EPA amps up cleanup oversight in Ohio Norfolk Southern train derailment
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EPA amps up Ohio train derailment cleanup for Norfolk Southern
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered Norfolk Southern to conduct all necessary actions associated with cleaning up the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Scott L. Hall, USA TODAY
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday ordered Norfolk Southern to conduct all necessary actions associated with cleaning up the fiery train derailment in Ohio, stepping up oversight efforts after residents complained about rashes and other health concerns.
The order comes a little more than two weeks after a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 3, spilling chemicals and spurring health concerns. Five of the cars contained vinyl chloride, which was discharged through a controlled release to prevent an explosion.
As part of the order, Norfolk Southern will be required to:
- Identify and clean up contaminated soil and water resources.
- Reimburse the EPA for cleaning services to be offered to residents and businesses to provide an additional layer of reassurance, which will be conducted by EPA staff and contractors.
- Attend and participate in public meetings at the EPA’s request and post information online.
- Pay for the EPA’s costs for work performed under this order.
The EPA said it also plans to approve a workplan outlining all steps necessary to clean up the environmental damage caused by the derailment.
If Norfolk Southern fails to complete any actions as ordered, the EPA said it will immediately step in, conduct the necessary work and then seek to compel Norfolk Southern to pay triple the cost.
“The Norfolk Southern train derailment has upended the lives of East Palestine families, and EPA’s order will ensure the company is held accountable for jeopardizing the health and safety of this community,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement.
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“Let me be clear: Norfolk Southern will pay for cleaning up the mess they created and for the trauma they’ve inflicted on this community. I’m deeply grateful to the emergency responders, including EPA personnel, who’ve been on the ground since day one and ensured there was no loss of life as a result of this disaster.
“As we transition from emergency response, EPA will continue to coordinate closely with our local, state, and federal partners through a whole-of-government approach to support the East Palestine community during the remediation phase. To the people of East Palestine, EPA stands with you now and for as long as it may take.”
The EPA also said Tuesday that it will offer cleaning services to area businesses and families in an effort to address concerns of potential indoor contamination. According to the EPA, Norfolk Southern will reimburse the agency for the costs of the cleaning services. More details about how the cleaning services can be requested will be made available this week, the EPA said.
The EPA said its order marks the transition of the multiagency response from its “emergency phase” to a longer-term remediation phase.
To help implement the order, the EPA said it will establish a “unified command structure” to coordinate the cleanup related efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, the Ohio Emergency Management Agency and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, in addition to Norfolk Southern.
“This approach is frequently used in situations where multiple agencies need to work together,” the EPA said. “In this case, the response includes federal, state and local agencies across multiple states.”
Monroe Trombly can be reached at mtrombly@dispatch.com or on Twitter @monroetrombly.