Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine
A Norfolk Southern freight train derailed and caught fire in the town of East Palestine, Ohio, around 9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023. Of the 38 cars that derailed, 11 contained toxic chemicals including vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen, and butyl acrylate.
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The U.S. saw more than one thousand train derailments last year, but industry leaders say traveling by rail remains one of the safest methods of transportation.
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Ygal Kaufman/Ideastream Public MediaThe legislation comes more than a month after the train derailment in East Palestine. Similar legislation was introduced in the Senate earlier this month. -
Ryan Loew/Ideastream Public MediaGov. Mike DeWine and Sen. J.D. Vance have criticized the U.S. EPA for moving too slowly on removal of toxic soil in East Palestine.
RESOURCES:
- U.S. EPA Hotline: 1-866-361-0526
Air monitoring, water sampling, intake for scheduling cleaning services - Health Assessment Clinic:
234-564-7755 or 234-564-7888
First Church of Christ, 20 W. Martin St., East Palestine - Family Assistance Center: 800-230-7049
Abundant Life Church
46469 OH-46
New Waterford, Ohio 44445 - Ohio’s CareLine: 800-720-9616
24/7 free, confidential emotional support - Poison Control Center: 800-222-1222
- Residential Testing Hotline: 330-849-3919
Home air quality testing & private wall water testing - Train derailment incident hotline: 234-542-6474
For information on odors, fumes or personal health - Ohio Dept of Agriculture, Division of Animal Health: 614-728-6220
Questions on animal health
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Senators Sherrod Brown and J.D. Vance introduced the Railway Safety Act earlier this month in response to the train derailment in East Palestine.
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U.S. EPA ordered Norfolk Southern to test for dioxins as residents' anxiety about their possible exposure to these toxic chemicals rises.
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Independent testing overwhelmingly shows no evidence of harmful chemical contamination, while more than 100 residents are complaining that they’ve experienced new or worsening health problems since the derailment occurred Feb. 3. Why the paradox?
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Ohio's attorney general has filed a 58-count complaint against Norfolk Southern seeking recovery of costs, damages and civil penalties for the derailment, which he said was "entirely avoidable".
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Many homeowners believe that, even if they wanted to move away right now, no one would be willing to buy their homes. There’s already evidence they might be right.
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Gov. Mike DeWine's office said a 26,800 ton pile of contaminated soil is sitting in East Palestine, waiting to be shipped to a licensed disposal facility.
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Federal authorities tracked nearly 50 train derailments in Ohio just last year.
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Workers brought in to clear and rebuild the tracks in the hours and days after the derailment are now complaining of health effects similar to those experienced by residents of East Palestine.
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Officials from the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency say there's no indication East Palestine's agriculture system was impacted by February's rain derailment.
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The CEO of Norfolk Southern railroad faced pointed questioning over the hazardous train derailment and fire that released toxic fumes last month, as well as his company's safety culture.
