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East Palestine Update - April 20, 2023

Government and Politics

April 20, 2023

From: Ohio Governor Mike DeWine

(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.

Fish Collection A team from Ohio EPA's division of surface water completed a third day of fish collection on Wednesday from the North Fork of Little Beaver and the Lower Little Beaver Creeks. The fish tissue will help determine if there is need for fish consumption advisories in these streams.

Hazardous Waste Removal

According to the Ohio EPA, approximately 12.8 million gallons of liquid wastewater have been hauled out of East Palestine in total. There is currently a pile of approximately 6,800 tons of excavated soil waiting for removal from East Palestine, versus 31,800 tons that have been removed. 

Private Well Testing

The Ohio Department of Health, working with the Columbiana County Health District, has received verified laboratory results from 7 additional samples from private water systems as of noon Thursday. Five of those wells showed no detectable contaminants. Two wells had trace detections at levels below safe drinking-water standards. There is no evidence that these trace detections are linked to the train derailment.  In total, test results from 279 samples have been verified.

East Palestine Health Clinic

The permanent East Liverpool City Hospital East Palestine Clinic opened April 10 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.

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 once a week moving forward.