Toxic gases connected to Ohio train derailment cause concern
The Village of Plymouth is now accepting applications for the swimming pool. We are currently looking for a pool manager, assistant manager, and lifeguards. Guards already licensed are preferred, but not required. You must be 15 years old to obtain your license. The Village of Plymouth is an equal opportunity employer. Applications may be obtained online at www.plymouthoh.org under ìvillage Jobsî or picked up at the Village Office, 48 W. Broadway, Plymouth and returned there no later than March 10, 2023.
LEGAL NOTICE
THE 2022 ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE C B & S JOINT FIRE DISTRICT IS COMPLETE AND AVAILABLE. FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THIS REPORT CALL THE FISCAL OFFICER, LAURA BURRER AT 419-896-3966.
2-2-2023, 2-9-2023
Public Notice
JOINT NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS
February 9, 2023
The City of Shelby
43 W. Main St.
Shelby, OH 44875 419-347-5131 and
The Richland County Commissioners
50 Park Avenue East Mansfield, OH 44902
(419) 774-5550
To All Interested Agencies, Groups, and Individuals: On or about, but not before, February 17, 2023, the City of Shelby and the Richland County Commissioners will submit a request to the State of Ohio for the release of Federal funds under Section 104 (g) of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended;
LEGAL NOTICE
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Section 288 of Title II of the Cranston Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act (NAHA), as amended; and/or Title IV of the Stewart B. Mckinney Homeless Assistance Act, as amended; to be used for the following project(s):
Project Name: PY2022 Shelby CHIP Program
Source of Federal Funds: HOME and CDBG Funds, as well as Richland County HOME & CDBG Housing Program Income funds and City of Shelby HOME & CDBG Housing Program Income funds Project Description: Private Owner Home Rehabilitation and Home/building Repair Multi-year Project with Completion Date of April 30, 2025 Location: Richland County excluding the City of Mansfield Estimated Cost of Project: $723,700
The activities proposed are categorically excluded under U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations at 24 CFR Part 58 from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for the project(s) is available for review on Richland Countyís website at www.richlandcountyoh.gov and at The City of Shelbyís website at www.shelbycity.oh.gov The ERR may also be provided upon request electronically via email. Please submit your request by U.S. mail to The Richland County Commissioners, 50 Park Ave. East, Mansfield, OH 44902 or The City of Shelby, 43 W. Main St., Shelby, OH 44875 or by email to (steveschag@shelbycity.oh.gov ) or (cmears@richlandcountyoh.us ) .
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the Richland County Commissioners or the City of Shelby by U.S. mail or email at the addresses above. All comments received before February 17, 2023 will be considered by the Richland County Commissioners and the City of Shelby prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.
ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION
The Richland County Commissioners and the City of Shelby certify to the State of Ohio that Cliff Mears, Chairperson of the Richland County Commissioners and Steven L Schag, Mayor of Shelby in their respective capacity as Chairman of Richland County Commissioners and Mayor of Shelby consent to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. The State of Ohioís approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the Richland County Commissioners and the City of Shelby to use Program funds. OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS
The State of Ohio will accept objections to its release of funds and the Richland County Commissioners and City of Shelbyís certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date February 20, 2023 or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the Richland County Commissioners or the City of Shelby; (b) the
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Richland County Commissioners or the City of Shelby has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by the State of Ohio; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to Ohio Department of Development, Office of Community Development at Ocd@development.ohio.gov. Potential objectors should contact the State of Ohio to verify the actual last day of the objection period.
Cliff Mears, Chairman of the Richland County Commissioners
Steven L. Schag, Mayor of the City of Shelby
02-09-2023
Days after crews released and burned toxic chemicals transported by a wrecked train in Ohio, residents remain concerned about the toxic substances that could be lingering in their evacuated neighborhoods.
About 50 cars, including 10 carrying hazardous materials, derailed in a fiery crash Friday in East Palestine, according to rail operator Norfolk Southern and the National Transportation Safety Board. Vinyl chloride was slowly released into the air Monday from five of those cars before crews ignited it to get rid of the highly flammable, toxic chemicals in a controlled environment, creating a dark plume of smoke.
Residents in the immediate area there and nearby in Pennsylvania were evacuated beforehand because of health risks from the fumes and can't yet return Wednesday, as the impact of burning vinyl chloride is a concern.
WHAT IS VINYL CHLORIDE?
The gas is used to make the polyvinyl chloride hard plastic resin in plastic products. It is found in products such as credit cards, furniture and car parts, but is most notably used in PVC plastic piping, a common material for plumbing.
IS IT DANGEROUS?
Vinyl chloride is associated with increased risk of liver cancer and other cancers, according to the federal government's National Cancer Institute.
The effect was studied in PVC pipe makers, who breathed in vinyl chloride and developed rare liver cancers, said Ruth Lunn, who studies carcinogens at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
"If you worked longer, you had a higher risk, and if your exposure levels were high, you had a higher risk," Lunn said.
Vinyl chloride is dozens of times less toxic per molecule than the U.s.-banned insecticide DDT but more dangerous per part than ammonia and natural gas, according to federal regulations that dictate acceptable levels in the air.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT BURNS?
Officials warned the controlled burn would send phosgene and hydrogen chloride into the air. Phosgene is a highly toxic, colorless gas with a strong odor that can cause vomiting and breathing trouble and was used as a weapon in World War I.
Phosgene is considered safe at 0.1 parts per million during an eight-hour exposure, or 0.2 ppm for a 15-minute exposure. The eight-hour exposure threshold would have to be even lower when measuring inside people's homes, where residents often spend more than eight consecutive hours.
Hydrogen chloride is a colorless to yellowish gas with a strong odor and its primarily effect on humans is skin, eye, nose and throat irritation. It is considered safe at 5 ppm for an eighthour exposure.
Neil Donahue, a professor chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University in nearby Pittsburgh, said he worries that the burning could have formed dioxins, which are created from burning chlorinated carbon materials.
"Vinyl chloride is bad, dioxins are worse as carcinogens and that comes from burning," Donahue said.
Dioxins are a group of persistent environmental pollutants that last in the ground and body for years and have been one of the major environmental problems and controversies in the United States.
Dr. Lynn Goldman, dean of George Washington University's School of Public Health, agrees this is a possible risk, but is more concerned about uncombusted vinyl chloride vapors that could be lurking in the immediate vicinity.
"Until there has been a thorough assessment, the soot as well as any other materials should in my opinion be treated as contaminated by vinyl chloride and/or dioxins or other contaminants until proven otherwise," she said.
WHAT IS MONITORED?
BEING
James Justice of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said a network of air station monitors inside and outside the evacuation zone was collecting samples and that none of their readings found anything to be concerned about. "We want to make sure that's not going to change," he said.
Justice said the agency is still working with experts to determine safe levels for various gases before reopening the evacuation zone. The incident response team did not specify what substances they are monitoring.
The gases that experts suspect are in the area are heavier than air, which means they could be sitting in low-lying areas if not completely dissipated.
National Guard members wearing protective gear are taking readings inside homes, basements and businesses, Major General John Harris Jr. said.
The EPA also sampled nearby rivers to determine whether there has been any water contamination and is awaiting results.
WHEN WILL THE RISK BE OVER?
Whatever chemicals are in the air, gases largely dissipate fairly rapidly when out in the open, said George Gray, a public health professor at George Washington University. "Sunlight can change that, the movement of air can change that, temperature can change that," Gray said.
Residents are concerned about long-term effects of low-grade exposure.
"There's all that smoke and all those chemicals in there," said Mason Shields, who lives in East Palestine and visited an aid center outside the evacuation zone. "I'm wondering if it's even going to be safe for people to return within the next week or month or however long."