Photos

Photo slideshows

October 2024
  • This area previously housed the big blue tanks and in this photo the tanks have been removed and the area cleared.

    Most of the on-site wastewater treatment system has been broken down and removed.

  • Clear blue sky and gravel area behind Leake Oil in East Palestine, Ohio

    Looking west down the tracks from behind Leake Oil.

  • Large machinery near the train tracks with a clear blue sky.

    Looking east down the tracks from Pleasant Drive.

  • Land ready for grading, with piles of dirt that are being smoothed over.

    Backfill in the Tank Farm 5 area is ready for grading.

  • Rig mats were placed underneath the small blue liquid tanks and in this image they are being cleaned.

    Crews clean the rig mats that were underneath the small blue liquid storage tanks

  • View of the small blue tanks still on top of rig mats

    The last few small liquid storage tanks and roll offs in the tank farm areas

  • Sheet pilings jutting up from the ground - these are yet to be removed.

    This fall, sheet piling around Car Scrapping Area 4 will be removed

  • Cleaned liner - looks like a thick black tarp.

    The liner in the former area where five large, treated water tanks sat

  • Linder spread over the area where the big blue tanks were staged.

    The liner in the area where the big blue tanks were staged.

  • Spaced previously used for bluetanks has been restored with green grass.

    The restored Tank Farm 5 area previously held hundreds of small blue liquid storage tanks

  • Clear blue sky and gravel area behind Leake Oil in East Palestine, Ohio

    The tall machine on the left removes sheet piling from the site

March/April 2024
  • Backfill and restoration in the South Ditch, train tracks to the right.

    Backfill and restoration in the South Ditch is ongoing

  • Two workers watch a a high-powered vacuum hose placed inside the culvert to remove sediment

    A high-powered vacuum hose is placed inside the culvert to remove sediment

  • EPA workers check containment booms during culvert cleanout oversight

    EPA checks containment booms during culvert cleanout oversight

  • Crews set boom in Sulphur Run to prepare for culvert cleanout operations

    Crews set boom in Sulphur Run to prepare for culvert cleanout operations

  • Air sampling devices are placed on an electrical pole next to Sulphur Run during culvert cleaning

    Air sampling devices are placed next to Sulphur Run during culvert cleaning

  • Three packages of soft boom

    Rolls of absorbent soft boom are one method of containment used during stream cleaning

  • Vacuum trucks are placed next to Sulphur Run to collect any oil sheen generated during cleaning operations

    Vacuum trucks are placed next to Sulphur Run to collect any oil sheen generated during cleaning operations

  • Vacuum trucks are placed near booms to collect oil sheen generated during stream and culvert cleanup

    Vacuum trucks are placed near booms to collect oil sheen generated during stream and culvert cleanup

  • The culvert underneath Liberty Street where cleaning operations are ongoing but weather dependent

    The culvert underneath Liberty Street where cleaning operations are ongoing but weather dependent

  • Confirmatory sampling crews collect and process a soil core, or a vertical sample of undisturbed underground soil

    Confirmatory sampling crews collect and process a soil core, or a vertical sample of undisturbed underground soil

  • A geoprobe rig is used for confirmatory subsurface soil sampling

    A geoprobe rig is used for confirmatory subsurface soil sampling

  • Groundwater is regularly sampled at the derailment site

    Groundwater is regularly sampled at the derailment site

  • Sampling untreated water to confirm it can be shipped off-site as non-hazardous

    Sampling untreated water to confirm it can be shipped off-site as non-hazardous

  • Trucks are staged to load wastewater

    Trucks are staged to load wastewater

October 2023
  • Trench box in the ground

    A trench box is being used to prevent the collapse of the trench during excavation.

  • In October, additional sheet piling was installed along the south ditch for stabilization.

  • Hazardous soil is loaded for off-site disposal

    Hazardous soil is loaded for off-site disposal.

  • Workers taking soil samples in the East Palestine Village Park

    Confirmatory soil sampling in the East Palestine Village Park.

  • Car Scrapping Area 4 under major exacvation

    Car Scrapping Area 4 where, at the time of this photo, major excavation was nearing completion.

  • As of the week of October 23, South ditch excavation was nearly complete.

September 2023
  • Tanks storing non-hazardous treated wastewater

    Tanks storing non-hazardous treated wastewater before shipping off-site for disposal.

  • Cleared and ready for backfilling

    Portion of Car Scrapping Area 4 is excavated, cleared, and ready for backfilling

  • Person cleaning the mirror insode a bathroom of a residential property

    Structure cleaning inside a resident’s home.

  • Excavation behind the Ceramfab building

    Excavation behind the Ceramfab building.

  • Large machinery excavating pit in Car Scrapping Area 3

    Excavated pit in Car Scrapping Area 3 awaiting sampling.

August 2023
  • The South Ditch area being de-watered before excavation work continues.

    The South Ditch area being de-watered before excavation work continues.

  • Tank is part of the on-site wastewater treatment system

    This tank is part of the on-site wastewater treatment system.

  • Storm water pipe removal near Car Scrapping Area 3

    Storm water pipe removal near Car Scrapping Area 3.

  • These tanks contain activated carbon part of the on-site wastewater treatment system.

    These tanks contain activated carbon, which is part of the on-site wastewater treatment system.

July 2023
  • Huge machine called a cwentrifugre separates the solid waste

    This centrifuge separates solid waste from liquid wastewater in holding bins to determine whether the waste is hazardous and then disposed properly.

  • View of car scraping area 3

    Car Scrapping Area 3 from the south-side of the tracks. The small white flags indicate where samples have been taken while the pink flags indicate where samples need to be taken.

  • view of car scarpping area 4

    Car Scrapping Area 4. This area was previously used to stockpile contaminated solid wastes before loading and shipping off-site. With the contaminated waste gone, the soil in Car Scrapping Area 4 will need to be excavated to remove any contamination resulting from the previous stockpiles.

  • Blue frac tanks

    These blue frac tanks contain contaminated liquids that are staged before taken off-site for disposal. The number of frac tanks on-site has been reduced since the construction of the large blue tanks was completed.

  • The large blue tanks where contaminated liquids are being staged.

    The large blue tanks where contaminated liquids are being staged.

June-July 2023
  • A PTR-MS (Proton Transfer Reaction – Mass Spectrometry) air monitoring van

    A PTR-MS (Proton Transfer Reaction – Mass Spectrometry) air monitoring van that drives around East Palestine daily to collect continuous air monitoring data.

  • Installation of a culvert by the main line tracks

    Installation of a culvert by the main line tracks to help control stormwater and runoff.

  • Decontamination station spraying down trucks

    Decontamination station spraying down trucks as they exit the site.

  • Reinforcing the wall around the big blue lake tanks

    Reinforcing the wall around the big blue lake tanks that store potentially contaminated water waste.

  • Contractors labelling soil samples

    Contractors labelling soil samples taken from Car Scrap Area 3 before they are sent to the laboratory for testing.

  • Plastic curtains are placed downstream in Sulphur Run

    Plastic curtains are placed downstream in Sulphur Run to capture products released during stream washing.

  • Two tankers are simultaneously loaded with liquid waste

    Two tankers are simultaneously loaded with liquid waste.

  • Freshly paved Martin Street

    Martin St. is newly paved to help control dust and erosion.

May-June 2023
  • Sheet piling is installed along the south track

    Sheet piling is installed along the south track

  • Liquid waste is loaded and measured

    Liquid waste is loaded and measured

  • A weir allows sediment and dirt to settle before being pumped into the blue lake tanks for staging

    A weir allows sediment and dirt to settle before being pumped into the blue lake tanks for staging

  • A machine drives sheet piling into the ground along the south track

    A machine drives sheet piling into the ground along the south track

  • Sumps collect and pump rain and creek water from around the derailment site

    Sumps collect and pump rain and creek water from around the derailment site

  • Measuring for depth in an excavated area

    Measuring for depth in an excavated area

  • A trench box is used to prevent soil from caving in while workers are sampling in narrow areas

    A trench box is used to prevent soil from caving in while workers are sampling in narrow areas

  • Sheet piling protects the integrity of the rails so the area in between the tracks can be excavated and backfilled

    Sheet piling protects the integrity of the rails so the area in between the tracks can be excavated and backfilled

  • Walkways between the ground and the tracks are used to safely enter the north ditch for sampling

    Walkways are used to safely enter the north ditch for sampling

Early May 2023
  • Muddy pit during excavation on north tracks

    Contaminated soil under the north track is removed in sections.

  • heaving machinery installing pipes

    Piping is installed to carry water from the derailment site into the large blue lake tanks

  • hand reaching down to collect soil samples

    Excavated areas under the north track are sampled to ensure all contamination is removed.

  • Handheld monitors are used to screen VOC levels in excavated areas

    Handheld monitors are used to screen VOC levels in excavated areas.

  • people logging data from sampling

    Samplers log soil from the north track.

  • Waste is safely secured and loaded for off-site disposal

    Waste is safely secured and loaded for off-site disposal.

  • Liquid waste is loaded, labeled, and logged within a secondary containment area.

    Liquid waste is loaded, labeled, and logged within a secondary containment area.

April 2023
  • Heavy machinery consolidating soil

    Soil is consolidated for disposal

  • Soil waste pile lined with thick pastic and concreete barriers

    Staging areas for soil waste are lined with thick plastic and concrete barriers

  • Contaminated heavy equipment is power washed

    Contaminated heavy equipment are power washed and cleaned before leaving the derailment site

  • Soil waste pile is uncovered for loading and disposal

    A soil waste pile is uncovered for loading and disposal

  • Heavy machinery working along the north track

    Excavation teams are working along the north track

  • Excavator working along the north track

    Excavation is underway along the north track

  • TAGA and PTR-MS vehicles on the road monitoring air around the derailment site

    TAGA and PTR-MS vehicles are monitoring air around the derailment site

  • Bulldozer moving soil

    Bulldozers are managing soil staging piles

  • Heavy machinery at work on the site

    Heavy equipment are managing and unloading contaminated soil

  • Team colelcting and processing soil samples from inactive north track

    Geoprobe teams are collecting and processing soil samples from the inactive north track

  • Excavated pit in the center, with blue tank on the let and railroad tracks to the right.

    Excavation pits are sampled to make sure contamination has been removed.

March - April 2023
  • Large machinery cleared and backfilled south side of tracks

    A cleared area of the south track is backfilled with clean material and graded.

  • south tracks are backfileld with clean material and compacted

    Cleared portions of the south track are backfilled with clean material and compacted.

  • Truck that resembles an RV. Large enough to walk inside.

    EPA’s Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) is used for advanced air monitoring near the derailment site.

  • Large blue sheet piling installed

    Sheet piling is installed around the two blue lake tanks as a method for secondary containment. The lake tanks will temporarily stage wastewater from the derailment site while trucks transport these liquids off-site for disposal.

  • Individual powerwashing a truck leaving the site

    All trucks undergo a wheel and undercarriage wash before leaving the derailment site.

  • contractors using air monitoring instruments

    Air monitoring within the community.

February-March 2023

  • Photo of train in flames taken by drone.

  • contractor using air monitoring equipment near railroad cars

    EPA contractors conducting air monitoring during rail excavation activities

  • Aeration equipment deployed within Leslie Run

  • EPA and Ohio EPA conduct water quality assessment of Leslie Run to assess conditions as part of a monitoring routine to ensure protection of surface waters

  • Excavated soils from beneath the rail line are staged and covered in preparation for transportation and disposal

  • U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Strike Team providing support to EPA for oversight and documentation of disposal activities

  • Norfolk Southern removing contaminated soil and ballast from beneath the south rail line

  • Norfolk Southern and EPA conducting soil sampling beneath the excavated rail track area.

  • Waste stockpiles, prepped for offsite transportation and disposal, are covered and lined to ensure protection from wind and rain.

  • NS removing contaminated soil and ballast from beneath the south rail line

  • Crash site recovery operations.

  • Former EPA Administrator Michael Regan visits the site of the train derailment with EPA on-scene coordinators.

  • Burned train boxcars being moved by large excavation equipment

    Norfolk Southern contractors removing a burned tank car (benzene, residual) from the crash site.

  • EPA on-scene coordinators discuss EPA’s advanced air monitoring technology with former Administrator Regan.

  • Oil product leaking from an upside-down damaged tank car and pooling on the ground.

  • Photo taken by EPA's ASPECT (Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology) system on Feb. 7, 2023.

  • Photo taken by EPA's ASPECT (Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology) system on Feb. 7, 2023.

  • Air monitoring equipment.

  • Boom deployed at Leslie Run near Jimtown Rd.

East Palestine, Ohio Train Derailment

Contact Us About the East Palestine, Ohio Train Derailment
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on January 22, 2025