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Latest Updates

March 1, 2023

EPA has conducted 578 home re-entry screenings to date and continues air monitoring at 16 stations within the community. There have been no exceedances for residential air quality standards, and outdoor air quality remains normal.

State, local, and federal officials are holding a public meeting and resource fair tomorrow at East Palestine High High School (360 W Grant St) from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Staff from EPA, HHS, Ohio EPA and other agencies will be present, as will representatives from Norfolk Southern.

EPA’s Community Welcome Center at 25 North Market Street is now open to the community from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM every day.

Later this week, EPA will be opening a new incident command post outside of East Palestine, near Columbiana. This will give officials enough space to park all the mobile command posts and labs and trailers that needed to oversee this cleanup without inconveniencing the residents of East Palestine.

Previous Updates

Monitoring and Sampling

Air Monitoring and Sampling

Air sampling and air monitoring are two different methods of looking at air quality. Air sampling involves collecting an air sample over a period of time that is the sent to a laboratory for analysis to identify and quantify specific compounds. Air monitoring uses electronic devices to provide real-time readings of airborne contaminants.

Air Monitoring

U.S. EPA has deployed mobile detection equipment and stationary equipment to conduct air monitoring in the East Palestine community. U.S. EPA collected field measurements for lower explosive limits (LEL), total volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hydrogen sulfide, benzene, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride, phosgene, and particulate matter.  

Air monitoring locations were selected: at the schools, residential areas, several government buildings, upwind of the derailment area, in the derailment area, and downwind of the derailment area as well as mobile teams to collect general readings throughout the community. EPA is also deploying another mobile laboratory – a Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) mobile laboratory – that performs real-time air-monitoring and sampling analyses during the cleanup phase.

Air Sampling  

U.S. EPA is collecting outdoor air samples for VOCs (target contaminates of concern list and tentatively identified compounds), including vinyl chloride, n-butyl acrylate and ethyhexyl acrylate. 

Air sampling locations were selected upwind of the train derailment area, work area and downwind areas.

Explore air sampling data

Indoor Air Screening 

U.S. EPA has assisted indoor air screening of more than 500 homes under a voluntary screening program offered to residents within the evacuation zone.

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Water Sampling

Sampling Locations

U.S. EPA collected surface water samples for analysis of including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), butyl acrylate and ethylene glycol monobutyl ether. U.S. EPA continues to support water sampling efforts collected by  Ohio EPA ,  ORSANCO , and Norfolk Southern. 

U.S. EPA surface water sample locations were selected based on site observations and how water flows and from the site to nearby creeks. Samples were collected in Sulfur Run, Leslie Run, and other waterways downstream to the Ohio River. 

Explore water sampling data

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Soil and Sediment Sampling

U.S. EPA collected soil and sediment samples at the derailment site for analysis for extended VOCs (target contaminants of concern list and tentatively identified compounds), semi-volatile organic compounds (target contaminants of concern list and tentatively identified compounds), gasoline range organic compounds, diesel range organic compounds, and oil range organic compounds.  

EPA soil sample locations were selected near the derailed train cars that contained hazardous materials. EPA sediment sample locations were selected near surface water sample locations in Sulphur Run.  

Explore soil and sediment sampling data

Slideshow of East Palestine Train Derailment Response

Background

A train derailment occurred at approximately 8:55 PM EST on February 3, 2023 in East Palestine, Ohio. 

Norfolk Southern reported the incident at 10:53 PM ET to the National Response Center.  At that time, it was reported that an unknown number of the 150 train cars had derailed, but 20 of the cars were listed as carrying hazardous materials.  Approximately 50 cars were affected by the derailment with the rest being uncoupled and removed from the scene. 

EPA Region 5’s number one priority is – and will always be – the health and safety of communities across the region. That’s why as soon as EPA was notified of the Norfolk Southern train derailment on Friday, February 3, EPA personnel were on-site by 2 a.m. Saturday morning to assist with air monitoring. Since then, EPA has been boots-on-the-ground, leading robust air-quality testing – including with the state-of-the-art ASPECT plane  and a mobile analytical laboratory – in and around East Palestine.

Read the Preliminary Summary Report for Airborne Data Collected: 

ASPECT Response to East Palestine Derailment, 02-07-2023 (pdf) (3.16 MB)

The state of Ohio, in partnership with local health agencies and local public water systems, is leading water sampling efforts. EPA is continuing to provide the state with additional support. According to state and local officials, the Village of East Palestine’s municipal water sample results show no water quality concerns. The Columbiana County Health District continues to sample private water wells. Until test results are received, the Ohio Department of Health has recommended that residents use bottled water.

EPA Region 5 also issued a general notice of potential liability letter to Norfolk Southern to document the release of hazardous contaminants. The letter outlines EPA actions at the site and the potential to hold the railroad accountable for associated costs under EPA’s CERCLA authority.

Community residents should monitor the East Palestine Information Facebook page for updates and information about how to stay safe.

Documents 

Joint Information Updates

Administrative Order

Administrative Order to Norfolk Southern Railway Co. for Removal Actions (pdf) (2.87 MB, February 21, 2023)

Air Monitoring Summary Tables

Roving Air Monitoring Summary Tables

Norfolk Southern Communication and Documentation