U.S. Department of Transportation is awaiting an investigation into the toxic-chemical-laden train derailment in Ohio Feb. 3 before assigning blame.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg commented on the Norfolk Southern Railroad train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio in a Feb. 13 Twitter post.
"We will look to these investigation results & based on them, use all relevant authorities to ensure accountability and continue to support safety," Buttigieg said in his Twitter post. "In the meantime, our Federal partners at EPA are onsite and monitoring indoor and outdoor air quality to test for VOCs and other chemicals of concern."
He reported the EPA screened 291 homes with no issues detected yet. There were 181 homes remaining to be screened, as of his Twitter post.
Anyone who would like more information or to request a screening should call 330-849-3919, according to the EPA website, where the agency has been periodically posting updates about environmental impact from the derailment.
Norfolk Southern notified the National Response Center of the derailment 8:55 p.m. Eastern Time Feb. 3, according to the website. The derailment included 20 of the 150 cars carrying hazardous materials, and about 50 cars were affected by the derailment. The other 100 cars were disconnected and cleared, but a fire broke out at the scene.
Five days later, EPA reported its continued air quality monitoring at the site, using air monitoring and air sampling methods, the website said. Spilled materials were found in the nearby Sulphur Run water stream. As Norfolk Southern began cleanup at the site, a complaint about odors was investigated at the Darlington Township fire station.
No contaminants above detection limits were found, according to the website. EPA detected increased VOC concentrations downwind of the derailment fire, but concentrations remained below the screening level for VOCs. Particulate matter above screening levels was detected from two non-hazardous rail cars that were on fire. The EPA also was helping local health departments develop residential screening procedures.
As of Feb. 13, EPA reported re-entry air screenings are ongoing, community air monitoring was being conducted continuously and 291 homes have been screened, the website reported. No vinyl chloride or hydrogen chloride were found in completed screenings.
Air sampling canisters were deployed for the continuous sampling, and local schools and the library were screened, according to the website. EPA's air monitoring stations in the East Palestine area detected nothing above the action level, and 181 homes remained to be screened.
