Posted on Feb 18, 2023
As air and water tests continue in East Palestine, EPA administrator asks residents to trust...
503
9
3
5
5
0
Harmful toxins from the train derailment and controlled burn in East Palestine have not been detected in home tests, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“Since the fire went out, EPA air monitoring has not detected any levels of health concern in the community that are attributed to the train derailment,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan who met with residents and toured the town Thursday, almost two weeks after a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals derailed near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.
“We are using high tech that spans from an airplane that we deployed over the community to a mobile van. We have stationary air monitors. We are testing for all volatile organic chemicals,” Regan said. “We’re testing for everything that was on that train.”
The EPA has also screened more than 480 homes without detecting vinyl chloride or hydrogen chloride, Regan said, adding indoor air screenings continue to be available to anyone who requests one.
“Since the fire went out, EPA air monitoring has not detected any levels of health concern in the community that are attributed to the train derailment,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan who met with residents and toured the town Thursday, almost two weeks after a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals derailed near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.
“We are using high tech that spans from an airplane that we deployed over the community to a mobile van. We have stationary air monitors. We are testing for all volatile organic chemicals,” Regan said. “We’re testing for everything that was on that train.”
The EPA has also screened more than 480 homes without detecting vinyl chloride or hydrogen chloride, Regan said, adding indoor air screenings continue to be available to anyone who requests one.
As air and water tests continue in East Palestine, EPA administrator asks residents to trust...
Posted from wvxu.org
Science
Hazmat
Chemicals
Posted 1 y ago
Responses: 3
2
2
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Holding Norfolk Southern accountable
Government officials Thursday promised to hold Norfolk Southern accountable for cleanup and other costs associated with the derailment. And for residents who accept the checks being provided by the railway operator to cover immediate temporary costs, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown said people should not be giving up their rights to future legal action.
“I just ask Norfolk Southern to not force people’s – so far we think they haven’t done that – to force people to give up their legal rights to accept that money. There is no justification ever for that,” Brown said.
Meanwhile, the chemical plume caused by the controlled release of chemicals on the train is flowing down the Ohio River and expected to approach Huntington, West Virginia, on Friday. Vinyl chloride has not been detected in the river, according to the governor’s press release.
The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission is monitoring the plume and has closed water intakes. They also have the capability of treating for contaminants, Vogel said.
“So far, the levels of detection are so far beneath any health concerns as established by the federal agency that determines health levels for new toxins,” she said, “so we don’t have any health concerns.”
..."Holding Norfolk Southern accountable
Government officials Thursday promised to hold Norfolk Southern accountable for cleanup and other costs associated with the derailment. And for residents who accept the checks being provided by the railway operator to cover immediate temporary costs, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown said people should not be giving up their rights to future legal action.
“I just ask Norfolk Southern to not force people’s – so far we think they haven’t done that – to force people to give up their legal rights to accept that money. There is no justification ever for that,” Brown said.
Meanwhile, the chemical plume caused by the controlled release of chemicals on the train is flowing down the Ohio River and expected to approach Huntington, West Virginia, on Friday. Vinyl chloride has not been detected in the river, according to the governor’s press release.
The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission is monitoring the plume and has closed water intakes. They also have the capability of treating for contaminants, Vogel said.
“So far, the levels of detection are so far beneath any health concerns as established by the federal agency that determines health levels for new toxins,” she said, “so we don’t have any health concerns.”
(2)
(0)
Trust us ... the water and air are safe!
"EPA’s early public statements following the collapse of the WTC towers reassured the public regarding the safety of the air outside the Ground Zero area. However, when EPA made a September 18 announcement that the air was “safe” to breathe, it did not have sufficient data and analyses to make such a blanket statement."*
All the internal reports kept from the public by the DEQ and EPA regarding lead levels and other contaminants in the drinking water at Flint, Michigan.
Is there any wonder why there's a lack of trust?
-------------------------------------------------------------
* EPA’s Response to the World Trade Center Collapse: Challenges, Successes, and Areas for Improvement - https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-12/documents/wtc_report_20030821.pdf
"EPA’s early public statements following the collapse of the WTC towers reassured the public regarding the safety of the air outside the Ground Zero area. However, when EPA made a September 18 announcement that the air was “safe” to breathe, it did not have sufficient data and analyses to make such a blanket statement."*
All the internal reports kept from the public by the DEQ and EPA regarding lead levels and other contaminants in the drinking water at Flint, Michigan.
Is there any wonder why there's a lack of trust?
-------------------------------------------------------------
* EPA’s Response to the World Trade Center Collapse: Challenges, Successes, and Areas for Improvement - https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-12/documents/wtc_report_20030821.pdf
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Isn't the townsfolks' concern where FEMA and other US gov't agencies much like those of the 3 Mile Island residents?
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google