EPA claims there are NO dangerous levels of chemicals in Ohio.. but why are the ... trends now
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has slammed the state's Public Utilities Commission after it claimed the toxic train that derailed in Ohio was not considered hazardous, despite the accident devastating the local area.
Residents of East Palestine, Ohio, fled the area after around 50 cars, including ten carrying hazardous materials, derailed in a fiery crash at 9pm on Friday, February 3.
Despite the evacuation order being lifted last week, locals have since questioned authorities' assurances that the area is safe.
More than 3,500 fish have been killed due to the toxic runoff, while footage of the aftermath shows plumes of toxic smoke still lingering in the area.
Some residents are also reporting persistent coughs, while farmers in the area claim their livestock are dropping dead in large numbers.
The toxic train derailed in a fiery crash on February 3, leading authorities to evacuate the surrounding East Palestine, Ohio area
A giant plume of smoke from the aftermath of the incident could be seen from miles away
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine told a press conference Tuesday that the lack of toxic classification for the train was 'absurd'
Speaking at a press conference Tuesday, DeWine gave his third update to the community following the derailment of the Norfolk-Southern train.
The governor hit out at a claim by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio that the train was not considered a high-hazardous materials train, branding the statement 'absurd'.
He said the lack of the classification meant the railroad was not required to update authorities over the toxic rail cars entering the state, as he urged Congress to take action over the issue to prevent future issues.
'Frankly, if this is true and I'm told it's true, this is absurd and we need to look at this and Congress needs to take a look at how these things are handled,' DeWine said.
'We should know when we have trains carrying hazardous material that are going through the state of Ohio.'
Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff also urged residents to get their water wells tested, adding: 'Bottled water is the right answer.'
His remarks follow numerous complaints from residents of severe side-effects after the toxic train derailment.
The train flew off the tracks as it was travelling through Ohio towards Conway, Pennsylvania from Madison, Illinois at on February 4. All homes in a one-mile area to be evacuated as toxic vinyl chloride leaked from the site.
Authorities then lit the toxic fumes on fire in a 'controlled release', sending the highly flammable and dangerous chemicals billowing into the air in a controlled environment.
The plume of smoke from the ignition was seen miles away, as more shocking footage of the after-effects of the accident has raised questions as to the safety of the area.
As residents have returned home following the evacuation, some are reporting burning sensations and persistent coughs.
Farmers in the area have also claimed that their livestock are dropping dead in large numbers, adding to the huge numbers of fish to have been killed due to the toxic runoff.
At Tuesday's press conference Tuesday, DeWine said he understood 'the anger and skepticism' from the local community following the accident.
'The impact on the community is huge, the inconvenience, the terror - I'm sure we'll see more lawsuits filed,' he said.
The EPA said Tuesday they have carried out 'robust air-quality testing' in and around the area of the crash, and confirmed they have 'not detected any levels' of chemicals that could cause harm.
The authority added they had screened 396 homes for toxicity, with none showing detections of vinyl chloride or hydrogen chloride.
Over 3,500 fish have died in the immediate area due to the toxic runoff
Locals have said numerous livestock have died following the release of the toxic fumes into the air. One resident of North Lima, over 10 miles from the derailment, said her five hens and rooster died suddenly after the hazardous cars were burned
The EPA has said it has 'not detected' any levels of toxic chemicals in the area
Locals have hit out at the response from authorities amid skepticism over the true safety of the region, with some refusing to return home as a chemical smell lingers in the area.
'Don't tell me it's safe,' Cathey Reese, who lives in Negley, Ohio — just north of East Palestine —told WPXI of Pittsburgh last week.
'Something is going on if the fish are floating in the creek.'
Another resident of North Lima, over 10 miles from the derailment, said her five hens and rooster died suddenly after the toxic cars were burned.
And Jenna Giannios, 39, a wedding photographer in nearby Boardman, said she has had a persistent cough for the past week and a half.
She
