East Palestine, Ohio Train Derailment
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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 28, 2024
- With the reduced site activities in mind, Unified Command has made the decision to formally transition to a ‘Multi-Agency Coordination Group’ on June 28. This transition is typical at long-term emergency responses and signifies great progress.
- Representatives from all Unified Command organizations (EPA, Ohio EPA, Columbiana County, East Palestine, and Norfolk Southern), as well as assisting agencies, will continue to meet weekly to receive progress updates, discuss and coordinate work plans and ongoing field activities until they are completed.
- As EPA and Ohio EPA continue to have legal jurisdiction over the cleanup, sampling and monitoring work under legal instruments such as a consent decree, orders and permits, both agencies will continue to have personnel on site and will be closely involved in day-to-day activities.
- Public communications will be shared as needed instead of weekly, and a Joint Information Center will no longer be used. Information on the status of project will continue to be kept current on EPA’s website. Operational updates, including a weekly “look ahead”, will be provided by Norfolk Southern on their website.
- To assist with community safety efforts, work will be paused for the Fourth of July holiday and resume on July 5.
- Read the entire update: Updates from East Palestine, June 28, 2024 (pdf) (175 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.