The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced the opening of a community welcome center for residents and business owners of East Palestine, Ohio.
According to a news release, the East Palestine Community Welcome Center will serve to provide information to local residents as the federal government continues to respond to the Feb. 3 train derailment disaster in East Palestine. Local residents and business owners can visit the center to receive information and access available resources.
“The East Palestine community suffered a terrible trauma, and EPA is committed to working alongside our local, state and federal partners to equip residents and business owners with the resources they need to recover and feel whole again,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said, according to the press release.
“The welcome center will provide a space for the community to access critical information about the federal government’s ongoing response efforts, sign up for indoor air monitoring screenings and learn more about the process for scheduling cleaning services,” he added.
As part of the disaster response, EPA is deploying another mobile laboratory to perform real-time air monitoring and collect samples to ensure that cleanup is done in a manner that protects public health.
“During my first visit to East Palestine, I promised that EPA would be here until the job is done and done right,” Regan added. “We are going to be here to support the people of East Palestine for as long as it may take.”
