Newsletter serving Serving East Palestine, Negley, Darlington, and surrounding communitiesOn this page:Progress MadeIn February 2023, EPA ordered Norfolk Southern to clean up contamination from its derailment. Later that year, EPA ordered Norfolk Southern to clean up remaining contamination in Sulphur and Leslie Runs. Cleanup at the derailment site has moved steadily, safely and carefully (see “timeline” p. 2). EPA has now reached another milestone with the completion of excavation in the...
Newsletter serving Serving East Palestine, Negley, Darlington, and surrounding communities
On this page:
Progress Made
In February 2023, EPA ordered Norfolk Southern to clean up contamination from its derailment. Later that year, EPA ordered Norfolk Southern to clean up remaining contamination in Sulphur and Leslie Runs. Cleanup at the derailment site has moved steadily, safely and carefully (see “timeline” p. 2). EPA has now reached another milestone with the completion of excavation in the east end of the derailment site. Confirmation, or “doublecheck,” sampling had successfully identified contamination for cleanup and monitoring. Sulphur and Leslie Runs have significantly improved since the derailment and EPA continues monitoring these streams.
Spot excavations at the east end of the derailment site are complete. Crews removed 2-butoxyethanol and installed more monitoring wells. Monitoring will ensure excavations were a success and no threat remains to the wetlands or human health.
With east end excavation complete, EPA is shifting to site monitoring that includes the stream reassessment that started on March 31. During the reassessment, a five-mile stretch of Sulphur Run and Leslie Run will be checked for sheen (every 25 feet) and teams will collect sediment and surface water samples. Teams will include representatives from EPA, Ohio EPA and Norfolk Southern. These assessments check that oily sheens from the derailment are no longer impacting the streams.
Air monitoring and sampling has been constant since the derailment. Now that excavation is complete, Norfolk Southern will submit a proposal to reduce community and work area air monitoring and sampling. EPA will review the proposal before there is any reduction. Air sampling data can be found online: Air Sampling Data Village Council Meeting Presentation
EPA staff provided a comprehensive update on the response during the East Palestine Village Council meeting on March 24. The presentation focused on where the response has been, the current status of the cleanup and the creeks, and what is upcoming. The meeting minutes can be viewed on the village webpage.
Derailment Response Timeline
Learn about soil sampling QR code goes to Frequently Asked Questions: Soil Sampling.
Since the beginning of the response, EPA has collaborated with state, local and federal partners, known as Unified Command partners. These partner agencies have been critical to the success of the response. Village leadership including the fire department; county leadership including Columbiana County Emergency Management Agency and Columbiana County General Health District; state partners like Ohio EPA, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Ohio and Pennsylvania departments of health; and other federal agencies including Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Occupational Health and Safety Administration, and National Institutes of Health.
Department of Justice Proposed Settlement
The federal government’s proposed settlement with Norfolk Southern is valued at over $310 million and holds the company accountable to address and pay for the damage to the environment and natural resources caused by the derailment. The government filed a motion asking the court to sign and enter the proposed settlement with Norfolk Southern. The settlement remains under review by the judge. The consent decree can be viewed online.
Last year, the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board opened the Resiliency Center in East Palestine. The center focuses on the mental health of those affected by the train derailment and hosts classes, groups, and workshops which are free and available to anyone. Some services include yoga, chair massage, tai chi, meditation, art workshops, and faith-based groups. The center also provides counseling services which are free for anyone eligible, such as first responders, people who worked in the village, or anyone living in an affected Ohio zip code.