East Palestine Train Derailment: Timeline of Events

• Norfolk Southern has been order to conduct more testing in East Palestine by the U.S. EPA.

September 29, 2023

• Huntington, WV received some wastewater from East Palestine for additional purification.

• Ohio U.S. Senator’s ask U.S. EPA to declare a public health emergency in East Palestine.

• U.S. EPA Office of the Inspector General released the report regarding the EPA’s response to the derailment.

• President Biden issues an executive order to make Norfolk Southern responsible for the clean up of the derailment.

• A truck carrying contaminated soil from the derailment site overturned. Spilling 20,000 pounds of soil.
• New primary care clinic opens in East Palestine.

• U.S. Senators from Ohio and Pennsylvania joined together to send a letter to the National Institutes of health asking for investigation into the effects of the chemicals spilled.

• The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Norfolk Southern.

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Inspector General’s office launches investigation into the agency’s response following the derailment.

• U.S. House of Representatives held hearing to discuss environmental response following the East Palestine train derailment.

• To date, the U.S. EPA reports that soil sampling results show typical levels of toxins.

• U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation had a hearing about the derailment and subsequent cleanup process.

• Governor DeWine sent a letter to Norfolk Southern CEO asking him to support the bi-partisan rail safety legislation.

• Norfolk Southern stockholders sue the company for allegedly violating federal securities laws.
• Norfolk Southern stockholders sue the company for allegedly violating federal securities laws.
• Ohio Department of health released the top five symptoms that first responders reported.
• Pennsylvania Governor releases plans for long term resident assistance.

• Alarming levels of cancer-causing dioxins found in the soil of East Palestine.
• U.S. EPA warns states that they can’t block disposal of hazardous waste in their state.

• The entireity of the south train tracks have been removed. Soil beneath is undergoing testing prior to replacement.
• The Assistance for Local Heroes During Train Crises Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate.

• Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announces lawsuit against Norfolk Southern.
• Norfolk Southern claims to be developing a long-term medical compensation fund for the residents of East Palestine.
• Ohio Department of Health reports private water wells show no harmful levels of contaminants.

• Protestor’s gather in Lisbon to express their anger about Norfolk Southern’s response to the disaster.

• Governor Dewine calls for immediate authorization from the U.S. EPA for waste removal from East Palestine.
• U.S. EPA and Norfolk Southern contractors began sampling soil in high priortiy areas around East Palestine.
• Water well testing done by Ohio EPA reveals no contaminants were found that were associated with known hazardous materials.

• U.S. EPA holds a Resource Fair for East Palestine residents to ask agency representatives questions.
• Ohio Department of Agriculture holds roundtable discussion with farmers about soil health in their area.
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency gives Governor DeWine more time to think about asking President Biden for a disaster declaration.

• The Federal Railroad Administration will review the safety aduit of Norfolk Southern and make suggested improvements.
• Pennsylvania State Senate subpoenas Norfolk Southern CEO to discuss the company’s response to the train derailment.
• Ohio EPA launches a new dashboard to display water testing results.
• During a committee hearing, Norfolk southern did not communicate to officials what hazardous materials were in the railcars until hours after emergency responders had already been on scene.

• Columbiana County health center recieved $250,000 in funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

• Norfolk Southern announces a 6-point plan for increased railway safety.
• A first look at testing results on the death of 4 raccoons, a muskrat, and a snapping turtle show no evidence for chemical toxicity as the cause of death.

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration is hearing concerns over cleanup worker safety.

March 4, 2023

• The Brightside Project provided food, cleaning supplies, and other items to the residents of East Palestine.

• Norfolk Southern CEO has donated $445,000 to set up a scholarship fund for East Palestine high school seniors.
• National Transportation Safety Board found that some of the tank cars were made with aluminum protective housing covers that were over 30 years old.
• 370 tons of solid waste transported nearby in East Liverpool, OH.
• Congress introduces the Railway Safety Act of 2023 that tightens safety regulations and increases frequency of inspections.
• Community had its third town hall meeting.
• Governor DeWine requested a 120-day extension to have the ability to submit a major disaster declaration request at a later date if necessary.

• New safety provisions were added to increase railroad safety in the transportation budget passed by the Ohio House.
• U.S. EPA announces a second command post near Columbiana.

• The House Energy and Commerce Committee announced that they will hold a hearing about the derailment in East Palestine.
• U.S. EPA Administrator Regan held a roundtable with teachers and students in East Palestine.
• River Valley Organizing released list of community demands from Norfolk Southern and the federal government.
• U.S. EPA introduces a new mobile laboratory that will allow real time air monitoring during the waste removal process.
• The Federal Railroad Administration issued a safety advisory that railroads should evaluate detectors that could alert of defects early on.

• U.S. EPA announces that solid and liquid waste will be moved out of East Palestine to secure disposal facilities.
• Second round of sediment washing began in Sulphur and Leslie Run.
• Testing by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources yielded no evidence for chemical toxicity as cause of death.
• The second town meeting of East Palestine residents was held.
• Heavy storms caused low levels of contaminants to flow downstream.

February 24, 2023

• The community and experts urge Ohio and U.S. EPA to test for Dioxins, which are highly toxic and cancer-causing.

• U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visits East Palestine.

• Emergency Management Agency begin handing out recource packets to residents.
• U.S. Representative Bill Johnson congressional campaign donates the amount that they had received from Norfolk Southern PAC to East Palestine Fire Department.
• Former President Donald Trump visits East Palestine.
• Norfolk Southern announces soil excavation and track replacement along damages rail lines.
• National Transportation Safety Board releases preliminary findings from their investigation on the derailment.

• Ohio Department of Health opens Health Assessment Clinic in East Palestine.
• U.S. EPA declares a legally binding order that Norfolk Southern will conduct all necessary cleanup actions.

• Greater Cincinnati Water Works and Northern Kentucky Water District reopen their pipes in the Ohio River.

• Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg sends a letter to Norfolk Southern warning of the railroad’s responsibility to the people of East Palestine.

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sends support personnel to the clinic in East Palestine.
• Chemical plume in the Ohio River disperses.

• U.S. EPA hosts press conference in East Palestine.
• U.S. EPA stops monitoring air contamination for chemicals that were identified in the railcars that were released during the controlled burn.
• Governor DeWine asks for medical aid from the CDC.

• OEC’s Managing Director of Water Policy joins a roundtable discussion with lawmakers and experts to strategize around the East Palestine train derailment, its environmental impacts, and potential policy solutions.
• Community members demand answers at local town hall meeting with Mayor Trent Conaway.
• Ohio EPA water quality testing reveals no detection of contaminants in the municipal water system.
• Ohio EPA recommends additional testing before private water wells can be used.

• Norfolk Southern begins providing bottled water to residents of East Palestine.
• In a press conference Governor DeWine admits to being offered assistance from President Biden, but he declines due to his perception of the severity of this disaster.

• River Valley Organizing Development Director, a resident of Columbiana, calls on the state government to “Quit lying, Gov. Mike DeWine, and call President Joe Biden.”

• The U.S. EPA releases list of all the chemicals being carried on Norfolk Southern General Merchandise freight train 32N and identifies which ones are hazardous.

• Norfolk Southern installs a dam and water bypass at Sulphur Run.
• The U.S. EPA sends a letter to Norfolk Southern outlining liability, cleanup actions, and costs associated with the aftermath of the disaster.
• Norfolk Southern releases its “Preliminary Remedial Action Work Plan”.

• Residential air screening appointments are offered at the expense of Norfolk Southern.

• Controlled burn fire of railcar substances goes out.
• Gov. Dewine, Gov. Shapiro, and other local officials announce that evacuated residents in East Palestine can safely return home.
• U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA find materials spilling into Sulphur Run and nearby soil during a wreck inspection.
• Ohio Department of Natural Resources releases estimate that 3,500 aquatic animals died from the immediate contaminate spill into Sulphur Run, Leslie Run, Bull Creek, and a portion of the North Fork of Beaver Creek.
• Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission finds that a Chemical Plume has traveled from Little Beaver Creek to the Ohio River.

• River Valley Organizing begin a campaign to send letters Governor DeWine advocating for a declaration of a National Emergency.
• U.S. EPA ASPECT plane conducts a flyover to gather air quality data.
• The 52nd Civil Service Team goes to three public administration buildings to monitor collective levels of all contaminants and take samples to identify specific chemical compounds in the air.
• Main railroad lines return to service.

• The National Transportation Safety Board begins investigation on the cause of the derailment.
• Gov. DeWine and Gov. Shapiro order immediate evacuation of residents in a one-mile by two-mile area surrounding East Palestine.
• At 4:15pm Norfolk Southern conduct a controlled burn of five rail cars containing vinyl chloride due to risk of explosion.

February 5, 2023

• A contractor hired by Norfolk Southern detects low levels of volatile organic compounds in nearby work zones.

• At approximately 2am, EPA administrators arrive on site to help assess damages.
• The U.S. EPA deploys 12 air monitoring instruments around the site of the derailment and community. They monitor for volatile organic compounds and harmful gases around site.
• Ohio EPA performs water runoff testing, contamination is found in Sulphur Run and Leslie Run water streams. Samples are taken from these two surface water streams and sent to a laboratory for testing.
• After identifying contamination in Sulphur Run and Leslie Run water streams Norfolk Southern emergency response contractors restrict flow of contaminated water through blooms and underflow dams.
• Downstream water utilities are notified of contamination.

• The crew of Norfolk Southern general merchandise freight train 32N receive wayside defect detector alert that a wheel bearing was overheating on a railcar.
• At 8:54pm a Norfolk Southern freight train with 141 load cars, nine empty cars and three locomotives derails. 38 rail cars derail and 12 additional cars catch fire that ensued after the derailment
• Shortly after the Norfolk Southern train derailed, residents report intense smells of chemicals in the air.
• At 10:53pm Norfolk Southern report derailment to the National Response Center.
• Local fire departments claim that there is nothing to worry about, but residents should remain indoors as a precaution.