(EAST PALESTINE, Ohio)— The following is the latest update from Governor DeWine, the Ohio EPA, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and Ohio Department of Agriculture regarding work underway in East Palestine.
Letter to Centers of Disease Control and Prevention
Governor DeWine sent a letter to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requesting that they immediately send medical experts to East Palestine to evaluate and counsel members of the community who have questions and/or are experiencing symptoms.
In anticipation of rainfall, emergency response teams have put plans in place to prevent contaminants that have not yet been removed from the derailment site from washing into local waterways during the storms.
Sulphur Run has been dammed both west of the crash site and east of the crash site, leaving an empty creek bed between the two dams in the area of the crash. Teams are pumping clean creek water from the point of the eastern dam, funneling it away from the dry creek bed area, and releasing it back into Sulphur Run at the western dam. This allows clean water to bypass the area of the derailment and prevents clean creek water from picking up contaminants and carrying them into other waterways.
As it relates to the rainfall, this process will also control any contaminated rainwater runoff, which will run into the dry creek bed where it will be removed and remediated.
Residents in East Palestine may have noticed visible emissions in the area of the derailment yesterday. The railroad was using steam to heat a damaged railcar containing paraffin wax. The melted wax was transported into another tank without being exposed to the air.
Ohio River Chemical Plume – Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
The chemical plume of butyl acrylate in the Ohio River is currently located near Gallipolis, Ohio, and will be near Huntington, West Virginia, sometime tomorrow. Testing results indicate that the chemical is currently present at levels below 3 parts per billion, which is well below the 560 parts per billion that the CDC considers hazardous. No vinyl chloride has been detected in the Ohio River.
Butyl acrylate’s water-solubility makes it harder to contain because it is absorbed by water (similar to sugar in water) instead of staying separate from water (similar to oil and water). For this reason, some butyl acrylate slipped beyond mitigation dams and booms and into the Ohio River. Aeration points have been added to further remove the butyl acrylate from the water, which has been effective in decreasing chemical levels.
Out of an abundance of caution, the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission and other agencies along the river are actively sampling water at strategic locations and are closing drinking water intakes in advance of the plume to prevent any butyl acrylate from entering the drinking water. This, combined with enhanced water treatment procedures, will ensure the safety of the drinking water supply for communities along the River.
Air Monitoring – Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. EPA has been and will continue monitoring air purity in the East Palestine area. The latest air monitoring results provided by the U.S. EPA continue to show no presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the train crash.
Similarly, the U.S. EPA reports that it is not detecting any airborne phosgene or mineral acids, which were chemicals of concern directly related to the controlled burn process. Because these substances have not been detected, and because emissions from the controlled release have dissipated, the U.S. EPA has stopped air monitoring for these two specific contaminants.
Residents in and around the area may notice a smell from the site. This is because some of the contaminants that were released into the environment have a low odor threshold, which means that these contaminants can be smelled at levels much lower than what is considered hazardous.
To date, the U.S. EPA and an independent contractor supporting remediation efforts in East Palestine have tested the air inside 474 homes for the presence of VOCs released from the train derailment. Apart from the derailment, VOCs are generally present in things, such as paint, flooring, carpet, furniture, and cigarette smoke. Although the testing in approximately 75 homes did show elevated levels of VOCs, further testing found that contaminants of concern from the derailment (vinyl chloride and hydrogen chloride) were not present in these homes.
Thirty additional homes are scheduled to be tested today, and testing appointments continue to be scheduled. A total of 43 homes have canceled their requests for air quality testing.
Air quality testing is voluntary for residents in East Palestine. To request home air testing, call 330-849-3919.
Contaminated Soil: To date, 3,150 cubic yards of contaminated soil have been removed from the area of the derailment. This soil has been moved into containers and stockpiled for proper disposal. Once the impacted soil is removed, the remaining soil is covered with mulch to absorb any additional seepage and to absorb the chemicals. The mulch is regularly replaced to ensure continued absorption. The chemical-laden mulch is then stockpiled for proper disposal. The process to remove contaminated soil and control seepage will continue.
Contaminated Water: Although most contaminants did not enter local waterways, contaminants are pooling at the derailment site in puddles and ditches. A total of 942,000 gallons of contaminants and contaminated liquid have been removed from the immediate site. It is estimated that 110,000 gallons of contaminants at the site will be removed for proper disposal within the next 24 hours.
Wildlife – Ohio Department of Natural Resources
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has not received any additional reports of deceased wildlife. The total estimated number of aquatic animals killed remains at approximately 3,500. Those animals were found in Sulphur Run, Leslie Run, Bull Creek, and a portion of the North Fork of Beaver Creek. Most of the fish appear to be small suckers, minnows, darters, and sculpin. Most of these deaths are believed to have been caused by the immediate release of contaminants into the water, prior to mitigation efforts put in place following the crash. ODNR has not found any evidence of continued risk to aquatic life, but officers will continue sampling waterways.
Farm/Domestic Animals – Ohio Department of Agriculture
The Ohio Department of Agriculture has received tissue samples from one six-week-old beef calf that died on February 11, 2023, in an area located approximately two miles from East Palestine. ODA’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory is performing a diagnostic work-up to determine if a cause of death can be identified.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture continues to assure Ohioans that its food supply is safe and the risk to livestock remains low following the East Palestine train derailment.
There is no information to suggest that pets are not safe outside, but if you believe your domestic animal has been sickened as a result of the train derailment, please contact your local veterinarian.
Ohio CareLine
As a reminder, East Palestine residents who are struggling with anxiety and stress related to the derailment or are in need of emotional support may call the Ohio Careline at 1-800-720-9616 anytime 24/7 to talk with trained specialists for free, confidential support.
More Information
Additional information related to the cleanup process, including contact phone numbers, press conference videos, FAQs, water and air sampling information, and previous updates can be found at ema.ohio.gov/eastpalestine.
(EAST PALESTINE, Ohio) — The following is a status update regarding water testing results in East Palestine as of 3 p.m. on Wednesday, February 15, 2023.
Municipal Water Testing Results:
New water testing results have been returned to the Ohio EPA. These results show no detection of contaminants in raw water from the five wells that feed into East Palestine’s municipal water system.
Test results from the combined, treated water from all five wells also showed no detection of contaminants associated with the derailment.
With these tests results, Ohio EPA is confident that the municipal water is safe to drink.
Additional Information on the East Palestine Municipal Water System:
East Palestine’s municipal water system, which provides drinking water for most area residents, takes in water from five wells that are located approximately one mile from the derailment site. The municipal wells are at least 56 feet below the surface and are covered by a solid steel casing that protects the water from contamination. Before drinking water is made available to the public, water from these five wells is combined at the water treatment plant and treated.
Although it was unlikely that any contaminants entered the wells that serve the municipal water supply, Ohio EPA tested the combined, treated water soon after the derailment. Those tests showed no contamination.
Out of an abundance of caution, Ohio EPA took samples of raw, untreated water directly from all five wells over the past week. A new sample of the combined, treated water was also collected.
As noted above, new testing results from the five wells, as well as the treated water sample, showed no evidence of contamination associated with the derailment.
Private Water Wells:
Because private water wells may be closer to the surface than the municipal water wells, the Ohio EPA recommends that those who receive drinking water from private water wells schedule an appointment for well water testing by an independent consultant.
For information on how to schedule your private water well for testing, call 330-849-3919. The Ohio Department of Health encourages those with private wells to use bottled water until their well water testing results are returned.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, 41 Attorneys General Urge Feds to Give State, Local Agencies Timely Access to Corporate Transparency Information
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is leading a national effort to ensure that state, local and tribal entities have appropriate and timely access to corporate ownership information that’s crucial to fighting corruption, organized crime, white-collar crime and terrorism.
“We’re all on the same team,” Yost said. “The federal government shouldn’t throw law enforcement a curveball when ‘bad actors’ never stop playing hardball.”
In a letter sent yesterday to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Treasury, Yost and 41 other attorneys general outlined the need for nonfederal agencies to be able to access information without unnecessary and burdensome requirements.
The creation of a national database is authorized under the Corporate Transparency Act, passed in 2021 to require certain companies to disclose their actual, or “beneficial,” owners to FinCEN.
The letter says that the bureau’s recently proposed requirements for database access would impede investigations taking place at the state, local and tribal level.
The Corporate Transparency Act itself requires state, local and tribal only to obtain a court order authorizing access to the database. The proposed regulations, however, would not only require the court order but also subject the order to FinCEN review and approval, and require a separate written justification – an onerous process that’s inconsistent with Congress’ decision to create the database to provide speedy access to information that can benefit investigations.
“We look forward to working with FinCEN on the implementation of this database to ensure that we and other entities can use it as Congress intended: as a highly useful tool to help us efficiently access important beneficial ownership data to serve and protect the public,” the letter states.
In addition to requesting that all law enforcement entities receive unobstructed access to the database, the letter advocated for several amendments to the proposed regulations, including one to make it clear that individuals who receive database information during a legal case are subject to the same non-disclosure laws as those who receive the information directly from FinCEN. The amendment would remove the burden of notification from prosecutors and other government attorneys.
Joining Yost on the letter were the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
(LISBON, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost today announced that the criminal charges filed against NewsNation reporter Evan Lambert have been dismissed.
The Ohio Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Section was appointed by the Columbiana County Prosecuting Attorney to handle the charges filed in Columbiana County Municipal Court.
“My office has reviewed the relevant video and documentary evidence, and is dismissing the charges against Evan Lambert as unsupported by sufficient evidence.
“While journalists could conceivably be subject to criminal charges for trespassing in some situations, this incident is not one of them. The reporter was lawfully present at a press conference called by the Governor of the state. His conduct was consistent with the purpose of the event and his role as a reporter.”
Yost added that tensions were running high in the days following the derailment and that local officials appeared to be following the lead of the National Guard.
“Regardless of the intent, arresting a journalist reporting at a press conference is a serious matter,” Yost said. “Ohio protects a free press under its constitution, and state officials should remember to exercise a heightened level of restraint in using arrest powers.”
Lambert was charged with resisting arrest, a second-degree misdemeanor, and criminal trespass, a fourth-degree misdemeanor.
Operation North Star makes an impact in the city of Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio– The U.S. Marshals Service has conducted the second phase of a high-impact fugitive apprehension initiative, Operation North Star II (ONS II), focusing on the country’s most violent offenders in 10 locations. The sites selected were Albuquerque, New Mexico; Buffalo, New York; Cleveland, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Jackson, Mississippi; Kansas City, Missouri; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Oakland, California and Puerto Rico, each of which has seen a large increase in recent homicides and shootings.
This 30-day initiative resulted in the arrest of 145 fugitives and violent criminals in the Northern District of Ohio. Fugitive investigations happened across the city of Cleveland and even reached as far as southern California, where a Cleveland shooting suspect was arrested during the operation.
Operation North Star focused on those fugitives who were wanted for the most serious, violent, and harmful offenses such as homicide, forcible sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault. ONS II investigators prioritized their efforts to include individuals using firearms in their crimes, or who exhibited risk factors associated with violence.
“The U.S. Marshals Service remains steadfast in its commitment to assisting law enforcement and community leaders at all levels to combat violent crime.” said U.S. Marshals Service Director Ronald Davis. “The success of Operation North Star II is based on its laser focus on the most significant drivers of violence. We are confident that apprehending these offenders will bring a level of justice to their victims and contribute to the overall violence reduction efforts in each city.”
In Northern Ohio, 59 fugitives were arrested for assault, 20 for robbery, 17 for sex offenses, and 14 for homicide, and a total of 188 warrants were closed due to those arrests. Due to the focused efforts and the partnerships during this time, officers were able to take three times the number of violent fugitives off the streets compared to this time last year.
Although this operation was led by the U.S. Marshals Service, members of the Cleveland Division of Police, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and Crime Stoppers of Cuyahoga County were instrumental in the success of this operation.
“I am thankful for the leadership of Pete Elliott and his team at the United States Marshals Service along with all of our partner law enforcement agencies for participating in this successful multi-agency effort,” said Cleveland Police Chief Wayne Drummond. “Members of law enforcement remain committed to working together to keep our neighborhoods safe, and a major part of that lies in removing violent offenders from our streets.”
In addition to focusing on putting fugitives behind bars, members of the NOVFTF and its partners also took time to meet with community leaders from across the city of Cleveland and engaged with a number of high school students to hear about the impact of violent crime in their communities.
“The safety of our residents is our number one priority,” stated Mayor Justin M. Bibb. “Operations like this are a great example of how we can leverage our partnerships and work collaboratively for a safer city. We are grateful for the hard work of everyone involved in this effort.”
While Operation North Star was running, the Northern District of Ohio opened a hotline to Fugitive Safe Surrender in Cuyahoga County. The Fugitive Safe Surrender hotline will remain open through February for persons with active felony warrants in Cuyahoga County who want to make arrangements to peacefully surrender and deal with their outstanding warrant.
U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “Northern Ohio has built a strong partnership over the years with both area law enforcement agencies and members of the community. Working together on this operation to focus on apprehending the most dangerous fugitives in our area has helped to make Cleveland safer for the people who live and work here. We appreciate everyone’s dedicated efforts to make this operation a success.”
Anyone with information concerning a wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or you can submit a web tip. Reward money is available, and tipsters may remain anonymous.
Follow the U.S. Marshals on Twitter @USMSCleveland
GROVE CITY – The Columbus Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is currently investigating a serious injury crash involving a trooper that occurred today at 10:44 a.m. on northbound Interstate 71 near state Route 665 in Grove City.
Trooper Adrian E. Wilson, Circleville Post, was outside of his marked cruiser, with its overhead emergency lights activated, removing debris from the road when a 2021 Toyota RAV4, operated by Alea Weil, 29, Marietta, Ga., struck the rear of the marked Dodge Charger. The impact caused the cruiser to move forward, striking Trooper Wilson.
Wilson and Weil sustained serious injuries and were transported by ground ambulance to Grant Medical Center.
The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus Division of Police, Grove City Police Department, Jackson Township Fire Department, Pleasant Township Fire Department and the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Alcohol and/or drug impairment are believed to have been a factor in the crash.
The motoring public is reminded to move over anytime you see flashing lights ahead, and if you can’t move over then you must slow down.
The crash remains under investigation, and anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Columbus Post at (614) 466-2660.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) announced today the disbursement of over $115 million to 38,889 victims in connection with fraud schemes processed by MoneyGram International Inc. (MoneyGram). The victims, many of whom are elderly, will recover the full amount of their losses.
“This distribution of $115.8 million to nearly 40,000 victims – each of whom is being fully compensated for their losses – demonstrates the Department of Justice’s continued commitment to making victims whole,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This is an example of how the department will use every tool at its disposal, including in corporate criminal matters, to provide justice to victims.”
MoneyGram originally entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the Department of Justice in 2012 for willfully failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and aiding and abetting fraud schemes that generally targeted the elderly and other vulnerable groups. In November 2018, MoneyGram agreed to extend its DPA, implemented additional enhanced compliance obligations, and forfeited $125 million – representing the volume of consumer fraud transactions it processed during the DPA term. The USPIS is using these forfeited funds to compensate the victims of the fraud through the remission process. MoneyGram completed its DPA in May 2021.
“This $115 million disbursement provides a measure of financial justice for the many victims who were harmed by fraudsters who preyed on them,” said Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen of the USPIS Philadelphia Division. “The USPIS is proud to be part of this exemplary collaborative effort with our law enforcement and regulatory partners, particularly the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), to facilitate a process where victims are delivered restitution.”
“Working together with the skilled and dedicated investigators of the USPIS, the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, and the FTC, we have achieved outstanding results,” said U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. “This $115.8 million disbursement to over 38,000 victims demonstrates the commitment to compensate and serve justice to the victims of these frauds.”
The USPIS is managing the victim remission. The victim compensation in this case would not have been possible with the extraordinary efforts of the USPIS Philadelphia Division’s Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, office, which investigated the case, and the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section’s Bank Integrity Unit and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, who prosecuted the case.
More information about the remission process is available at http://moneygramremission.com
BOWLING GREEN – Emergency repair work is underway after an oversized semi struck the Lime City Road bridge over I-75 early this morning. Due to significant damage to the bridge, the northbound lanes are expected to remain closed until further notice, with the goal to get them reopened by midnight.
Crews from the Ohio Department of Transportation are working with a contractor, ES Wagner, to remove a portion of the bridge deck and beams damaged in the crash.
“I-75 is one of the busiest freight routes in the country and we are working hard to get traffic moving again as soon as possible, but we will not sacrifice safety for convenience. Please continue to avoid the area, use alternate routes, and be patient as we work to repair the damage done in this crash,” said ODOT District 2 Deputy Director Pat McColley.
Ohio Department of Transportation Photo
Drivers heading north on I-75 can use I-280 as an alternate route. Continue to monitor OHGO.com for updates on traffic conditions.
COLUMBUS – Governor Mike DeWine has directed the Ohio Rail Development Commission to apply for the first phase of funding to study expanding passenger rail service in Ohio. The Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor Identification and Development program would assist the state in assessing potential intercity passenger rail corridors.
“This is the first step of many in this process. We have a lot of questions that need to be answered before we make any commitments,” said DeWine. “The information we gather from this effort will help us make informed decisions about federal opportunities for passenger rail in Ohio.”
The state has identified two corridors to advance for consideration: Cleveland-Columbus-Dayton-Cincinnati and Cleveland-Toledo-Detroit.
If the application is successful, the Federal Railroad Administration would provide $500,000 per corridor. These funds would allow Ohio to bring in a consultant to prepare a scope of work for a Service Development Plan. This would be a comprehensive plan that includes information about the track improvements, equipment, stations and other facilities, operating costs, ridership, and required state subsidy that are needed to start service.
“Under Governor DeWine’s direction, we have been talking with Amtrak for quite some time to explore options and gather information. Our work with Amtrak was necessary for a federal application but it is just the first step. The Governor has been very clear that for this to work for Ohio, it is not just a matter of cost. It has to be done in a way that does not impede freight rail traffic in the state that is so important to our economy and our businesses,” said Matthew Dietrich, Executive Director of the Ohio Rail Development Commission.
The Corridor ID Program is a comprehensive intercity passenger rail planning and development program that will help guide intercity passenger rail development throughout the country and create a pipeline of intercity passenger rail projects ready for implementation.
Applications are due by March 27.
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ORDC assists Ohio companies and communities in creating and retaining jobs by preserving rail service to existing shippers and providing rail service to new customers. In addition, the ORDC funds projects to improve railroad-highway grade crossings to increase safety to the traveling public. Please remember, when around railroad tracks always expect a train. Rail lines in Ohio are private property and trespassing is both strictly prohibited and extremely dangerous. For additional information please contact Wende Jourdan at (614) 728-9497.
(EAST PALESTINE, Ohio)— Following new modeling information conducted this morning by the Ohio National Guard and U.S. Department of Defense, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro are ordering an immediate evacuation in a one-mile by two-mile area surrounding East Palestine which includes parts of both Ohio and Pennsylvania.
The vinyl chloride contents of five rail cars are currently unstable and could potentially explode, causing deadly disbursement of shrapnel and toxic fumes. To alleviate the risk of uncontrollable shrapnel from an explosion, Norfolk Southern Railroad is planning a controlled release of the vinyl chloride at approximately 3:30 p.m. today.
According to Norfolk Southern Railroad, the controlled release process involves the burning of the rail cars’ chemicals, which will release fumes into the air that can be deadly if inhaled. Based on current weather patterns and the expected flow of the smoke and fumes, anyone who remains in the red affected area is facing grave danger of death. Anyone who remains in the yellow impacted area is at a high risk of severe injury, including skin burns and serious lung damage.
In Ohio, the areas at risk include eastern East Palestine, including Parker, South Pleasant, BFI Access Road, Taggart Street, North Pleasant Road, Failor Road, and East Martin, east of Pleasant. Those who need help evacuating the area should call 330-457-0733 or 330-457-2455. According to the Columbiana County Sheriff, those with children in their homes who decline to evacuate may be subject to arrest.
In Pennsylvania, anyone needing assistance should call the State Police Beaver Station at 724-773-7400. Anyone in the area in need of information regarding the evacuation and shelter in place orders should call Beaver County Emergency Services at 724-775-0880.
It is believed that most individuals have already left the impacted areas, but law enforcement in both states are currently working to ensure that all individuals have left the vicinity prior to the controlled release. Depending on the exact amount of material currently inside the rail cars, the railroad estimates that the controlled release of chemicals could burn for 1 to 3 hours. It is unknown when residents will be able to return to their homes but an announcement will be made when it is safe to return.
Joe Lyons •
February 16, 2023
(EAST PALESTINE, Ohio) — The following is a status update regarding water testing results in East Palestine as of 3 p.m. on Wednesday, February 15, 2023.
(LISBON, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost today announced that the criminal charges filed against NewsNation reporter Evan Lambert have been dismissed.
