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Residents want transparency, long term testing, and an end to a one mile radius since chemicals travel, East Palestine - OH
Residents in East Palestine worry about long term effects of release of toxic chemicals into their waterways and the air in their backyards. "The bigger environmental impact here is we fish, we hunt, we grow crops.
Sunday, February 12th 2023, 10:14 PM EST
Updated:
Residents in East Palestine worry about long term effects of release of toxic chemicals into their waterways and the air in their backyards.
"The bigger environmental impact here is we fish, we hunt, we grow crops. Can we do that now? Can we go out and hunt for food for our families?
Now some families wouldn't eat in the winter if it wasn't for wildlife. I think it's a lot bigger impact than what people are realizing right now," Jami Cozza who
lives near the train derailment.
The EPA added to Vinyl Chloride and Butyl Acrylate three other chemicals released at the site of the train derailment.
Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, Ethylhexyl acrylate, and Isobutylene.
More than a week after the train disaster in East Palestine - some people living there are still smelling strong chemical odors.
The U.S. EPA states the materials released during the incident were observed and detected in samples from Sulphur Run, Leslie Run, Bull Creek, North Fork Little Bever Creek, Little Bever Creek, and the Ohio River.
Five rail car tankers of vinyl chloride were intentionally breached. The chemical was diverted into an excavated trench then burned off.
The byproducts include hydrogen chloride and phosgene.
The EPA letter states that areas of contaminated soil and free liquids were observed and potentially covered and or filled during reconstruction of the rail
line including portions of the trench/burn pit that was used for the open burn of vinyl chloride.
The EPA is giving Norfolk Southern one day to respond.
Residents in East Palestine are not only worried about the here and now but the years ahead and what effects those chemicals released into the air and water will have.
Residents want transparency and almost everyone WFMJ News talks with wants an end to the one mile radius border on who gets compensated and who
doesn't with an inconvenience fee.
Residents who live along the water ways around East Palestine are demanding transparency saying all residents here deserve it.
Jami Cozza was forced to flee her home which is around seven steps to the Sulfur Creek. She worries not just about her three year old daughter but about all children over
the short term and long term who live in East Palestine.
"She comes outside and plays in the summer. I definitely have a right to know what was on that train. You know to see that manifest, to know what chemicals are in
the creek and to know how much. they put thousands of gallons of water on that fire with City Lake right there they admitted it's in the streams but how much?," asked Jami Cozza.
Linda Murphy and so many others want to know why is there an imaginary one mile radius when potentially toxic chemicals flowed downstream and into other communities
with nothing to stop that spread.
"There was no wall in the sky. There was no wall in the waterways. It's definitely floating in the airways whatever direction it has gone in and our waterways as well," said Murphy.
"I just have concern for the water in general, horses, and people alike. There had to be quite a concentration in our local smaller waterways that is actually making an impact
on the larger waterway of the Ohio River. So obviously I've got a lot of concerns for the people locally not only now but for the future," Murphy emphasized.
on the larger waterway of the Ohio River. So obviously I've got a lot of concerns for the people locally not only now but for the future," Murphy emphasized.
She and others with well water want long term testing paid for by Norfolk Southern.
"Leslie Run was tested Monday and asks so why are the test results not posted on line for everyone to see? Why don't we know the results," ask Murphy.
She rides in Pennsylvania with friends and wants to know if the water at a well known equine trail is going to be safe for their horses to drink.
Murphy is looking for someone to bring a water buffalo to her property for her horses until her well is tested.
"We are all subjected to it and the effects are going to hit us, now or later, absolutely we are entitled to this information and we need to not be complacent.
People need to keep this in the mind at all times until we get the answers we deserve. We don't know what they tell us and that is everything," Murphy said.