EAST PALESTINE — Concerns are being raised regarding the stall in the removal of contaminated soil from East Palestine following last month’s Norfolk Southern train derailment.
>>RELATED: Farmers concerned about soil after train derailment in East Palestine; DeWine weighs in
Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio EPA said the threats of future contamination and future injury cannot be eliminated until the contaminated soil is removed, according to the Governor’s spokesperson.
“While I understand the steps the U.S. EPA is taking to ensure that the waste is disposed of in a safe and proper matter, the fact that waste removal has stalled is outrageous,” said DeWine. “I’m calling on the U.S. E.P.A. and Norfolk Southern to identify and subsequently authorize more sites to take this waste immediately.”
There are least 24,000 tons of excavated soil waiting for removal from East Palestine and nearly 3,000 tons have been removed, DeWine said.
“All licensed hazardous waste facilities in the country are well equipped to dispose of this soil - and, quite frankly, much more dangerous waste - in a safe manner,” he said. “It’s time to get this process moving.”
The U.S. EPA is requiring pre-approval of disposal and transport of contaminated soil and liquids from the East Palestine derailment site.
The U.S. EPA says nearly 200,000 pounds of waste have been removed in the last day, according to a spokesperson.
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