U.S. EPA

Gov. 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.

The EPA proposed limiting the amount of harmful "forever chemicals" in drinking water to the lowest detectable levels, a move it said will save thousands of lives and prevent serious illnesses.

Dioxins form when chemicals like vinyl chloride are burned. Experts say the presence of dioxins in East Palestine is likely, but the amount and risk level will remain unknown without proper testing.

The public meeting included updates from local, state and federal officials, a question and answer session that ended in residents yelling at officials and an information fair for residents to talk one on one with agencies.

Michael Regan says he's working to gain the trust of the public, as concerns of the toxic chemicals spilled in the derailment remain present in the community.

Some of the toxic waste from the East Palestine derailment cleanup will go to sites in Ohio and Indiana after the United States Environmental Protection Agency paused shipments heading to Michigan and Texas to allow for more oversight measures.

The order requires Norfolk Southern to safely remove, transport and dispose of all soil and water contaminated with chemicals released during following the Feb. 3 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

Residents are allowed to go back to their homes after the evacuation order in place since Sunday was lifted Wednesday night.

Officials say they don't know when residents of East Palestine will be able to return to their homes, as air quality testing continues. Officials say there have been no reports of significant injury from the Friday derailment nor the controlled release of chemicals Monday.

The state of Ohio has tried to transfer which government agency oversees that disposal of factory farm manure for more than 20 years. The federal government has finally said no after decades of back and forth.