Updates from the East Palestine Train Derailment Emergency Response EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (December 1, 2023) • On-site wastewater treatment system will be shut down temporarily due to maintenance and operational adjustments but treated water will continue to be shipped off-site. • Norfolk Southern continues winterization of equipment at the on-site wastewater treatment system and wastewater treatment plant effluent tanks. Winterization will continue even while the wastewater treatment system is offline. The heating systems in the big blue tanks, and the other effluent tanks containing treated non-hazardous liquid, may cause some visible water vapor but does not pose any health risks. • The initial work in the underground culverts in East Palestine is complete. Drones and robots were used to access, survey, and monitor the culverts. Sediment and debris removal has been performed in three of five culverts. Removal from a fourth culvert should be completed by the middle of next week, and planning for the fifth culvert is underway. • The EPA order to Norfolk Southern to conduct a qualitative assessment to identify whether sheen is present in Sulphur Run and Leslie Run is complete. Sediment and sheen sampling at those locations are nearing completion. • EPA's Welcome Center is open by appointment only. To make an appointment, please call EPA's information line (330-775-6517). Questions can also be sent to r5_eastpalestine@epa.gov. • The East Palestine newsletters are now monthly, and the next edition should be expected on or around December 13. Previous editions are available on EPA's East Palestine web page. https://www.epa.gov/east-palestine-oh-train-derailment Response by the Numbers (as of December 1) • 175,197 tons (estimated) of solid waste shipped • 39,312,497 gallons (estimated) of wastewater shipped What to Expect Next Week At the derailment site: • Continue shipping treated wastewater to licensed facilities off-site. In the greater community: • Continued sediment and sheen sampling in Leslie and Sulphur Run. • Continued final characterization sampling. • Surface water sampling will continue in Leslie and Sulphur Run. • Continued removal of sediments and debris in identified culverts in East Palestine. ------- |