EPA Continues Home Re-entry Screenings Following Norfolk Southern Train Derailment in East Palestine EAST PALESTINE, Ohio -The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the entire federal family continue to support residents and communities impacted by the Norfolk Southern train derailment, with EPA conducting 596 home re-entry screenings to date. EPA personnel have been on the ground since the onset of the train derailment, working alongside federal, state, and local partners with response efforts. See operational updates from other federal agencies supporting this incident response below. Operational Updates: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • EPA has conducted 596 home re-entry screenings to date and continues 24/7 air monitoring at 29 stations throughout the community. No detections of vinyl chloride or hydrogen chloride have been identified. • On March 4, Norfolk Southern began to excavate the contaminated soil at the accident site. Round-the-clock air monitoring will continue. In addition to the monitoring stations, EPA's TAGA bus conducted air monitoring route near the soil excavation area. There were no sustained exceedances above screening levels. • EPA's community welcome center at 25 North Market Street continues to be open to the community from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm every day. Department of Transportation (DOT) & National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) • DOT's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) recently urged all railroad operators to create and maintain emergency response plans for the transport of hazardous materials, strengthen the accessibility of the AskRail system, and inform PHMSA when they identify responders who are not able to access PHMSA's grant-funded training. The full advisory can be found here. ------- • NTSB, an independent federal agency, is leading the investigation into the cause of the derailment. NTSB recently issued an Investigative Update with factual findings on their investigation on the ground: https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press- releases/Pages/NR20230214.aspx • Within hours of the derailment, staff from the Federal Railroad Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration staff were on the scene to support the NTSB investigation. • Upon completion of the investigation, DOT will use all relevant authorities to ensure accountability and improve safety. • DOT is demanding immediate actions from the Class I railroads, announcing continued and expanded action from DOT, and calling on Congress to take actions that will hold the industry accountable. • More information here: https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/us-department- transportation-fact-sheet-steps-forward-freight-rail-industrv-safetv Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centerfor Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) • CDC/ATSDR kicked off ACE investigations for derailment first responders. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) • In total, FEMA has deployed nearly 70 personnel to the impacted area and has been assisting with outreach across the affected communities to ensure that we are meeting people where they are and connecting them to critical federal, state and local resources. • Specifically, Interagency Community Outreach staff have been going door to door in the affected area sharing information about available resources. These interagency teams have been distributing a tri-fold flyer developed by EPA and FEMA that contains all of the information a resident might need to get help. • These teams have been engaging with affected residents in the community and more than 2,200 flyers have been handed to individuals or dropped off at their homes and businesses to date. These teams have connected with every Ohio and Pennsylvania residence and business that local leaders and state officials have requested they visit. • FEMA continues to support EPA and the federal response effort through operational coordination, logistical planning and unity of effort. ### ------- |