Updates from the East Palestine Train Derailment Emergency Response EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (January 11, 2024) • On Monday, January 15, Norfolk Southern will begin backfilling new stone and gravel near Leake Oil. Trucks are anticipated daily. Residents may notice the increased truck traffic along East Taggart Street between North Pleasant Drive and the Pennsylvania border. E. Taggart Street will remain open during this work with normal traffic controls. Backfill work is expected to continue throughout the winter. Soil excavation at the site is complete and most of the backfill work at the site has also been completed. Backfilling occurs after sampling results indicate excavated areas are clear and contaminated soil has been removed. • The initial work in the underground culverts in East Palestine is complete. Drones and robots were used to assist workers as they accessed, surveyed, and monitored the culverts. The assessments of all 5 culverts are complete and 4 of the culverts have been cleaned. The fifth culvert is being evaluated to determine if it needs to be cleaned and whether it should be cleaned in conjunction with the cleanup of nearby creek areas. • Winterization of the on-site hazardous wastewater treatment system is complete. • 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. EPA and OEPA are currently reviewing Norfolk Southern's proposed approach to conduct additional cleanup based upon these assessments. • 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@epa.gov. • The most recent monthly East Palestine newsletter was released on January 10 and can be found here. The next newsletter is expected to be released around February 14. 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 10) • 176,445 tons (estimated) of solid waste shipped. • 42,739,850 gallons (estimated) of wastewater shipped. • Confirmation sampling work is approximately 30 % complete. What to Expect Next Week At the derailment site: • Increased truck traffic on East Taggart Street. • Continue site-wide confirmation sampling. ------- |