Newsletter: East Palestine Train Derailment Response, 5-23-2023
Newsletter serving Serving East Palestine, Negley, Darlington, and surrounding communities
- Progress Made
- The Week Ahead
- Community Corner
- Did You Know?
- Site Status Check
- Top 3 Questions of the Week
- In Case You Missed It
- Key Community Events This Week
Progress Made
Excavation of Controlled Burn Area
Workers excavated the controlled burn area. Portions of this area were excavated down to roughly 8 feet. The area will be backfilled once soil sample results are reviewed, and the area is approved for backfill.
Nighttime Air Monitoring
Unified Command has 24/7 air monitoring in place. Recently, community members brought to EPA’s attention odors at night in two residential areas. The odors have been thoroughly investigated and are unrelated to the derailment site.
Asbestos Found in April Not Related to the Train Derailment
EPA has received questions from residents about information that we shared back in April regarding discovered asbestos containing material (ACM). During site cleanup activities, ACM was discovered near one of the work areas. The ACM was unrelated to the incident. The material was not included within either the train or the materials being transported. To protect the workers in the area and facilitate the remediation of the incident, Norfolk Southern utilized Ohio licensed asbestos abatement contractors to remove the material for offsite management and disposal in accordance with associated regulations.
The Week Ahead
At the Derailment Site
- Excavation of the north track is almost complete. Sampling of excavated areas will continue. The areas bordering the tracks will be addressed next.
- Expect increased truck traffic near the derailment site. Typically, up to 100 truckloads of soil or water leave the site every day. Weekends have less truck traffic.
- Work will continue during the week of the fair. Trucks will be rerouted during this time.
- Taggart Street remains closed to the public.
In the Greater Community
- EPA’s Community Welcome Center will be closed from May 24 to 29 for the East Palestine Street Fair and holiday weekend. EPA will have a table at the fair and EPA on-site staff can be reached by calling (330) 775-6517.
- Assessment work will continue down Leslie Run to determine next steps.
Community Corner
EPA community involvement coordinators visited an East Palestine High School science class last Tuesday and presented on the response, including progress made at the train derailment site. Students discussed their air-quality findings from the PurpleAir and Air Beam sensors EPA loaned them earlier this year. One student noticed slightly elevated levels of particulate matter during some evenings, which could have been from pollen or bonfires. During the Q&A period, students asked thought-provoking questions about track excavation and interpreting air sensor results.
Did You Know?
Site Status Check
as of May 19
-
North Track:
Estimated 75% complete
South Track: In operation -
Leslie Run: Stream assessments are ongoing to determine next steps
Sulphur Run: Bypass carries upstream water past derailment site -
100 trucks a day carry waste off-site
- 17.8 million est. gallons of wastewater shipped offsite
- 44,717 est. tons of solid waste shipped offsite
Dust mats are used over the inlets on the roadways around the derailment site to keep particles, such as dust and dirt, out of the stormwater sewer system. The system, which collects water from sources, such as rainfall, water trucks, and snowmelt, discharges directly to the local creeks and tributaries. Excessive particles, such as dust, in the storm sewer catch basin can clog the catch basin and block water flow, so it is important to keep them from entering the system. If you see these mats around town, please do not remove them as they are helping to protect water bodies and aquatic habitats. The storm sewers do not connect to the pipes in your house. You can watch our latest in the moment video about storm sewers in East Palestine on the EPA webpage to learn more.
Top 3 Questions of the Week
In Case You Missed It
On May 18, the Way Station and First United Presbyterian Church hosted “Track Talk” an information session on site progress. An EPA on-scene coordinator updated community members on progress at the north track excavation, the timeline for cleanup, and answered questions. A recording of the session can be found on our website.
Key Community Events This Week
The East Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce will host its annual street fair beginning at 5 p.m. May 24 to May 26, and beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 27. During this time, the Welcome Center will be closed. During fair hours, EPA will host a booth for visitors with activities for children and educational material. Community members can still reach on-site EPA staff at 330-775-6517 for train derailment concerns.
EPA Welcome Center:
EPA’s Community Welcome Center is a one-stop shop where residents can speak with EPA team members and make appointments with our experts. Give the Welcome Center a call at 330-775-6517 or stop by at 25 N. Market St.
New hours of operation:
- Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Sunday: Closed
(The Center will be closed May 24 to May 29.)