EPA Announces How Long Ohio Train Derailment Cleanup Will Take

Michael Regan, EPA Administrator, announced Friday that cleanup efforts for the train accident and chemical spillage in East Palestine (Ohio) will take three to four months.

Local and state authorities had evacuated everyone within one mile of the derailment on February 3. They also started a controlled chemical burn on the vehicle. Vinyl chloride, a human cancergen, was released from five train cars as massive plumes black smoke visible across eastern Ohio, and western Pennsylvania.

Regan claimed on social media, that Norfolk Southern, a rail company, had removed itself from the scene of the incident. “nearly half” The tracks were contaminated with contaminated soil. There were also 6.8 million gallon of liquid waste and 5.400 tons of solid waste. During a press event, he said that there have been “real progress” in the cleanup effort, but claimed that Norfolk Southern “could be moving faster to remove contaminated soil from East Palestine,” According to CNN.

Last month, the EPA directed Norfolk Southern to clean contaminated soil, water, reimburse the EPA and attend meetings to inform residents about the cleanup. The agency also promised to “immediately step in, conduct the necessary work, and then seek to compel Norfolk Southern to pay triple the cost” If the company fails to properly complete the enumerated cleanup activities, it could be subject to legal action.

In an effort to hold Norfolk Southern financially responsible for the disaster, the state of Ohio sued Norfolk Southern earlier this week.

Regan said that some states were “inhibiting the company’s ability to execute contracts.” A number of officials, including Governor Eric Holcomb, (R-IN), and Governor Kevin Stitt, (R-OK), tried to stop the EPA transporting chemical materials over hundreds to their states. They argued that the waste should not be transported as far as the disaster site.

“There are too many unanswered questions and ultimately I made the decision that this is not in the best interest of Oklahomans,” Stitt spoke earlier this week. “As of late last night that shipment has been blocked.”

Regan however revealed via social media that he had issued notices requesting that the state authorities accept the shipment. “No one should impede or prevent this cleanup as we return East Palestine to the beautiful community residents know it to be,” He made a comment. “The residents of East Palestine should expect that states, private companies, and the federal government will work together to effectuate the swift cleanup they deserve.”

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Regan stated that cleanup would take at least three additional months. But, Texas A&M University’s and Carnegie Mellon University’s researchers discovered that nine chemicals found on the train were present in higher levels than normal in the community’s water supply and air. This could pose a threat to long-term health issues for residents. Both federal and state officials claim that East Palestine’s water and air are safe for consumption.

Recently, the EPA announced that Norfolk Southern would have to test for dioxins. This is a pollutant that can form from the combustion of vinyl chloride. It may take many decades to decompose. These substances attach to soil particles, and can be found in drinking water through waste incineration and discharges from chemical factories.

The Daily Wire journalists and producers went to East Palestine last month. There was a strong smell in the air, a sheen in local rivers and creeks, and symptoms such a sore throat and headaches. East Palestine residents told the team their livelihoods were at risk as more people from the region leave their farms and businesses.

“From EPA Announces the Time It Will Take to Clean Up Ohio Train Derailment Contamination“

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