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.

Rail Response Training

The Division of the State Fire Marshal announced that first responders in Ohio can now register to attend rail response training sessions that focus on preparing for and responding to rail incidents involving hazardous materials.

Training will begin March 21 at the new Norfolk Southern Rail Response Training Center in Bellevue. Governor DeWine and Norfolk Southern announced the creation of the training center last week.

First responders will receive instruction covering a variety of topics related to safety and tactical response for rail emergencies during the eight-hour training sessions. These topics include:

    Safety Around the Railroad
    Understanding Rail Shipping Documents
    Tank Car Identification & Assessment
    Tank Car Valves & Fittings
    Locomotive Emergencies
    Responding to Railroad Emergencies
    AskRail Mobile App
    Response Strategies & Tactics

The free hands-on classes will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 13401 OH-4, Bellevue, Ohio. Lunch will be provided.

Supplemental Emergency Response Application

The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services has submitted an application for a federal Supplemental Emergency Response Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to meet the immediate and ongoing behavioral health needs of the East Palestine community resulting from the February 2023 train derailment.

If awarded, these funds will be used to minimize the long-term impact of the East Palestine train derailment and foster resilience by creating a positive environment and sense of belonging in the community and to expand and enhance Columbiana County’s crisis response system to ensure adequate and effective intervention in crisis or disaster situations.

Local certified professionals remain onsite at the East Palestine Mobile Health Clinic to assist anyone with immediate 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.

Plant Material, Egg, Milk Testing Update

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) and food and science experts from The Ohio State University continue to discuss testing options for plant materials and milk and egg products produced in the East Palestine area.

Research underway with the academic community and agricultural partners includes determining what food-related testing exists, if any, for the chemical compounds related to the train derailment, what laboratories offer testing, and what thresholds are acceptable for safely produced products.

ODA continues to assure Ohioans that its food supply is safe and the risk to livestock remains low following the East Palestine train derailment. If a testing method can be identified, the testing would occur out of an abundance of caution.

Hazardous Waste Removal

According to the Ohio EPA, approximately 6.4 million gallons of liquid wastewater have been hauled out of East Palestine in total. There is currently a pile of approximately 27,000 tons of excavated soil waiting for removal from East Palestine, versus 3,600 tons that have been removed.

Culvert Cleaning Near James/Taggart Streets

Independent contractors are preparing for high-pressure washing in underground culverts near James and Taggart Streets. The pressurized washing process removes contaminated sediment in the culverts that is contributing to indoor air odors in some area homes and businesses.

Private Well Testing

Water sample results from private water systems of East Palestine area homes continue to show no harmful levels of contaminants.

The Ohio Department of Health and the Columbiana County Health District received verified laboratory results from 14 additional samples from private water systems as of noon Wednesday. Eight of those wells showed no detectable contaminants. Six wells had trace detections of contaminants at levels well below safe drinking-water standards. There is no evidence that any of those trace detections are linked to the train derailment.

In total, 178 private systems have been sampled. Of those, test results from 113 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.

Community Resource Open House

The Ohio EPA and the Ohio Department of Health will join the U.S. EPA during a community open house event on Thursday, March 16, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the East Palestine school gym at 360 West Grant Street.

Health Assessment Clinic

The Ohio Department of Health’s Health Assessment Clinic in East Palestine, operating in partnership with the Columbiana County Health District, is operating on a walk-in basis. Residents should arrive at least an hour before closing to ensure there is enough time to be served.

Clinic hours for the remainder of this week are:

Thursday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The clinic is located at the First Church of Christ, 20 West Martin St. For information, call the Columbiana County Health District at 330-424-0272.