Videos and Photos
Videos
Information Series:
Surface Water Sampling
Surface Water Sampling Program Presentation, May 11, 2023 (pdf)
Information Series:
Well Water Sampling
Private Water Well Sampling Program Presentation, May 4, 2023 (pdf)
Information Series:
Soil
Soil Sampling Presentation, April 20, 20223 (pdf) *The statistical data provided in this presentation were based on an estimated calculation of preliminary and validated sample results as of 4/17. These numbers will change as additional results are received.
Soil Sampling Results
Site Activities
What is TAGA?
What are those tanks?
This Week at E.P.
In the Moment Videos
Photo slideshows
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Backfill and restoration in the South Ditch is ongoing
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A high-powered vacuum hose is placed inside the culvert to remove sediment
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EPA checks containment booms during culvert cleanout oversight
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Crews set boom in Sulphur Run to prepare for culvert cleanout operations
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Air sampling devices are placed next to Sulphur Run during culvert cleaning
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Rolls of absorbent soft boom are one method of containment used during stream cleaning
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Vacuum trucks are placed next to Sulphur Run to collect any oil sheen generated during cleaning operations
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Vacuum trucks are placed near booms to collect oil sheen generated during stream and culvert cleanup
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The culvert underneath Liberty Street where cleaning operations are ongoing but weather dependent
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Confirmatory sampling crews collect and process a soil core, or a vertical sample of undisturbed underground soil
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A geoprobe rig is used for confirmatory subsurface soil sampling
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Groundwater is regularly sampled at the derailment site
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Sampling untreated water to confirm it can be shipped off-site as non-hazardous
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Trucks are staged to load wastewater
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A trench box is being used to prevent the collapse of the trench during excavation.
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In October, additional sheet piling was installed along the south ditch for stabilization.
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Hazardous soil is loaded for off-site disposal.
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Confirmatory soil sampling in the East Palestine Village Park.
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Car Scrapping Area 4 where, at the time of this photo, major excavation was nearing completion.
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As of the week of October 23, South ditch excavation was nearly complete.
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Tanks storing non-hazardous treated wastewater before shipping off-site for disposal.
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Portion of Car Scrapping Area 4 is excavated, cleared, and ready for backfilling
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Structure cleaning inside a resident’s home.
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Excavation behind the Ceramfab building.
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Excavated pit in Car Scrapping Area 3 awaiting sampling.
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The South Ditch area being de-watered before excavation work continues.
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This tank is part of the on-site wastewater treatment system.
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Storm water pipe removal near Car Scrapping Area 3.
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These tanks contain activated carbon, which is part of the on-site wastewater treatment system.
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This centrifuge separates solid waste from liquid wastewater in holding bins to determine whether the waste is hazardous and then disposed properly.
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Car Scrapping Area 3 from the south-side of the tracks. The small white flags indicate where samples have been taken while the pink flags indicate where samples need to be taken.
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Car Scrapping Area 4. This area was previously used to stockpile contaminated solid wastes before loading and shipping off-site. With the contaminated waste gone, the soil in Car Scrapping Area 4 will need to be excavated to remove any contamination resulting from the previous stockpiles.
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These blue frac tanks contain contaminated liquids that are staged before taken off-site for disposal. The number of frac tanks on-site has been reduced since the construction of the large blue tanks was completed.
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The large blue tanks where contaminated liquids are being staged.
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A PTR-MS (Proton Transfer Reaction – Mass Spectrometry) air monitoring van that drives around East Palestine daily to collect continuous air monitoring data.
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Installation of a culvert by the main line tracks to help control stormwater and runoff.
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Decontamination station spraying down trucks as they exit the site.
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Reinforcing the wall around the big blue lake tanks that store potentially contaminated water waste.
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Contractors labelling soil samples taken from Car Scrap Area 3 before they are sent to the laboratory for testing.
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Plastic curtains are placed downstream in Sulphur Run to capture products released during stream washing.
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Two tankers are simultaneously loaded with liquid waste.
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Martin St. is newly paved to help control dust and erosion.
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Sheet piling is installed along the south track
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Liquid waste is loaded and measured
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A weir allows sediment and dirt to settle before being pumped into the blue lake tanks for staging
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A machine drives sheet piling into the ground along the south track
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Sumps collect and pump rain and creek water from around the derailment site
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Measuring for depth in an excavated area
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A trench box is used to prevent soil from caving in while workers are sampling in narrow areas
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Sheet piling protects the integrity of the rails so the area in between the tracks can be excavated and backfilled
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Walkways are used to safely enter the north ditch for sampling
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Contaminated soil under the north track is removed in sections.
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Piping is installed to carry water from the derailment site into the large blue lake tanks
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Excavated areas under the north track are sampled to ensure all contamination is removed.
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Handheld monitors are used to screen VOC levels in excavated areas.
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Samplers log soil from the north track.
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Waste is safely secured and loaded for off-site disposal.
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Liquid waste is loaded, labeled, and logged within a secondary containment area.
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Soil is consolidated for disposal
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Staging areas for soil waste are lined with thick plastic and concrete barriers
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Contaminated heavy equipment are power washed and cleaned before leaving the derailment site
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A soil waste pile is uncovered for loading and disposal
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Excavation teams are working along the north track
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Excavation is underway along the north track
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TAGA and PTR-MS vehicles are monitoring air around the derailment site
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Bulldozers are managing soil staging piles
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Heavy equipment are managing and unloading contaminated soil
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Geoprobe teams are collecting and processing soil samples from the inactive north track
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Excavation pits are sampled to make sure contamination has been removed.
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A cleared area of the south track is backfilled with clean material and graded.
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Cleared portions of the south track are backfilled with clean material and compacted.
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EPA’s Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) is used for advanced air monitoring near the derailment site.
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Sheet piling is installed around the two blue lake tanks as a method for secondary containment. The lake tanks will temporarily stage wastewater from the derailment site while trucks transport these liquids off-site for disposal.
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All trucks undergo a wheel and undercarriage wash before leaving the derailment site.
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Air monitoring within the community.
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Photo of train in flames taken by drone.
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EPA contractors conducting air monitoring during rail excavation activities
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Aeration equipment deployed within Leslie Run
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EPA and Ohio EPA conduct water quality assessment of Leslie Run to assess conditions as part of a monitoring routine to ensure protection of surface waters
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Excavated soils from beneath the rail line are staged and covered in preparation for transportation and disposal
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U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Strike Team providing support to EPA for oversight and documentation of disposal activities
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Norfolk Southern removing contaminated soil and ballast from beneath the south rail line
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Norfolk Southern and EPA conducting soil sampling beneath the excavated rail track area.
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Waste stockpiles, prepped for offsite transportation and disposal, are covered and lined to ensure protection from wind and rain.
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NS removing contaminated soil and ballast from beneath the south rail line
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Crash site recovery operations.
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EPA Administrator Michael Regan visits the site of the train derailment with EPA on-scene coordinators.
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Norfolk Southern contractors removing a burned tank car (benzene, residual) from the crash site.
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EPA on-scene coordinators discuss EPA’s advanced air monitoring technology with Administrator Regan.
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Oil product leaking from an upside-down damaged tank car and pooling on the ground.
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Photo taken by EPA's ASPECT (Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology) system on Feb. 7, 2023.
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Photo taken by EPA's ASPECT (Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology) system on Feb. 7, 2023.
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Air monitoring equipment.
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Boom deployed at Leslie Run near Jimtown Rd.