TOXIC MOOD IN OHIO
Chem-derail neighbors slam EPA’s response
Residents living near the site of the East Palestine train derailment are blasting the Biden administration and the Environmental Protection Agency for their response to the crisis.
Local and federal officials have insisted tests show the air and water supply is safe to breathe and drink following the Feb. 3 incident — where authorities burned tons of hazardous chemicals to prevent an explosion — but many residents are reporting negative effects to their health and remain skeptical.
“The sentiment from the residents seems to be they’re super annoyed at how the federal government, how the Biden administration in particular is handling the situation,” said video journalist Nick Sortor.
The main chemical burned was vinyl chloride, an ingredient used to produce plastics and PVC, which has been shown to cause cancer at high levels of exposure.
“The EPA in particular won’t talk to any of the residents. I spoke with a small-business owner — their business was right in front of where the explosion was. They can’t get anything out of the EPA,” he added to Fox News’ Tucker Carlson.
Environmentalist and consumer advocate Erin Brockovich called for action, writing on Twitter: “The Biden Administration needs to get more involved in this train derailment now. We are counting on you to break the chain of administration after administration to turn a blind eye.”
Biden has yet to address the derailment, but after being called out on both sides of the aisle for his inaction, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg Tweeted: “I continue to be concerned about the impacts of the Feb 3 train derailment.”
The EPA said it has screened 459 homes and 21 drinking water wells and that it was monitoring air quality 24 hours a day. Norfolk Southern has also been providing the town with bottled water.
Evacuation orders were lifted Feb. 8 and residents returned home, but since that time people have reported feeling a burning sensation in their eyes, animals falling sick and a strong chemical odor.
Glenn Fulton, who grew up in East Palestine and now works about 3¹/₂ miles away in Unity Township, says he has started to notice he feels different when stepping outside.
“I can start feeling something in my throat and I have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and just health issues in general. I’m diabetic, I’ve got a pacemaker and I live in Columbiana, but I’m from East Palestine. I can notice a major, major difference in my breathing when I get down here,” Fulton told WKBN.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine seemed to sympathize with residents’ concern.
“If I lived in the community, I’d be angry too,” DeWine said during a news conference Tuesday.
DeWine added Wednesday the Ohio EPA, headed by Tiffani Kavalec, said there was “no detection of contaminants in East Palestine’s municipal water system,” and it was safe to drink.