As authorities investigate potential environmental effects of the
accident earlier this month, the governor of Ohio advised residents living
near the site of a toxic train derailment to drink bottled water on
Wednesday.
The cargo train derailment in the midwest of the United States set off a
large fire and caused the release of toxic fumes, including vinyl
chloride, a colorless gas that the National Cancer Institute of the United
States considers to be cancer-causing.
While the air quality in the town of East Palestine, where the accident
occurred, was "safe," according to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, residents
should not yet drink the water out of concern.
He told the broadcaster, "We did get a test back late yesterday of the
water in the village, and the first well that we tested, the water was
fine," urging individuals to "use bottled water." Take no chances."
He stated that additional well results were anticipated later on
Wednesday. However, the administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency, Michael Regan, informed CNN that testing results from rivers and
streams were still being collected and analyzed.
Regan stated that the agency would be able to provide the general public
with additional information "as the conditions on the ground become safe,"
and that scientists and engineers would not be placed "in danger's
way."
On February 3, a 150-car Norfolk Southern train carrying cargo from
Madison, Illinois to Conway, Pennsylvania derailed.
The National Transportation Safety Board said in a statement on Tuesday
that the incident resulted in the derailment of 38 cars, and that
following that, "a fire ensued which damaged an additional 12 cars."
The NTSB stated that eleven of the derailed cars were carrying hazardous
materials, such as vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, and other
chemicals.
As authorities assessed the threat, a number of thousand residents were
evacuated.
According to DeWine's office, the railroad controlled the release of the
chemicals to prevent an explosion. This resulted in the release of harmful
and potentially fatal fumes into the air.
The governor's office said that evacuated residents were allowed to
"safely return home" five days after the derailment, and that air
monitoring would continue in the area.
However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated a week after
the incident that the chemicals involved were "known to have been and
continue to be released to the air, surface soils, and surface
waters."
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources reported that 7.5 miles (12
kilometers) of nearby streams saw the deaths of approximately 3,500
fish.
DeWine stated that Norfolk Southern would be held accountable and would
have to "pay for everything." He also stated that there were some
individuals in East Palestine who were concerned the company would leave
before the cleanup was finished.
According to what he stated to CNN, "they are responsible for a very
serious train wreck that occurred with some very toxic material."
Therefore, we will hold them to the fire."
Wednesday, Norfolk Southern released a statement announcing that it had
provided families and businesses with $1.5 million to cover "costs related
to the evacuation."
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