Learn the Issues
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What will cleaning involve?
Cleaning will include a top-down approach, starting from the top floor and working down, addressing habitable spaces. Workers will wet-wipe accessible horizontal hard surfaces, wet mop hard floors, vacuum floors, carpets and appropriate soft surfaces, and dry dust appropriate vertical surfaces. Cleaning teams will not move appliances, and cleaning under…
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What is EPA’s role?
EPA will provide oversight of the cleaning.
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Who will conduct the cleaning?
Cleaning will be performed by workers contracted by Norfolk Southern who are trained and experienced with structure cleaning. Cleaning teams will wear the following: badges, identification clothing, safety vest, shoe covers, gloves (when appropriate for the task), and face coverings (upon request by the property owner or renter).
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What do I have to do in preparation for the cleaning?
Cleaning crews will not move any of your personal belongings, including furniture or appliances. To ensure the most thorough cleaning of your home or place of business, please clear countertops and other surfaces, and limit excess clutter. Norfolk Southern will provide a few boxes if needed to allow for easy…
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Will someone explain the process to me so that I can decide if I want cleaning?
During your pre-cleaning interview, representatives from EPA and Norfolk Southern will explain the cleaning process, assess time and resource needs, answer questions, and if desired schedule a cleaning date.
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How will a cleaning date be scheduled?
A scheduling specialist will contact you to find a date and time for a pre-cleaning interview at your home or place of business.
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I rent. Can I give permission for cleaning, or does it have to go through the owner?
You should review your lease to ensure there is not an issue and contact your property owner for clarification as needed.
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How do I know that my belongings will be safe during the cleaning?
Before the team begins cleaning, they will videotape each room and photograph the items you left. The videos and photos provide a record of the items that were present and the conditions of those items at the time the cleaning team entered your structure. An EPA representative will be present…
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Who pays for it?
Norfolk Southern will cover costs associated with home and place of business cleaning.
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I’m not concerned about dust. What about chemicals that may have been released by the event or the cleanup?
The air and soil in and around the community has been monitored and sampled, and results confirm our confidence that the air and soil in East Palestine and surrounding communities, including inside homes, is not a concern for incident specific chemicals. While community testing conducted to date has not indicated…
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Why are you cleaning homes and places of business?
Since the derailment, property owners and renters have voiced concerns about the impact of the derailment and cleanup work on their homes and place of business. In response, Norfolk Southern, with EPA oversight, is providing indoor cleaning to interested, eligible occupants.
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Will cleaning the creeks be the last action taken at Sulphur Run and Leslie Run?
EPA’s Order requires detailed identification (characterization) of contamination in Sulphur Run and Leslie Run. The stream characterization will include surface water and sediment testing for contaminants of concern including vinyl chloride and butyl acrylate. This stream characterization will find any areas of remaining contamination and inform the next steps for…
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I heard there was some new data on dioxin, what does it mean?
EPA reviewed a presentation from an independent party offered at a recent community meeting that included confusing information. The high value highlighted, over 600,000 parts per trillion, was not the dioxin “toxic equivalency” (TEQ) value that is commonly used to compare soil data to appropriate standards, which is what EPA…
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What about cleaning basements or attics?
Basements or attics will be considered for cleaning if they are finished and habitable areas.
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What about duct cleaning?
Per the recommendations of health agencies, duct cleaning is not necessary and will not be part of the cleaning under this program. However, if an individual in the village of East Palestine or in the 1-mile by 2-mile evacuation area would like to have their ducts cleaned separately, they may…
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Was there any consideration for cleaning outside structures or conducting additional residential soil sampling?
Cleaning under this program includes only the inside of structures. Based on soil sampling results from the Phase 1 soil sampling program, additional soil sampling is not necessary. You can find additional information on the EPA website.
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How can we be assured that this cleaning will remove any persistent hazardous material or substances?
Based on air monitoring and sampling conducted in and around the community, there is no evidence to suggest there is contamination of concern inside structures.
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Can I leave my car or other vehicles on my property while I am away?
The cleaning team will need workspace outside of your home or place of business to set up trailers and equipment. If it is determined that your vehicles need to be moved, you should arrange to temporarily remove them from your property.
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Newsletter: East Palestine Train Derailment Response, 7-8-2024
Newsletter May 23 2024 for East Palestine Train Derailment Response