from the train wreck.
Whelton said the EPA should continue to keep a close eye on semi-volatile organic compounds, which are more persistent and detected in local waterways.
“Because of their size, they don’t go in the air as easily,” Whelton said. “They like to stick to soils and other materials. I want to know how contaminated the creek is and what will they do to fix it.
Anecdotal reports of pets and chickens dying have not yet been confirmed by officials. There was no evidence that non-aquatic species had been affected by the spill, according to the director of Ohio’s Department of Natural Resources.
Kavalec thinks that water treatment facilities can remove remaining volatile organic compounds from the water, which will eventually allow it to be safe to drink.
In addition to the chemicals officials say should break down with aeration and water treatment, environmental officials also need to test for PFAS – a long-lasting and potentially more worrying class of chemicals used to put out chemical fires.
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Residents of the Ohio village upended by a freight train derailment packed a school gym on Wednesday to seek answers about whether they were safe from toxic chemicals that spilled or were burned off.
The local community of Clark County was reassured that their air, water, and soil are safe at a Sunday news conference.
Norfolk Southern, the railroad operator, did not attend the event because of safety concerns, but residents still had many questions about health risks and they demanded more transparency.
In a statement, Norfolk Southern said it was not attending Wednesday’s open house gathering with local, state and federal officials because of a “growing physical threat to our employees and members of the community around this event.”
“Why are the railroad guys covering it up?” East Palestine residents asked about the impact of environmental pollution, private water wells, and drinking water
There were still questions over the potential threat to pets and wild animals as well as the potential impact on drinking water when the meeting took place on Wednesday.
“Why are they covering it up?” Kathy said about the railroad. They’re not here talking to people or answering questions. For three days we didn’t even know what was on the train.”
In and around East Palestine, near the Pennsylvania state line, residents said they wanted assistance navigating the financial help the railroad offered hundreds of families who evacuated, and they want to know whether it will be held responsible for what happened.
In a letter to the company, Yost said the pollution caused environmental harm and created a nuisance around East Palestine.
The state’s Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that the latest tests show water from five wells supplying the village’s drinking water are free from contaminants. Testing for private water wells is recommended by the EPA, because they are closer to the surface.
According to the company, Norfolk Southern has committed millions of dollars’ worth of assistance to East Palestine, including $3.4 million in direct financial assistance to families and a $1 million community assistance fund.
Norfolk Southern’s CEO Alan Shaw posted an open letter telling East Palestine residents, “I hear you” and “we are here and will stay here for as long as it takes to ensure your safety and to help East Palestine recover and thrive.”
EPA Environmental Protection Administrator Regan is in East Palestine for a Health Clinic Opening Tuesday, and the Public Concerns about Air and Water Safety
State and federal officials offer assurances that air monitoring has not detected any remaining concerns, despite the fact that they are spread online. The Ohio health director said Tuesday that even low levels of the pollutants can cause odors and headaches.
The health clinic opening in East Palestine Tuesday is meant to address residents’s concerns about potential symptoms. The Ohio Department of Health says that it will have registered nurses, mental health specialists and a toxicologist.
US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan will return to the town Tuesday to meet with residents and local and state officials, an EPA official with knowledge of the visit told CNN.
Medical teams from the US Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention and the US Department of Health are also expected to arrive in the community as early as this week to help assess what dangers remain.
Life in East Palestine has been thrown into turmoil by residents questioning whether their water is safe to drink and air is safe to breathe.
“We should never say we’re done looking at this community for potential exposures and health impacts. Some may not occur until later,” said Haynes, adding that anyone experiencing health symptoms should take them seriously and call the poison control center.
The EPA says Norfolk Southern placed booms and dams to control the flow of water from two locations where fish were found dead.
Maysville Utilities in Kentucky temporarily shut off its water intake from the Ohio River on Saturday due to toxic chemicals that were expected to arrive at its water treatment facility in Kentucky, the utility’s general manager said.
Maysville Utilities shut down their Ohio River intake valve temporarily due to the public concern, because water measurement have been below the level of concern.
The contaminated soil became a particular point of contention last week after a public document sent to the EPA on February 10 did not list soil removal among completed cleanup activities. It is not yet known what significance or impact the soil that was not removed before the railroad reopened on February 8 will have had on the surrounding areas.
As skepticism spreads about the safety of the air and water, some local business say they’ve seen fewer customers, despite calls to return to normal life.
The salon has lost business and the stylist said that customers may be concerned about what is in the water washing their hair.
Dianna Elzer, the owner of a greenhouse, told WPXI that a lot of their businesses are already suffering because people aren’t coming to them.
A Reply to the Conservative Conservative Lobby Concerns about the East Palestine Transportation Safety and Safety Strategy after the 9/11 DeWine Streaming Car Accident
US transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has called for tighter safety rules and accountability after the toxic rail accident.
DeWine said on Wednesday that the water from East Palestine’s municipal system was safe to drink but would continue testing weekly to make sure it remained clean.
The EPA ordered Norfolk Southern to stop the shipments because of the controversy surrounding the crash that has left residents of the town worried about long-term health effects.
Community members worry about possible adverse health effects from toxic materials released when dozens of cars derailed after a likely mechanical failure in the freight disaster in East Palestine.
If the company does not follow the order, the EPA will step in to complete the duties, while fining Norfolk Southern up to $70,000 a day, Regan said Wednesday during a CNN town hall.
The agency’s move comes as the emergency response effort has now morphed into an environmental cleanup that is the responsibility of the railroad, EPA Administrator Michael Regan said during a Tuesday press conference.
“Norfolk Southern will pay for cleaning up the mess that they created and the trauma that they inflicted,” Regan said. “In no way, shape or form will Norfolk Southern get off the hook for the mess that they created.”
We have committed to doing what is right for the residents of East Palestine and we recognize that we have a responsibility. The residents will be reimbursed for the disrupted lives they have caused, because we are committed to thoroughly and safe cleaning the site.
The company has given more than $6 million in East Palestine, with $3.8 million for families affected by the accident.
In an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, CEO Alan Shaw responded to criticism from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, saying the company invests more than $1 billion a year in “science-based” safety solutions, including maintaining tracks, equipment and technology.
Shaw said that it was clear that the safety culture and investments in safety didn’t prevent the accident. “We need to look at this and see what can be done differently, and what we can do better.”
East Palestine, Pennsylvania: The cause of the derailed train crash and its implication for the local air and water system and for the EPA
The governor of Pennsylvania praised the EPA for taking charge of the clean up from the crash that took place less than a mile from the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.
The freight cars derailed near East Palestine, a town of roughly 4,800. A preliminary report by the National Transport Safety Board states that a wheel bearing failure was likely to be the cause of the train wreck.
Shaw declined to talk about the potential causes in the CNBC interview. The Federal Railroad Administration is investigating the cause but Norfolk Southern is cooperating with them.
Eleven of the derailed cars were carrying hazardous chemicals such as butyl acrylate and vinyl chloride, which is used to make the hard plastic resin PVC.
Federal and state officials have repeatedly said it’s safe for evacuated residents to return to the area and that air testing in the town and inside hundreds of homes hasn’t detected any concerning levels of contaminants. The local drinking water system is safe, and bottled water is available for those who have private wells. Residents have expressed a sense of distrust or questions about what they have been exposed to and how it will affect their families and communities despite assurances.
The chemicals were released into the air and water. The EPA said Monday there were no problems with the water quality in East Palestine. As the data becomes available, the agency will publish more detailed data.
The East Palestine, Ohio, Community Concerned by the Desrailment of a Toxic Train During its High-Speed Decay
“This is really in response to the concerns that we have heard, that people want to be able to go someplace and get some answers about any kind of medical problems that they believe that they are, in fact, having,” he said.
Nearly three weeks since the toxic train wreck in a small Ohio community, the National Transportation Safety Board is expected to release its preliminary report on the derailment.
During a CNN town hall Wednesday night, residents of the East Palestine, Ohio, community wanted to know what the future holds after the train derailing. They talked to both Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw, assuring them of their future.
Jessica Conard has been a lifelong resident in East Palestine and she doesn’t feel safe anymore because she doesn’t know what the future holds. There is a chance this could decimate a small town like us.
The slowdown was well below the “typical speed range” for a train traveling along that stretch of track, according to documents filed in 2020 with the Federal Railroad Authority.
She said her son has bloody noses every day and that she has had skin issues.
Josh Hickman, a resident, said he is still at a hotel because he doesn’t feel safe returning home, but he has had to go to the village a few times to get treatment for headaches, dizziness and blood in his nose, and on Tuesday, he sought treatment at the emergency
In addition to vinyl chloride, chemicals of concern at the site include phosgene and hydrogen chloride, which are released when vinyl chloride breaks down; butyl acrylate; ethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate; and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. When these chemicals break down or react with other things in the environment, they could create a stew of potential toxins.
A Health Assessment Clinic for East Palestine, Ohio During the Clean-Up and Deposition of the Waste in a Deep Well Injection Facility
“We’re getting everything we need, except answers,” East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway said Wednesday. We need answers about the health concerns.
During the town hall, the governor of Ohio told the audience that he didn’t want to minimize any medical issues that could be linked to the wreck, and requested medical experts to the community.
The health assessment clinic is for people who are concerned that their symptoms may be related to the wreck. The clinic includes nurses, toxicologists and mental health professionals, and can provide residents with referrals if needed, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
“We’re going to get the clean-up right, we’re going to reimburse the citizens, we’re going to invest in the long term health of this community,” Shaw said. I will see this through and we will be here. We are going to work with community leaders to help you thrive.
The governor said in his announcement that over 2 million gallons of liquid wastewater have been removed from East Palestine. The waste was sent to Ohio, Texas and Michigan for disposal through deep well injection.
An Investigation of a Train Accident at the Yalta-Maldace-Vilkovisky Interferometric Super-Marathon
During the town hall, Nene Stewart said she was not using the water because she did not know if she was telling the truth or not. I drink bottled water. I can not. I am not sure what they are saying. I don’t know who’s telling the truth.”
An audible alarm ordered the crew to stop the train and inspect the hot axle, after one wheel bearing’s temperature jumped from a “critical” to a “critical” level.
“This was 100% preventable. … There is no accident. Homendy said during a news conference that every event that they investigate is preventable. Ensuring that this never happens again is one of the goals of the National Transporation Safety Board.
The investigators will review the train operator and company’s railcar inspection practices. More specifically, determining what caused the wheel bearing failure will be key to the investigation, Homendy said.
Another key aspect of the investigation will focus on the response to the chemical disaster, particularly the manual detonations of tanks carrying toxic chemicals.
Since then, some East Palestine residents have said they are experiencing headaches, dizziness, nausea and bloody noses — a host of health issues they say they did not have prior to the crash.
The Frustrated Norfolk Southern Employees’ Association (Faster) Concerned by the February 3 Train Collision – Safety Recommendation
The 149-car train operated by Norfolk Southern on February 3 had three employees on board: a locomotive engineer, a conductor and a trainee who were all in the head end of the locomotive, Homendy told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Thursday.
“We are very deliberative. Homendy said that they were the gold standard when it came to investigations around the world. If we see a safety issue that needs to be addressed immediately, we’ll not hesitate to issue an urgent safety recommendation.
The company plans to take a series of measures moving forward to minimize the long-term impacts of chemicals on the land and groundwater, including ripping up the tracks where the train derailed and removing soil underneath, Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw said.
The intense exchanges left residents frustrated as they said officials dodged their pressing questions, deepening their mistrust in the cleanup process.
Jim Stewart, a lifelong 65-year-old East Palestine resident, told Shaw that he feels like his health is in danger due to the train wreck.
“Did you shorten my life now? I would like to retire and enjoy my time there. How are we going to enjoy it? Stewart addressed Shaw, saying, “You burned me.” You have made me angry.
Shaw wouldn’t answer questions from residents about the crash investigation or what happened, saying he was forbidden from talking about it.
Safety Measures and Control for the Transport and Dumping of Hazardous Waste in the Wake of the February 3 Derailment in East Palestine
Shaw said the company had already implemented new internal safety measures and would review the results of the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation.
The hazardous waste from the crash would be sent to their jurisdiction for disposal, but they didn’t receive any warning.
The Michigan and Ohio facilities were indeed approved by the EPA, but are currently not accepting any more shipments, which is leading to speculation as to how many will be accepted in the future.
The announcement came a day after the Environmental Protection Agency ordered Norfolk Southern to “pause” shipments from the site of the Feb. 3 derailment in East Palestine to allow additional oversight measures about where waste was shipped. Some liquid and solid waste had already been taken to sites in Michigan and Texas.
All of the rail cars except for the 11 cars held by the National Transportation Safety Board have been removed from the site, which will allow excavation of additional contaminated soil and installation of monitoring wells to check for groundwater contamination, said Anne Vogel, director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
Shore said Sunday that all aspects of transporting and dumping hazardous waste will be closely regulated and overseen by federal, state, and local governments.
Shore said that the requirements included everything from waste labeling, packaging, and handling, as well as requirements for shipping documents that provide information about the wastes and where they’re going.
About 2 million gallons of firefighting water from the train derailment site were expected to be disposed in Harris County, Texas, with about half a million gallons already there, the county’s chief executive said last week. Meanwhile, contaminated soil from the derailment site was taken to the US Ecology Wayne Disposal in Belleville, Michigan, according to US Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan.
Environmental Health & Health at the East Palestine Reclamation Center after the February 3 Derailed Ohio Train Decay: A White House Message from the Mayor
A White House official said federal teams were going door to door in East Palestine to check in with residents, conduct health surveys, and give information after President joe Biden directed the move.
A senior environmental health specialist for the CDC said a 19- person scientific team was gathering information on the residents who were affected by the derailed train.
The EPA also installed “sentinel wells” near the city’s municipal well field to monitor contaminants in well water as part of the agency’s long-term early detection system “to protect the city for years to come,” Vogel, head of the Ohio EPA, said Saturday.
In East Palestine, about 102,000 gallons of liquid waste and 4,500cubic yards of solid waste remained in storage, not including the five truckloads that were returned. Solid and liquid waste will be generated as the clean up progresses, he said.
The governor of Michigan was not aware of plans to deliver toxic waste to her district, she told CNN on Saturday.
The company hired to dispose of water in Texas was not told about the shipments until after the news media had reported them.
According to Hidalgo, the shipments of water began arriving around last Wednesday after she was told that half a million gallons of water was already in the county.
She said that, among other things, the office had asked for information about the chemicals used in the disposal, as well as why Harris County was chosen.
CNN asked the Ohio agency the location of the remaining 581,500 gallons which had been “removed” but not “hauled off-site” and has yet to receive a response.
According to federal environmental authorities, shipments of contaminated waste from the site of a fiery train wreck in eastern Ohio will resume on Monday.
Questions about the disposal of toxic waste from the February 3 derailment have added to the controversy surrounding the crash that has also left residents of the town worried about potential long-term health effects.
The EPA has assured the mayor that everyone has followed the proper procedures, despite the mayor’s concerns about the process.
The mayor said that they had a 2-year-old daughter. This is a state-of- the-art facility that can handle this type of waste.
“At the same time, I know there are folks in other states who have concerns, legitimate concerns, about how this waste is being transported and how it will be disposed of. EPA will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to use our longstanding experience and expertise in these matters to ensure the health and safety, and support the East Palestine community and to hold Norfolk Southern accountable,” Shore added.
This week new wells will be drilled to find out if the ground water below the site is contaminated, according to the DeWine office.
“These monitoring wells will also support a better understanding of the direction and rate of the ground water flow in the area,” DeWine’s office said.
A Reporting System to Report Onboard Heavy Waste to the Ohio Sites After the Destruction of the 19-Tree Wreck in East Palestine
EPA-certified facilities able to accept some of the waste had been identified, which meant shipments could restart Monday, Region 5 administrator Debra Shore, of the Environmental Protection Agency, said Sunday.
“All of this is great news for the people of East Palestine and the surrounding community, because it means cleanup can continue at a rapid pace,” she said.
The governor’s office announced Saturday night that five of the 20 truckloads of solid waste had been returned to East Palestine, after 15 of them were dumped at a Michigan facility. When material was sent out to other states, it would now be shipped back to East Palestine, where it will be used for the two Ohio sites.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued a new advisory Thursday telling major freight rail companies to look at the performance of protective coverings over the pressure relief valves.
Investigators believe the aluminum covers on some tank cars may have melted in the fire and dripped into some pressure relief devices, “possibly degrading their performance,” the agency said.
The National Transport Safety Board said on Thursday that it was looking closely at aluminum protective covers used on three of the vinylchloride tank cars that derailed.
Pete Buttigieg, the secretary for transportation, sent a letter to CEOs of companies asking them to join the reporting system and gave them until the end of the week to tell him of their decision.
The agency, which has been probing what may have caused the derailment, has said it could issue urgent recommendations at any point during its investigation.
The company, which has been ordered by the EPA to fully clean up the wreck, backed out of a town hall with local officials last month, citing threats against its employees.
In addition to residents who reported health effects, crews involved in the clean-up have also reported symptoms, according to a letter on behalf of workers’ unions to Buttigieg and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. CNN has reached out to Norfolk Southern for comment on the letter.
Holcomb said that the state will hire a third-party company to check for levels of dioxins in waste coming to his state. That sampling is scheduled to begin Friday, the governor said.
The process would involve removing one side of the tracks, digging out the contaminated soil and then replacing the tracks, Mark Durno said.
Investigating the Destruction of an Environmental Pollutant in East Palestine by a 212-car Freight Train on Sunday, Deciding Power Lines
The federal EPA said Thursday it will require Norfolk Southern to test directly for dioxins – a kind of environmental pollutant – in East Palestine. Dioxins are considered to have significant toxicity and can cause disease, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
The release stated that the EPA will continue sampling forindicator chemicals, which shows a low likelihood of release of dioxin from this incident.
Butyl acrylate, which is among the materials the train was carrying, is used to make plastics and paint. It’s possible to inhale it, ingest it or absorb it through the skin. It could cause irritation to the eyes, skin and lungs and also cause a feeling of short-lived breathing. Repeated exposure can lead to lung damage.
Vogel said the levels being detected in water sampling are much lower than the federal hazard level for the compound in drinking water and well below levels that would cause immediate health effects, but added she did not know whether there could be longterm health effects. A health study currently underway may be able to help shed light on that, she said.
The 212-car freight train was southbound through Clark County Saturday, en route to Birmingham, Alabama, when 28 of its cars derailed, downing large high tension power lines, knocking out power to some residents and temporarily prompting shelter-in-place orders to homes within 1,000 feet, authorities said.
“There was no release of any chemical or any hazardous material to the soil, to the air, to the water,” Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Director Anne Vogel said Sunday.
There were a few propane and ethanol tankers on the train, but Barner said that the rest of the train was a mixture of freight and finished automobiles.
The EPA will be at the crash site ensuring that the soil does not get impacted as cars are removed by Norfolk Southern.
“Since there have been no releases, we’re looking at clean air, clean soil and clean water for our residents,” Clark County Health Commissioner Charles Patterson said. “Technicians will continue to be on site to ensure that there isn’t any contamination that has been missed.”
A FRA leadership briefed me and I spoke with Gov. DeWine to offer our support after a train derailed in Ohio. No hazardous material release has been reported and we will keep a close eye on it, according to Buttigieg.