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East Palestine Train Derailment Resources & OEC Statements

Ohio Environmental Council, February 9, 2023

U.S. EPA Drone Photo of the East Palestine Train Derailment
U.S. EPA Drone Photo of the East Palestine Train Derailment

On Feb. 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern freight train derailment occurred in East Palestine, an Ohio village near the Pennsylvania state line. Approximately 50 cars derailed and some of those cars were carrying vinyl chloride, a highly toxic and volatile chemical — and known carcinogen — used to make PVC pipes, upholstery, plastic kitchenware, and more. On Monday, Feb. 6, officials from Pennsylvania and Ohio ordered a “controlled vent and burn” of the vinyl chloride, due to a critical increase in the temperature of the train cars. 

Evacuation orders for the residents in East Palestine were lifted on Feb. 8, however concerns about air, water, and soil health continue to be raised by local residents. We know from decades of environmental injustices that Ohioans and Americans have experienced, that it takes time to understand the full picture of health impacts a community faces in the event of an environmental disaster.

The Ohio Environmental Council is committed to continuing to monitor the impact of the train derailment and toxic chemical release on the community, and develop long-term regulatory and policy solutions to ensure an environmental disaster like this never happens again. We stand in solidarity with our partners fighting for transparency, accountability, and justice.


AGENCY RESOURCES


LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT


TIMELINE OF EVENTS

The Ohio Environmental Council continues to monitor the impact of the train derailment and toxic chemical release on the community and on the surrounding environment. Learn more about the series of events and clean up by exploring the timeline:

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OEC STATEMENTS

Expanded testing, stricter rail regulations and emergency response reforms needed, experts advise during East Palestine Legislative Briefing (March 3, 2023)

COLUMBUS, OH Increased environmental and health testing, stricter rail safety regulations, more resources for first responders and emergency response legislative reforms are severely needed as the East Palestine community enters its second month confronting the Feb. 3 toxic train derailment. Experts and community advocates emphasized these priorities during a legislative and press briefing on the incident hosted by the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) on March 2.

“The people matter, the environment matters and we wanted to make sure that the people feel safe,” Daniel Winston, co-executive director of local advocate River Valley Organizing, said during the panel. “I just ask you from the bottom of my heart, from the people of Columbiana County and as a representative of the people who are in East Palestine that you consider doing what is best for the people of East Palestine.”

Moderated by the OEC’s Managing Director for Water Policy Melanie Houston, the panel featured experts in rail safety, emergency response, and air, soil and water quality. Together, the speakers helped illuminate what is known about this environmental disaster, what facts must continue to be scrutinized and what reforms need more advocacy in order to protect the health and wellbeing of Ohioans and their environment.

“We do not yet have the data to fully understand the chemicals released during the accident, or the residual chemicals remaining in the environment,” Dr. Peter DeCarlo, associate professor of environmental health and engineering at Johns Hopkins University, explained during the panel. “There are quite literally thousands of chemicals that will be produced through the incomplete combustion of the chemicals that formed the plume.”

Experts emphasized the need for more rigorous chemical testing—including PFAS, dioxins, butoxyethanol and more—across a significantly wider range of locations in the areas affected by the plume.

“When you take a water quality sample in one location, you’re only getting a snapshot of what is happening,” Dr. Heather Hulton Vantassel, executive director at Three Rivers WaterKeeper, explained during the panel. “You’re not testing for every possible contamination. And you’re not getting the whole story.” 

This increased testing must not be directed by Norfolk Southern, panelists said, urging decision-makers to talk transparently about the levels of risk, rather than sharing ambiguous, technical responses that have led to further distrust with residents.

“Governments need to be forthcoming that they don’t know the levels of risk,” Dr. Hulton Vantassel added.

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Ohio Environmental Council Statement following East Palestine Community Meeting and NTSB Investigation Report Release (Feb. 24, 2023)

EAST PALESTINE, OH —  During a community meeting in East Palestine Thursday night held by local advocates from River Valley Organizing, residents voiced concerns about continued chemical exposure in their homes, in their water and in their soil. The needs expressed by East Palestine and the surrounding communities must be prioritized by elected officials and agency decision-makers. Staff from the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) attended this community meeting, and we continue to amplify the call of residents that independent and robust environmental testing should be available for all communities affected by this incident.

Experts joined the community meeting to answer questions and offer advice, including a shared concern that neither the Ohio EPA nor the U.S. EPA are currently testing for dioxins, a class of chemicals that take years to break down. Dioxins are highly toxic as well as cancer-causing. The OEC urges the U.S. EPA to immediately begin testing for dioxins in homes and soil to determine if these bioaccumulating chemicals are present in East Palestine and the surrounding communities that were exposed to the chemical plume.

These resident concerns follow two major developments in the East Palestine clean-up efforts as the agencies’ response transitions from “emergency phase” to a longer-term environmental clean-up phase. On Thursday, the National Transportation Safety Board released its initial report deeming Norfolk Southern’s train derailment “100% preventable.” On Tuesday, U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan announced that the agency established a “unified command structure” to coordinate the multi-agency clean-up of East Palestine. The agency also legally ordered Norfolk Southern to finish cleaning up the entire train derailment site — including in nearby waterways and under the tracks, where contaminated soil was covered to rebuild the tracks.

In response to this evolving situation, the following quote can be attributed to Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) Managing Director of Water Policy Melanie Houston:

“We continue to share and uplift the concerns of the residents of East Palestine: the U.S. EPA must immediately test the community for dioxin exposure and Norfolk Southern must be held fully accountable for the long-term public health, environmental and local economic impacts of this entirely preventable corporate disaster. Not only must Norfolk Southern pay for these impacts, they must compensate all residents affected — with no strings attached.

“Thanks to the initial investigation findings from the National Transportation Safety Board, it’s clear that disasters like Norfolk Southern’s train derailment in East Palestine are absolutely preventable. Again, elected officials and agency decision-makers must prioritize the people of Ohio over the profits of corporate polluters. We look forward to working with lawmakers on these important legislative changes.”

Ohio Environmental Council Statement and Updates on East Palestine Train Derailment (Feb. 17, 2023)

COLUMBUS, OH —  The Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) continues to act in solidarity with the community of East Palestine. This week, we learned more about the environmental impacts of the February 3, 2023 train derailment and toxic chemical release. Despite a series of press conferences and town halls from local, state and federal officials, questions remain about the potential short and long-term health impacts of this environmental disaster on the residents of East Palestine and the surrounding communities. 

We continue to gather information, monitor the impacts to the community and develop long-term regulatory and policy solutions for improved emergency response in the face of environmental disasters.

In response to this evolving situation, the following quote can be attributed to Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) Managing Director of Water Policy Melanie Houston:

“Ohio families deserve to breathe clean air, drink clean water and play without worry in their communities. Accidents like Norfolk Southern’s train derailment and toxic chemical spill in East Palestine jeopardize Ohioans’ ability to live safe and healthy lives while perpetuating historical environmental injustices in our state — especially in this community that continues to be harmed by extractive fossil fuel and other polluting industries.

“Decision-makers must not deny the lived experience of community members and the stories they’re sharing of serious health issues in the aftermath of the train derailment and chemical release. We continue to work in solidarity with our partners, on-the-ground advocates and residents fighting for transparency, accountability and justice.

“We urge the U.S. EPA and the Ohio EPA to use their full authority under the law to hold Norfolk Southern accountable for this environmental disaster. Norfolk Southern should not only cover the emergency response and remediation costs now, but also the costs of long-term harms to human health and the environment. This multi-billion dollar company should be required by federal and state authorities to immediately establish a long-term funding mechanism to cover all costs for short-term healthcare, long-term health monitoring and compensation for the residents negatively impacted by this event in East Palestine and the surrounding area.

“We agree with River Valley Organizing and amplify the call of residents that independent environmental tests should be available for all communities affected by this incident. In addition to the U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA’s own testing, the OEC calls on the state and federal government to contract or consult with reputable third-party scientists to conduct an independent and comprehensive environmental data-gathering effort that centers household safety — with thorough input from the community to address their valid skepticism concerning tests paid for by Norfolk Southern. Based on expert opinions and reported health effects in the community, we believe the air testing to date may be insufficient to assess the risks and exposure of residents in the community of East Palestine and beyond, that water testing must be ongoing; and that household dust testing must occur.

“We know that it will take time to understand the full impact of this environmental disaster on the community, however residents deserve to know as much information as possible about the health of their homes and the environment, while getting the support they need now. To that point, we urge Norfolk Southern and local, state, and federal agencies to close their transparency and communication gaps with the public in a timely, accessible and just manner.”

The following quote can be attributed to Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) Associate General Counsel Chris Tavenor: 

“The Ohio General Assembly and Congress must pass rail safety legislation designed to prevent an incident like this from occurring again. In addition to those critical reforms, state and federal leaders must also ensure legislative and regulatory reforms to guarantee swift, collaborative and transparent response to future emergencies similar to this train derailment. To that end, elected officials must ensure agencies who provide these critical functions receive the funding they need, rather than being systematically defunded, as they have been historically.

“Furthermore, agencies at the local, state and federal level should know precisely what chemicals are being transported before an accident even occurs. Effective communication measures should be in place to help community members understand what they need to do to stay safe as a disaster unfolds. 

“Finally, communities should have resources immediately available for comprehensive health monitoring and healthcare to protect them from residual impacts resulting from environmental disasters. The people of Ohio must be put above the profits of corporations. We look forward to working with lawmakers on these important legislative changes.” 

Monitoring the impact of the train derailment and toxic chemical release in East Palestine, Ohio (Feb. 9, 2023)

COLUMBUS, OH — The Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) continues to monitor the impact of the February 3, 2023 train derailment and toxic chemical release in East Palestine, Ohio.

In response to the situation, the following quote can be attributed, in whole or in part, to Chris Colón, Northeast Ohio Regional Director for the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC):

“Our hearts are with the residents in East Palestine, Ohio, and the surrounding communities following the devastating train derailment and toxic chemical release. It will take time before we know the full extent of the environmental damage from this accident. We know the community faces serious air and water quality concerns—including reports of fish kills in streams leading into the Little Beaver Creek, a Federal Scenic River and a State Wild and Scenic River, as well as known contamination of the Ohio River, which serves as a drinking water source.

The following quote can be attributed, in whole or in part, to Melanie Houston, Managing Director of Water Policy for the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC): 

“Vinyl chloride is a highly toxic and volatile chemical. This means that it can be easily absorbed into the human body, and that very small amounts can cause harm. It is also a  known carcinogen, associated with an increased risk of a rare form of liver cancer and other cancers.

“As we continue to monitor the situation, we call for accountability and stronger regulations to ensure a tragedy like this never happens again. Norfolk Southern Railroad should pay to clean up not only the derailment site, but all human health, community, and environmental costs associated with this accident. Furthermore, Norfolk Southern must be held accountable for any health impacts on nearby families that occur as a result of this derailment.

“It’s time for our state and federal leaders to rethink whether the risks associated with transporting highly toxic materials like vinyl chloride by rail are acceptable for our communities. All Ohioans deserve to breathe clean air, drink clean water and play safely in their communities. Accidents like this jeopardize Ohioans’ ability to live safe and healthy lives, and perpetuate historical environmental injustices in our state. 

“We support River Valley Organizing and other local advocates in their call for a declaration of a federal emergency, so that Ohio might receive federal support and aid in clean up efforts in the weeks, months and years ahead.”


OEC ACTION

The Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) convened an educational lawmaker and press briefing on March 2, 2023 with the intention of informing the policy and regulatory changes that are needed to prevent an accident like this from occurring again.

  • Moderators: Pete Bucher, Chief of Staff and Melanie Houston, Managing Director of Water Policy  of the Ohio Environmental Council
  • Daniel Winston, Co-Executive Director of River Valley Organizing
  • John Esterly, State Legislative Chairman at Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
  • Jon Harvey, president of the Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters and Middletown Fire Department Captain at Station 81
  • Dr. Peter DeCarlo, Associate Professor of Environmental Health and Engineering at John Hopkins
  • Dr. Heather Hulton Vantassel, Executive Director at Three Rivers WaterKeeper
  • Dr. Julie Weatherington-Rice, Senior Scientist at Bennett and Williams Environmental Consultants of Columbus, Ohio
  • Stephen Lester, Science Director for the Center for Health, Environment and Justice

OEC Managing Director of Water Policy, Melanie Houston, was invited by Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio and Senator Hicks-Hudson to join a Feb. 15 roundtable with other stakeholders to discuss the crisis caused by the Norfolk Southern train derailment and associated toxic chemical release. The stakeholders included public health experts, emergency service experts, federal agricultural representatives to environmental experts.