Recent train derailment close to home

What You Should Know About the East Palestine Train Derailment

By Scout Duncan

Illustration by Allison Rhodes-Croy

Edited by Zackary Vaughn

Layout by Olivia Metz

On February 3rd, 2023, a Norfolk Southern train heading from Madison, Illinois, to Conway, Pennsylvania which was carrying toxic chemicals traveled through East Palestine, Ohio. Around 9pm, 38 of the 150 rail cars derailed in East Palestine, a village of 4,700 residents about 50 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. This derailment caused a fire, damaging an additional 12 cars. Not long after the derailment, 1,500 to 2,000 residents were told to evacuate. It was found that 20 rail cars had been carrying hazardous materials and that vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, ethylhexyl acrylate, and ethylene glycol monobutyl ether had been released into the air, surface soil, and surface waters.

February 8th

On February 8th, Mike DeWine, the governor of Ohio, said residents could return after air quality samples measured contaminants below levels of concern. On the same day, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said the chemical spill had affected about seven and a half miles of stream and had killed an estimated 3,500 fish. To ease concerns about contamination, Mike DeWine also released this statement in a news update on his website:

“There will be ongoing air monitoring in the area, but for those who would like air quality readings to be conducted within their homes, Norfolk Southern Railroad has hired an independent contractor to work with local law enforcement, the U.S. EPA, and state officials to take air quality samples and provide results at no charge to residents. Free testing of water from private wells in the impacted area will also be offered by the independent contractor hired by the railroad. In the interim, those with private water wells are encouraged to use bottled water, which will be supplied by Norfolk Southern. Those who remain uncomfortable returning home at this time can also request assistance with hotel expenses from the railroad.”

February 12th

On February 12th, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that it had not detected contaminants at “levels of concern” in and around East Palestine and that it had found no breaches of quality standards after testing hundreds of homes.

February 15th

At a meeting in East Palestine on February 15th, some residents described their frustration at the lack of trust in public officials and in Norfolk Southern, some said that no one had clearly communicated the scale of the disaster and the public health threat. Representatives from Norfolk Southern did not attend this meeting, which made a statement to the residents.

February 21st

On February 21st, the EPA ordered that Norfolk Southern identify and clean up contaminated soil and water, reimburse them for cleaning homes and businesses, attend public meetings, and take other measures. The EPA said that if Norfolk Southern failed to complete those actions, it would “seek to compel Norfolk Southern to pay triple the cost” of the work.

March 2nd

On March 2nd, Darrell Wilson, a senior Norfolk Southern official, attended a town meeting in East Palestine. Residents shared their frustrations and some said they were still living in hotels or experiencing health problems. The EPA instructed Norfolk Southern to test for dioxins, toxic pollutants that could have formed after the chemical burn-off.

March 14th

As of March 14th, many residents of East Palestine and surrounding areas are still in hotels or have moved temporarily out of the area. Health concerns and water quality are still a hot topic of discussion and worry. Residents are angry at the lack of support and compensation from Norfolk Southern and government resources.

- jennifer

the chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, said at a news conference in Washington on February 23rd.

Hopefully this leads to an increase in safety regulations for train companies, and we will be better prepared for a situation like this in the future, should it ever come up.