It has been two weeks since aNorfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, leaving chaos in its wake.
The train was pulling 150 cars through the village, located about 50 miles from Pittsburgh and home to over 4,700, on the morning of Feb. 3 when it left the rails and toppled over,spilling numerous dangerous chemicals as a result.
The Feb. 3 derailment resulted in what officials called a “controlled release” of chemicals in hopes of avoiding further disaster, perThe Washington Post.
Since then, concerning signs of contamination have cropped up for miles, including dead animals such asfish and chickens, sick pets, and seemingly contaminated waterways, according to CBS News. Various health problems have been reported in those close to the contamination site, as well.
NTSB/Handout via Xinhua
However, local officials continue to insist that the air quality in and around the village is fine and the municipal water, which the majority of residents rely on, “is safe to drink”, the outlet reported. Those who get theirwater from private wellsare being encouraged to schedule testing and use bottled water until the results are in, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
Multiple lawsuitshave already been filedin connection with the disaster, claiming Norfolk Southern displayed negligence and carelessness in connection to the derailment, according to Ohio newspaperThe Repository.
Attorney Gary Corroto, with the Canton-Akron firm Tzangas Plakas Mannos, told the newspaper, “We don’t believe we’ve been getting the full information.”
Here is a look at how the situation has unfolded so far:
Rebecca Kiger for The Washington Post via Getty
Train Derails in East Palestine
A train carrying “hazardous materials"derailedin East Palestine, Ohioaround 9 a.m.local time on Feb. 3, according to town officials and the National Transportation Safety Board.
The NTSB said 38 rail cars derailed, including 11 of the 20 “hazardous material cars” attached to the train. Twelve other cars were damaged, and a large fire ensued.
Evacuation orders issued for everyone within a one-mile radius of the derailment, town officials said.
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Gene J Puskar/AP/Shutterstock
Officials Say Air and Water Are Safe, Despite Burning Vinyl Chloride
Village officials said in a statement on Feb. 4 that hazmat teamshad not detectedharmful chemicals in the air. They also claimed that the water issafe to drink, despite “low pressure or discoloration,” which they attributed to “the high usage fighting the railroad fire.”
Mayor Trent Conaway declared astate of emergencyfor the Village of East Palestine the morning following the derailment. Later that day, town officials revealed thatvinyl chloridewas burning as a result of the wreck. The fire wasn’t extinguished until Feb. 8, perNPR.
Norfolk Southern also established aFamily Assistance Centerto help support the community, according to a company press release.
Local Officials Reveal Spill in Sulphur Run
Village officials continued tourge localsthat thewater was safe, as did the Columbiana County Emergency Management Agency.
At the same time, Columbiana County EMA said on Feb. 5 that “some of the substances associated with the derailmentmay have spilledinto Sulphur Run.”
The agency, which said there’s no evidence that the train was purposefully derailed, said that before the emergency brake went on, crew members received an alarm alerting them to the issue, the newspaper reported.
Officials Conduct “Controlled Release” Of Chemicals
“The risk of the car exploding was described to me as high,” Gov. DeWine said at a press conference, according to the outlet.
Per the Ohio EMA statement, the release sent “toxic and potentially deadly fumes” up into the air.
Crash site after a Norfolk and Southern freight train derailed on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio.Gene J Puskar/AP/Shutterstock
Evacuation Order Lifted
Residents of East Palestine who evacuated wereallowed to return homeon Feb. 8. At the time, Gov. DeWine said air samples had “consistently showed readings” below what is required for safety screenings.
That same day, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed thatspilled materials were foundin Sulphur Run.
“Oily product was found leaking from a tank car and pooling on to the soil,” the agency said. “Norfolk Southern was notified of the spill and began removing the product using a vacuum truck.”
Ohio EPA Reveals More Leaked Chemicals
On Feb. 10, the Ohio EPA released a work plan to address the derailment, which revealed more chemicals that were on the train that left the tracks.
In addition to the vinyl chloride butyl acrylate that were previously disclosed, the agency saidfour more chemicals— ethylene glycol, monobutyl ether, ethylhexyl acrylate, and isobutylene — were in some of the cars.
Water sampling taken on Feb. 10 showed"very low levels"of butyl acylate and ethyl hexyl acrylate in Leslie Run, according to the agency.
“A much lower level” of ethyl hexyl acrylate was found in North Fork Little Beaver Creek.
MediaPunch/Shutterstock
U.S. EPA Scolds Norfolk Southern For Improper Disposal
The letter said five cars of vinyl chloride “were intentionally breached,” and that the chemical “was diverted to an excavated trench” before it was burned off.
Additionally, the EPA said areas of contaminated soil and liquids were “potentially covered and/or filled” while the rail line was reconstructed, including portions of the trench that was used to burn the vinyl chloride.
On Feb. 13, Norfolk Southern announced thatmore than $1 millionhad been “distributed directly to families to cover costs related to the evacuation.”
East Palestine resident Ben Ratner, a 37-year-old father of four who lives less than a mile from the site of the derailment, spent eight days living in an Airbnb property before finally returning home three days after the evacuation order was finally lifted.
“We still need answers about how to keep our families safewhile also maintaining some sort of a regular existence for our kids,” he said.
Threat From Vinyl Chloride Fire “No Longer Exists,” U.S. EPA Says
The U.S. EPA announced on Feb. 14 that it had “not detectedany levels of health concern in the community that are attributed to the train derailment” while monitoring the air.
Additionally, the agency said vinyl chloride or hydrogen chloride were not detected in nearly 400 homes tested for the chemicals.
“The threat of vinyl chloride fire producing phosgene and hydrogen chloride no longer exists,” the EPA said on its site.
Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw also said the company is “cleaning up the site in an environmentally responsible way.”
DUSTIN FRANZ/AFP via Getty
Residents of East Palestine gathered at the local high school on Wednesday for a meeting with officials handling the train derailment.
Norfolk Southern was originallyexpected to participate, but ultimatelybacked outat the last second, according to CNN and theCincinnati Enquirer.
At the meeting, Mayor Conaway said he is “just as frustrated” as everyone else. “I’m trying to get answers,” he said, per theEnquirer. “I cannot force them to be here.”
‘No Water Quality Concerns’ in East Palestine Municipal Well, U.S. EPA Says
The U.S. EPA announced Thursday that test results from the village’s municipal well “showed no water quality concerns.”
The Ohio Department of Health encouraged residents with private wells to used bottled water until their well water tests are completed, according to the agency.
Also on Thursday, Norfolk Southern’s CEO shared a letter with the community of East Palestine.
“When I visited East Palestine last week, you told me how the train derailment has upended your lives and how concerned you are about the safety of your air, water, and land,” Shaw wrote. “Many of you have also reached out to Norfolk Southern toshare your fears, your anger, and your frustration.”
He added, “I hear you. We hear you.”
The Biden administration has said they will “hold Norfolk Southern accountable” for the derailment.
“We understand the residents are concerned as they should be … andwe’re going to try to figure out an answer,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a briefing on Thursday, according to Axois.
source: people.com
