Updates from the East Palestine Train Derailment Emergency Response EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (January 5, 2024) • The on-site wastewater treatment system continues to be shut down temporarily due to maintenance and operational adjustments and may be back online as early as late next week. Previously treated wastewater and untreated wastewater continue to be shipped off-site. • Norfolk Southern continues winterization of equipment at the on-site wastewater treatment facility. The heating systems in the big blue tanks, and the other effluent tanks containing treated non- hazardous liquid, may cause some visible water vapor. This water vapor does not pose any health risks. A large tent-like structure has been installed over top of the wastewater treatment system to keep the system operational in colder temperatures. • On January 2, a truck hauling untreated wastewater from the site's cleanup overturned on State Route 306 in Russell Township, Ohio. The spill released 200 gallons of diesel fuel and less than five gallons of untreated wastewater, which was collected and returned to the site for safe disposal. Ohio EPA is overseeing the cleanup. The truck's remaining untreated wastewater, primarily comprised of rainwater collected on-site, was transferred to another tanker. • Work continues in the underground culverts in East Palestine. Cleaning of sediment from culverts 1-4 is complete; the final culvert to be cleaned out is on hold while the results of the safety assessment is being reviewed. No contaminants of concern have been detected in air during culvert cleanout work. • Field work to implement requirements of EPA's order to Norfolk Southern to conduct a qualitative assessment and collect sediment/sheen samples in Sulphur Run and Leslie Run is complete. Laboratory analyses of samples will continue into January. • EPA's Welcome Center is open by appointment only. To make an appointment, please call EPA's information line at 330-775-6517. Questions can also be sent to r5 eastpalestine(5)epa.gov. • The most recent monthly East Palestine newsletter was released on December 13 and can be found here. The next newsletter is expected to be released next week. Previous editions are available on EPA's East Palestine webpage, available at https://www.epa.gov/east-palestine-oh-train-derailment. Response by the Numbers (as of January 4) • 175,447 tons (estimated) of solid waste shipped. • 41,796,369 gallons (estimated) of wastewater shipped. What to Expect Next Week At the derailment site: • Continuing wastewater management. • Continuing final site confirmation sampling. ------- |