East Palestine, Ohio Train Derailment
-
EPA is committed to protecting the health and safety of the East Palestine, Ohio community.
EPA personnel have been on site since the onset of the train derailment, supporting local and state partners as they lead on-the-ground response efforts.
Information about Norfolk Southern's Class Action Settlement
If you have questions about the class action settlement with Norfolk Southern please contact the East Palestine Settlement Center at (833)425-3400, which has been established to assist with the process of submitting claims, or visit 191 E Rebecca Street in East Palestine. You can also visit the East Palestine Settlement website to file a claim to receive benefits from the class action settlement. The class action settlement is different from the United States’ recent settlement with Norfolk Southern. EPA issued a news release announcing the federal government’s settlement with Norfolk Southern on May 23, 2024.
Latest Update: June 7, 2024
- Public comments on the United States’ proposed settlement with Norfolk Southern will be accepted until July 1. Information on how to submit a comment is available in the Federal Register.
- Initial cleanup efforts in Leslie Run were completed this week. A full re-assessment of the streams is now underway to identify any residual oil sheening that needs to be addressed. Sulphur Run is being evaluated first, then crews will move to Leslie Run. This work will continue for several weeks.
- The return of natural water flow back into Sulphur Run continues. This return of water to the ditches results in much less water collection volume. This in turn allows for tank farm areas to be decommissioned and for final clearance sampling and restoration to be completed.
- Community members may notice soil movement activity occurring south of Taggart Street. Water storage is being reduced in that area. Following storage tank cleanout and removal, ground padding is removed, and topsoil is scraped, piled, and sampled. Once analytical data is received, the soil is shipped to an appropriate facility for final disposal. The area is then ready for final confirmation sampling.
- Read the entire update: Updates from East Palestine, Ohio, June 7, 2024 (pdf) (145.9 KB)
- EPA’s Welcome Center is open by appointment only. To make an appointment, please call EPA’s information line at 330-775-6517. Questions can also be sent to r5_eastpalestine@epa.gov.
- Read the most recent monthly East Palestine newsletter, released on May 23, 2024. View previous editions of the newsletters on this webpage.
Response Videos
Background
At about 8:55 PM ET on February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, about a quarter-mile west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania state line.
Twenty of the affected cars contained hazardous materials, including vinyl chloride, ethylene glycol, ethylhexyl acrylate, butyl acrylate and isobutylene.
More Background InformationUnified Command:
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Columbiana County Emergency Management Agency
- Village of East Palestine
- Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
- Norfolk Southern Corporation
Cooperating and Assisting Agencies include:
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Ohio Emergency Management Agency
- Ohio Department of Health
- Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
- Beaver County Emergency Management Agency
- Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
- Pennsylvania Department of Health
- Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
- Ohio Department of Agriculture
- West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
Resources for Residents
Learn more about all resources available for East Palestine area residents
- EPA Information Line: 330-775-6517
- EPA Community Welcome Center in East Palestine: 25 North Market St.,
- By appointment only
- Information Repository: East Palestine Memorial Public Library, 309 N. Market Street, East Palestine, Ohio 44413.
M-Th. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fri-Sat. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.