Earlier this month, a train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in East Palenstine, Ohio, a town of less than 5,000 people near the border with Pennsylvania.
Hundreds of residents had to evacuate, and the danger zone mostly covered woodland and some farms. According to Ohio’s Ag Secretary, Brian Baldridge, farm animals appear to face little risk from the toxic chemicals. “To this date, there is nothing we’ve seen in the livestock community that causes any concerns,” stated in a press conference.
Industry leaders have visited the site, assessing all of the damage, including EPA Administrator, Michael Regan. He says he wants everyone to know EPA will do whatever it takes.
Today I visited the site of the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio — a terrible incident that has rightfully shaken this community to its core.
— Michael Regan, U.S. EPA (@EPAMichaelRegan) February 16, 2023
But I want residents to know: @EPA will be here as long as it takes the ensure the health and safety of this community. pic.twitter.com/xNSGduandy
Senator J.D. Vance also visited the area, and says the water is polluted. He says, “If you scrape the creek bed, it is like chemical is coming out of the ground.”
Visited a local creek in East Palestine today. These waterways are still very polluted. It’s time for Norfolk Southern to finish the cleanup. Check this video out: pic.twitter.com/4lsHBmrMJj
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) February 16, 2023
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine took to social media to give an update form East Palenstine.
East Palestine: New water testing results show no detection of contaminants in East Palestine’s municipal water system. With these test results, @OhioEPA is confident that the municipal water is safe to drink.
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) February 15, 2023
RFD-TV has reached out to Ohio Department of Agriculture, which pointed us to the Ohio EPA.
The Ohio Farm Bureau sent the following statement:
“There are obviously very real concerns about how the aftermath of the train derailment in East Palestine will impact farm families, their livestock, land and communities in the short and long term. We will continue to work closely with Governor DeWine, along with officials with the Ohio Department of Agriculture and Ohio EPA to share our members’ concerns while, at the same time, keeping our members informed with the most up-to-date information they need to navigate through this challenging situation.”
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency recently posted the latest water sample results of the Ohio River by the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, which they say did not indicate butyl acrylate detection.
See the analytical report below:
East-Palestine-Water-Data-021023.pdfTo keep up with Ohio EPA, click HERE.
Story via Philip Gruber with Lancaster Farming
