On February 3, 2025, Lee Zeldin, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, visited East Palestine, Ohio. This marked his first official trip since taking on the role. Accompanying him was Vice President JD Vance. The visit commemorated the two-year anniversary of a train derailment that caused significant environmental damage to the area.
“After the tragic train derailment left East Palestine, Ohio, ravaged with toxic chemicals, the local community needed strong leaders to fight for them," said Zeldin. He acknowledged then-Senator JD Vance's early involvement and emphasized the administration's commitment to ensuring clean air, land, and water for all Americans. "It was an honor to meet with local residents," he continued. "I will make sure EPA continues to clean up East Palestine as quickly as possible."
During their visit, Vance and Zeldin assessed ongoing cleanup efforts at the derailment site. They engaged in discussions with residents and community leaders about expediting these efforts before holding a press conference.
In the two years since the incident on February 3, 2023, significant progress has been made in remediation efforts: 219,823 tons of contaminated soil have been removed; over 115 million air quality data points collected; and management of 70 million gallons of impacted water has occurred. Restoration activities are nearing completion.
