Newsletter: East Palestine Train Derailment Response, 7-11-2023
Newsletter serving Serving East Palestine, Negley, Darlington, and surrounding communities
- Progress Made
- The Look Ahead
- Site Status Check
- Community Corner
- Did you Know?
- Safety Minute
- Top 3 Questions of the Week
- Stay Informed
- About this Publication
Progress Made
Surface and Ground Water Sampling Plans Approved
Surface water and groundwater sampling plans have been approved by EPA. These plans ensure surface water and groundwater are sampled and monitored for the remainder of the cleanup. The plans also include protocols for any changes in water quality. Surface water sampling takes place in nearby water bodies, including Sulphur Run, Leslie Run, Bull Creek, Little Beaver Creek, and the Ohio River.
Paving at the Turnaround on East Martin Street
On July 8, gravel was laid on the turnaround on East Martin Street past Pleasant Drive in preparation for asphalt to help control erosion and dust. Depending on the weather, temporary asphalt will be laid on top of the gravel this week.
Updated Stormwater Management
A site stormwater inspection was completed on July 8, and additional stormwater controls were put in place to improve the existing stormwater management plan. Going forward, weekly stormwater inspections will determine if and when additional controls are needed.
The Look Ahead
At the Site
Site Status Check
as of July 11
-
North Track: In operation
South Track: In operation -
Leslie Run: Stream monitoring is ongoing
Sulphur Run: Stream monitoring and washing is ongoing -
78,709 est. tons of solid waste shipped offsite
- Paving on Pleasant Drive and Martin Street will continue this week.
- Some additional sheet piling installation is planned near Car Scrapping Area 4, east of the CeramFab facility.
- Shallow soil excavation of contaminated material continues in Car Scrapping Area 3, just north of the tracks.
- Truck traffic continues near the derailment site. Waste shipments will continue.
- Taggart Street remains closed to the public.
In the Greater Community
- EPA air monitoring continues at 15 locations around town.
- Crews are evaluating and reducing stormwater runoff to Sulphur Run.
- Stream assessments of Sulphur Run and Leslie Run are continuing, with sediment flushing in Sulphur Run.
Community Corner
Golf: The Annika Fore East Palestine Golf Outing attracted world class talent and hundreds of volunteers. It was announced last week that the event raised $400,000 to be distributed to the East Palestine community. Some of the recipients of the money include Little Bulldogs Football & Cheerleading, the East Palestine Youth Sports Association, and the East Palestine Teachers Union. Any remaining funds will be donated to The Way Station.
Enon Valley: On Saturday, July 15, Enon Valley will host its annual Community Day and Bluegrass Festival. This free, family-friendly event starts at 7 a.m. with breakfast at the Masonic Lodge and goes out with a bang at 10 p.m. with fireworks. Don’t worry, there are lots of kids’ activities, live music, swing dancing, vendors, and historical programs to enjoy in between. EPA will have a table with button making, so don’t forget to stop by and say hi!
Did you know?
Groundwater in East Palestine is tested weekly for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), and glycols using 14 “sentinel” monitoring wells, which are groundwater wells installed between a known area of contamination and a drinking water supply. These wells are important because they can detect the presence of potentially harmful compounds before they reach the drinking water supply.
Each week, Ohio EPA collects samples of East Palestine’s drinking water. Water is tested for 190 chemicals, including VOCs and SVOCs. At this time, no chemicals associated with the derailment have been detected in either raw or treated water. The East Palestine drinking water plant conducts daily checks to make sure all treatment systems are operating properly. Private drinking water wells have also been extensively tested with 746 samples collected so far in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Top 3 Questions of the Week
Safety Minute
There are about a dozen species of ticks in Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. Three species, the American dog tick, the blacklegged tick, and the lone star tick, are among the most likely to be encountered by people or pets. All three of these species can carry tickborne diseases. The best way to prevent a disease is to prevent a bite. Take action to decrease your risk of infection: wear repellent, check your body daily for ticks, and limit your exposure to tick habitats.
Announcement
The EPA Community Welcome Center at 25 N Market St. hours have changed to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The center will continue to be open on Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed on Sunday.
On July 20, The Way Station and First United Presbyterian Church will host a site progress session from 6 to 7 p.m. Representatives from EPA will discuss site operations over the past few months and what sampling, assessments, and work is upcoming. This session will be held at 109 West Rebecca Street in East Palestine.
Stay Informed
Check out our series of “In the Moment” videos that give you a backstage look into everything from our mobile laboratory to how we decontaminate trucks. And if you want something more in depth, recordings of all public information sessions as well as videos answering some frequently asked questions are also available: East Palestine, Ohio Train Derailment Videos
Follow the EPA Great Lakes Facebook and Twitter pages for social media updates on the ongoing cleanup and other EPA activities in your region.