Updates from the East Palestine Train Derailment Emergency Response EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (November 17, 2023) • Work has begun to clean out underground culverts in East Palestine. Drones and robots are used to access, survey, and monitor the culverts. A remote-controlled robotic "dog" can enter the culverts to take pictures and check air quality. Once the initial culvert survey and safety assessments are complete, sediments and some debris will be removed. • Norfolk Southern has started weatherization of equipment at the wastewater treatment system. The large black Sulphur Run bypass pipes will be weatherized to prevent freezing, which may include some repositioning. The big blue lake tanks and the other tanks containing treated non-hazardous liquid, are being outfitted with heating systems. Some water vapor may be visible due to the temperature difference as weather gets cooler but does not pose any health risks. These efforts will not hinder water quality monitoring, and regular system testing will continue. • The qualitative assessment (looking for sheen locations) in Sulphur and Leslie Runs is complete. Sediment and sheen sampling at those locations have begun and will continue into December. • EPA's Welcome Center is open by appointment only. To make an appointment, please call EPA's information line (330-775-6517). Questions may also be sent to r5_eastpalestine@epa.gov. • The East Palestine newsletters are now monthly. Mailings will also shift to Wednesday. The next edition should be expected on or around December 13. • Given the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no media update next week. Response by the Numbers (as of November 16) • 174,902 tons (estimated) of solid waste shipped • 38,760,218 gallons (estimated) of wastewater shipped • 83 structures have been cleaned What to Expect Next Week At the derailment site: • Site operations will be reduced during the week of Thanksgiving. Some staff will remain on-site and wastewater treatment will continue. In the greater community: • Continued sediment and sheen sampling in Leslie and Sulphur Run. • Continued confirmation sampling. • Surface water sampling will continue in Leslie and Sulphur Run. • The Norfolk Southern Family Assistance Center will be closed the week of Thanksgiving. • Continued cleaning of Sulphur run culverts. ------- |