US states cannot block hazardous waste from Ohio derailment -EPA
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[March 18, 2023]
By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. states cannot block shipments of hazardous
waste from a Feb. 3 Ohio train derailment to licensed disposal sites,
the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said Friday.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan's warning came after Oklahoma Governor
Kevin Stitt said earlier this week he had blocked a shipment of
hazardous waste from the derailment to a facility in his state.
The derailment of the Norfolk Southern operated train in East Palestine,
Ohio, has shone a spotlight on railroad safety as residents worry about
the health impacts of living near the toxic material.
Regan told reporters he sent letters to all states warning "any attempts
to impede interstate shipments of hazardous waste threatens the
integrity of the system." He said the Oklahoma site has a permit to
receive the waste.
The EPA said there are typically 97,000 shipments of hazardous waste in
the U.S. per month and two-thirds may cross state lines.
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Regan said he would hold Norfolk Southern accountable and demanded it
enforce its contracts to dispose of contaminated materials from the
site.
"EPA will take all actions to ensure the safe hazardous waste handing
continues across this country," he told reporters. "We expect Norfolk
Southern to execute and implements its contracts and hold contractees
accountable for receipt of this waste."
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine praised the EPA statement for making clear
states must accept shipments.
Both Regan and DeWine said there was nothing unusual about the material
from the East Palestine derailment.
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![](../images/031823PIX/news_g11.jpg)
General view of the site of the
derailment of a train carrying hazardous waste, in East Palestine,
Ohio, U.S., March 2, 2023. REUTERS/Alan Freed
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"It's kind of crazy because what we're sending from here is no worse
than stuff they are taking every other day," DeWine told reporters.
"In fact, they are taking a lot worst stuff than we're sending
them."
Regan said to date the railroad has excavated nearly half of
contaminated soil from the tracks and transported 6.8 million
gallons of liquid waste and 5,400 tons of solid waste. Regan
estimated it would take another three months to complete the site
cleanup.
"EPA ordered Norfolk Southern to clean up the mess it made — and no
one should impede or prevent this cleanup as we return East
Palestine to the beautiful community residents know it to be," he
said.
Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw has said the railroad is fully
committed to cleaning the site and will testify next week before the
Senate Commerce Committee, his second appearance this month before
senators.
Norfolk Southern said in a statement it shares "the EPA’s urgency to
complete the remediation safely and thoroughly.... We will keep
working until the job is done."
On Tuesday, the state of Ohio sued Norfolk Southern over the
derailment that released over a million gallons of hazardous
materials and pollutants.
(Reporting by David ShepardsonEditing by Marguerita Choy, Josie Kao
and Lincoln Feast.)
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