(COLUMBUS, 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.

Hazardous Waste Removal

According to the Ohio EPA, approximately 12.1 million gallons of liquid wastewater have been hauled out of East Palestine in total. There is currently a pile of approximately 11,700 tons of excavated soil waiting for removal from East Palestine, versus 25,400 tons that have been removed. 

Community Support/Stress Management

The Columbiana County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board, in partnership with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, today announced the creation of a community support meeting and stress management group to help meet the needs of residents impacted by the derailment.

The groups, which will meet weekly through June, will hold their first meetings next week. The meetings, which are supported by a portion of the $209,402 Emergency Response Grant recently awarded to Ohio by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, will help residents process stress and anxiety, develop healthy coping mechanisms, establish linkages to social supports, and rebuild community bonds.

All meetings are free and open to residents of East Palestine and surrounding communities. For more information about either meeting, residents are encouraged to call 330.424.0195.

WHAT:        Community Support Meetings 
WHEN:       Every Monday from 6:00-7:30 p.m. (starting April 17 through June 26)
WHERE:     East Palestine Memorial Library – Community Room, 309 North Market St.

WHAT:        Stress Management Group 
WHEN:       Every Tuesday from 6:00-7:30 p.m. (starting April 18 through June 20)
WHERE:     First United Presbyterian Church, 109 Rebecca St.

Plant Tissue Collection

The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s (ODA) Plant Health inspectors and staff from The Ohio State University (OSU) have finished collecting plant tissue samples from agricultural properties in the East Palestine area.

ODA and OSU started to conduct the sampling this week to address concerns of the local agricultural community following the Norfolk Southern Railroad train derailment. Tissue samples of growing crops, specifically winter wheat, pasture grass, malting barley, and forage covers were taken from 16 properties and have been sent to an OSU lab to be analyzed for a focused list of semi-volatile organic compounds.

Dog Necropsy

The Ohio Department of Agriculture's Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) released necropsy results on a deceased dog from the East Palestine area. The pet was submitted to the ADDL this week for examination. Results show no evidence of chemical toxicity as a cause of death.

If your animal has died for an unknown reason, contact your local veterinarian for further consultation and guidance. The general public cannot submit an animal or tissue sample to the ADDL without a veterinarian order.

State of Ohio Updates:

Unless an urgent update is necessary, East Palestine train derailment remediation updates from the State of Ohio will be issued only on Tuesday and Thursday of each week moving forward.

East Palestine Health Clinic

The permanent East Liverpool City Hospital East Palestine Clinic opened early this week and offers the same services as the former clinic, but will also provide traditional comprehensive primary care, including treatment, prescriptions, lab testing, and consultation with specialists where appropriate. Physicians, registered nurses, and mental health specialists will be on hand to provide services. Referrals will be made if needed.

The clinic is located at 139 North Walnut St. Regular hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 330-383-6020.