EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — It’s been over four months since a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in East Palestine, sending hazardous materials into the air and a nearby ditch that drains into the Ohio River. Since then, remediation efforts to rid the area of toxic waste have steadily progressed.
On Monday, Norfolk Southern invited the media to the site of the derailment to answer environmental questions. At the site, heavy machinery operates to pack and ship contaminated soil to approved landfills, according to Christopher Hunsicker, regional manager of environmental operations for Norfolk Southern. Water surrounding the site is collected and sent for treatment while new soil is monitored for chemicals to make sure Norfolk Southern is meeting their remediation goals.
The Environmental Protection Agency ordered Norfolk Southern on Feb. 21 to conduct all cleanup actions associated with the Feb. 3 train derailment. The company completed replacing the north track in East Palestine on June 16, marking a milestone in its path toward the restoration of the site.
Mr. Hunsicke said Norfolk Southern has been working to remove impacted materials beneath and surrounding both tracks. While removal of hazardous material under and between the two tracks has been completed, removal of contaminants beside the tracks is still in progress.
“‘Completely done’ with remediation is going to take some time, we know that because once we’re done with our initial removal, there is some follow-up characterization and work that needs to be done,” Mr. Hunsicker said.
But he said efforts toward removing the rest of the contaminated soil should be completed by August. Mr. Hunsicker said the work being done on the site is governed by plans worked out with both the U.S. and Ohio EPA.
Water quality, especially that of drinking water, is also being monitored for safety, though the EPA reports that there have been no causes for concern found in municipal drinking wells. Around 22 million gallons of water have been shipped away from the site for water treatment, according to Mr. Hunsicker
Both the EPA and Norfolk Southern are also continuing to survey the air quality in the surrounding community as well as the work zone. Mr. Hunsicker said the air situation has been “very good” and is watched continuously every day.
“We’ve got monitors that are staged throughout the village and around the site to monitor air condition so if there would be a concern, we could detect that,” he said.
Mr. Hunsicker said Norfolk Southern is doing additional work to restore streams and mitigate any environmental impacts.
The latest data from the Ohio EPA shows that Sulphur Run and Leslie Run continues to show non-detect levels of benzene and vinyl chloride. Both streams are also seeing decreasing levels of acrylates. And analysis of glycols in Sulphur Run shows lessened impact downstream, and levels in Leslie Run indicate a "decreasing trend/trace detection." Recent data from the Ohio River continues to indicate non-detect levels of vinyl chloride, benzene, acrylates and glycols.
Still, the agency recommends avoiding physical contact with water and sediments in Sulphur Run and Leslie Run as remediation work continues.
“Right now, you can go to Sulphur Run and Leslie Run and you can see little fish swimming around and frogs and crayfish,” Mr. Hunsicker said. “We know we’re not done with that work, we continue to work on that, but we have seen those conditions improve and wildlife return.
First Published: June 26, 2023, 8:57 p.m.
Updated: June 27, 2023, 11:22 a.m.
