Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Chemicals, Toxics, and Pesticide
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Radon
    • Research
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Guidance
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. East Palestine, Ohio Train Derailment
  3. Soil and Sediment Data

City Park Soil Sampling Results

Important Information

This content is for informational purposes and is no longer updated.

Summary of East Palestine City Park Soil Sampling Results

April 6, 2023 - As springtime activities begin, residents wanted to make sure the park was safe for regular use. Soil samples have been taken across the park in seven spots that represent the overall area and use of the park. Results show that levels of dioxin and semi-volatile organic compounds are well below any levels that we would consider restricting activities, and all are either at or below typical background levels in the United States. Air monitoring at the park also shows that no contaminants are going off site from work areas. 

In addition, the village has cleaned recreational equipment, including the pool, tennis courts, and playground to get the park ready for the season. All of the mulch and the landscape fabric were removed. The playground was then power washed and disinfected, followed by the installation of new landscape fabric, 90 tons of new playground mulch, and new sod. 

Looking at all of these pieces together, EPA feels confident that residents can safely use the park.

Please note that as cleanup work continues on Leslie Run, which flows east of the park, the public should avoid the creek until that work is complete. 

Sampling results provided by Norfolk Southern. All sampling was conducted under EPA oversight pursuant to the unilateral administrative order and the soil sampling workplan. All results are below screening levels.

Tree filled city park in East Palestine

East Palestine City Park Soil Sampling Results

AnalyteDate Sampled:3/9/2023  3/9/20233/9/20233/9/20233/9/20233/9/20233/9/20233/9/20233/9/20233/9/20233/9/20233/9/20233/10/20233/10/2023
Sample ID:

SS-01_A_0-0.1_

20230309_M5

SS-01_A_0.1-0.5_

20230309_M5

SS-01_R_0-0.1_

20230309_N4

SS-01_R_0.1-0.5_

20230309_N4

SS-01_R_0-0.1_

20230309_N5

SS-02_R_0-0.1_

20230309_M5

SS-02_R_0.1-0.5_

20230309_M5

SS-02_R_0-0.1_

20230309_N4

SS-02_R_0.1-0.5_

20230309_N4

SS-02_R_0.1-0.5_

20230309_N4

SS-03_R_0-0.1_

20230309_M5

SS-03_R_0.1-0.5_

20230309_M5

SS-01_R_0-0.1_

20230310_L5

SS-01_R_0.1-0.5_

20230310_L5

Chemical NameScreening Level mg/kgmg/kgmg/kgmg/kgmg/kgmg/kgmg/kgmg/kgmg/kgmg/kgmg/kgmg/kgmg/kgmg/kgmg/kg
2-Methylnaphthalene240.33 0.1 
 
1 0.84 UU0.035 0.064 0.077 0.054 0.019 J0.0650.130.2
AcenaphthyleneNSLUUUU UUUUUUU0.0071 JU0.014 J
Anthracene5980UU
 
0.0320.021 UUUUUUU0.009 J0.02 J0.014 J
Benz[a]anthracene1.10.02 J0.012 J0.087 Bcn0.074 Bcn0.032 JBcn0.021 JBcnU0.021 J0.023 Bcn0.022 JBcn0.012 J0.049 Bcn0.0530.041
Benzo[a]pyrene1.40.019 J0.011 J0.078 Bcn0.061 Bcn0.02 JBcn0.021 JBcnUU0.029 Bcn0.022 JBcnU0.052 Bcn0.0690.06
Benzo[b]anthraceneNSL0.024 0.018 J0.0970.072 0.026 J0.0095 JUU0.0340.016 JU0.062 UU
Benzo[b]fluoranthene140.0240.018 J0.0970.072 0.026 J0.0095 JUU0.0340.016 JU0.0620.10.077
Benzo[g,h,i]peryleneNSL0.0240.021 0.076 Bcn0.07 Bcn0.02 JBcn0.021 JBcnUUUUU0.04 Bcn0.060.051
Benzo[k]fluoranthene1400.011 J0.0047 J0.022 0.020.009 JUUU0.014 J0.011 JU0.03 0.0380.03
Chrysene13900.043 0.0280.150.120.02 J0.0072 J0.022 J0.0310.033 0.017 J0.016 J0.067 0.0850.072
Dibenz[a,h]anthracene1.4U U0.019 JUUUUUUUU0.011 JU0.014 J
Fluoranthene5980.0340.016 J0.12 0.0960.022 J0.0099 J0.022 J0.0330.045 0.0220.018 J0.089 0.110.088
Fluorene2390.013 JUUUUUUUUUUUUU
Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene140.01 JU0.025 0.027 0.017 JUU0.017 J0.019 J0.0091 JU0.029 0.0480.038
Naphthalene140.19 0.0610.57 0.46UU0.022 J0.0430.045 0.034 0.015 J0.039 0.0880.13
PhenanthreneNSL0.230.09 0.780.68 0.012 J0.0077 J0.0330.0840.0640.0430.013 J0.0650.110.13
Phenol1900U UUUUUUUUUUU0.14U
Pyrene17900.044 0.018 J0.13 0.110.024 J0.0096 J0.02 J0.0340.039 0.02 J0.014 J0.079 0.0960.076
2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin0.0000048U UUUU0.00000027 JUUUU0.0000011 J0.00000084 JUU
1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin0.00048UU0.0000042 J0.0000041 J0.000036 0.0000052 J0.0000092 0.0000082 0.0000170.0000130.000023 0.000016 0.0000540.000028
1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin0.0160.000018 0.00001 J0.000073 0.00010.000340.000070.000055 0.0000510.00012 0.0000960.000160.000110.000390.00021
2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran0.000048UUU0.00000043 JUUUU0.00000049 JI0.00000068 J0.0000012 JI0.00000089 JU0.00000027 J
2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran 0.000016UUUUUUUUUUUUU.0000029 J
1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzofuran0.00048UUUU0.0000092 JU0.0000051 J0.0000031 J0.0000068 J0.0000051 JI0.00001 0.0000057 J0.0000210.000014
1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octachlorodibenzofuran0.0016UUU0.0000024 J0.0000290.0000034 J0.0000055 J0.0000048 J0.000011 J0.000009 J0.000012 J0.0000087 J0.0000250.000014
Total Dioxin-Furan0.00000480.0000028 0.0000026 0.00000290.0000027 0.00000460.0000028 0.0000034 0.0000033 0.00000330.00000310.00000470.00000380.00000450.0000036

Terms key

Explanation of terms
mg/kgMilligrams per kilogram
Screening LevelIntermediate Residential Regional Screening Level
NSLNo Screening Level
UThis result should be considered “not-detect” because it was not detected above the detection limit or it was detected in a field blank or laboratory blank at a similar level
IValue is an estimated maximum possible concentration
JResult is less than the reporting limit but greater than or equal to the method detection limit and the concentration is an approximate value
BCompound was found in the blank and sample. Blank samples are taken to ensure that environmental samples have not been contaminated by the data-collection process.
cnRefer to Case Narrative for further detail. The cn data qualifier was included for analytes Benz[a]anthracene, Benzo[a]pyrene and/or Benzo[g,h,i]perylene for some samples. After a review of the Case Narratives for those samples, this data qualifier was applied because the method blank for for the preparation batch and analytical batch contained these analytes above the method detection limit.

The following analytes were non-detect in all City Park soil samples:

Download the Data

Summary of East Palestine City Park Soil Sampling Results (xlsx) (31.08 KB, April 6, 2023)

  • 2,4,5-Trichlorophenol
  • 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol
  • 2,4-Dichlorophenol
  • 2-Chlorophenol
  • 4-chloro-3-Methylphenol
  • 4-Chlorophenyl phenyl ether
  • Acenaphthene
  • Hexachlorobenzene
  • Pentachlorophenol
  • 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
  • 1,2,3,4,7,8-hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
  • 1,2,3,6,7,8-hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
  • 1,2,3,7,8,9-hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
  • 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran
  • 1,2,3,4,7,8-hexachlorodibenzofuran
  • 1,2,3,6,7,8-hexachlorodibenzofuran
  • 1,2,3,7,8,9-hexachlorodibenzofuran
  • 2,3,4,6,7,8-hexachlorodibenzofuran
  • 1,2,3,4,7,8,9-heptachlorodibenzofuran
  • Total-PCDD/DF-TEQ-MB (WHO2005)
Contact Us About the East Palestine, Ohio Train Derailment to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on August 31, 2026
  • Assistance
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • Chinese (traditional)
  • French
  • Haitian Creole
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions
  • Site Feedback

Follow.

​