East Palestine Update – 3/3/23
Joe Lyons •
March 3, 2023
(EAST PALESTINE, Ohio)— The following are updates from the State of Ohio regarding remediation work at the site of the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Health Assessment Surveys
Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA today released the results of health assessment surveys conducted at the East Palestine Health Assessment Clinic, a partnership between the Ohio Department of Health and the Columbiana County Health District, and door-to-door visits conducted by representatives from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Residents completed the After Chemical Exposure (ACE) Community survey to provide valuable information about how they may be impacted by the train derailment. During a visit to the clinic, residents have the opportunity to complete this survey, have their vital signs taken, and be evaluated by a physician. Referrals are made for ongoing care if necessary and certified counselors are available at the clinic.
Of the 168 surveys completed, the most common symptoms reported includes headache, anxiety, coughing, fatigue/tiredness, and irritation, pain, or burning of skin.
The median age of respondents is 57 and most participants are over the age of 18 (94%).
Health Department officials use the information provided to better understand how the derailment incident may be impacting residents and determine appropriate public health response.
Next week’s clinic hours are:
Monday-Tuesday: Noon to 6 p.m.
Wednesday: Noon to 8 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The clinic is located at the First Church of Christ, 20 West Martin St. and can be reached by calling 234-564-7755 or 234-564-7888.
Track Removal Update
Ohio EPA is overseeing operations as tracks and ties are removed from the derailment site in preparation to excavate the soil underneath. Nineteen hundred feet of rail will be pulled up on both sets of tracks. The plan submitted by Norfolk Southern and agreed on by state and federal authorities overseeing the remediation process indicates the entire removal of tracks, excavation of soil, and reconstruction of the rails should be complete by April 30.
Agriculture Meeting
The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) and state agricultural experts will meet with East Palestine area farmers next week to address concerns about the upcoming planting season. Although ODA currently has no reason to believe that crops planted in soil in the area of East Palestine are not safe, Norfolk Southern is developing a soil sampling plan for residential and agricultural areas. Once finalized, the plan must be approved by the U.S. EPA.
The time and date of next week’s meeting have not yet been determined, but additional information will be provided in a future update.
New Signage
The Village of East Palestine will begin posting signs advising residents to stay out of local waterways where testing and cleaning are taking place. Residents can expect to see the “KEEP OUT” signs posted along Sulphur Run and Leslie Run near the public park, the train derailment site, and elsewhere throughout the village.
Municipal Water Open House
An open house will be held Saturday by the East Palestine municipal water system at the village’s water treatment plant. Plant employees will explain where the city’s wells are located, present ground water and source protection maps, and answer questions about the water system.
Members of the media are welcome to attend from 9:00 a.m. to 10 a.m., and residents are invited to attend from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The address is 481 Bacon Avenue, East Palestine.
All sampling of East Palestine’s municipal water wells to date have shown no contaminants associated with the derailment.
Private Well Sampling
Water sample results from private water systems of East Palestine area homes continue to show no harmful levels of contaminants.
In total, 157 private systems have been sampled. Of those, test results from 57 samples have been verified, and none have shown any harmful contaminant levels associated with the derailment.
The results can be found on the Columbiana County Health Department site at https://www.columbiana-health.org/resources/.
Residents near East Palestine who would like their private water system sampled should call 330-849-3919.
Hazardous Waste Removal
According to the Ohio EPA, approximately 3.2 million gallons of liquid wastewater have been hauled out of East Palestine in total.
Approximately 210,000 gallons have been shipped to Vickery Environmental in Vickery, Ohio, to be disposed of through deep well injection.
Approximately 1.9 million gallons have been shipped to Texas Molecular in Deer Park, Texas, to be disposed of through deep well injection.
Approximately 320,000 gallons have been hauled to Detroit Industrial Well in Romulus, Michigan to be disposed of through deep well injection.
The Ohio EPA reports that approximately 1,700 tons of solid waste have also left the derailment site.
Approximately 190 tons have been hauled to Ross Incineration Services in Grafton, Ohio, to be incinerated.
Approximately 660 tons have been hauled to Heritage Thermal Services in East Liverpool, Ohio, to be incinerated.
Approximately 440 tons have been shipped to U.S. Ecology Wayne Disposal in Belleville, Michigan, to be placed in a landfill.
Approximately 440 tons have been hauled to Heritage Environmental Services in North Roachdale, Indiana to be placed in a landfill.
Animal Necropsies
Preliminary reports on six deceased wildlife animals submitted by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory show no evidence to support chemical toxicity as a cause of death.
The four racoons, one muskrat, and one snapping turtle were found in or around Sulphur Run earlier this week. Some of the animals submitted by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources were too decomposed for lab work.
Student Services
Governor DeWine is also announcing that the Learning Aid Ohio program, which provides in-home support services for students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) to supplement the services they receive in schools, is reserving dedicated slots for children in Columbiana County who have been impacted by the Norfolk Southern train derailment. Learning Aid Ohio provides families with financial resources to cover the costs of certain in-home support services, such as tutoring, occupational therapy, or physical therapy, to help children catch up and succeed academically. Learning Aid Ohio is also always recruiting providers to support enrolled learners. For additional information on the program, families and providers can visit LearningOhio.com. Columbiana County families with questions may email learningohio@dsaco.net
Coping with Trauma
According to the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, traumatic events, such as the train derailment, can cause intense stress, anxiety, and worry, especially in the first several weeks following the event.
Local certified professionals are onsite at the East Palestine Mobile Health Clinic and are ready to assist anyone who has questions or concerns. In addition, any resident can call the Ohio CareLine at 1-800-720-9616 at any time of day for free, confidential, emotional support from a trained professional.
For more information about local behavioral health resources and providers, contact the Columbiana County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board at https://www.ccmhrsb.org/.
More Information and Previous Updates: ema.ohio.gov/eastpalestine