HOUSTON – Officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency say they have put a pause on the shipment of toxic waste being transported from Ohio after a massive train derailment earlier this month.
The trail derailment took place on Feb. 3, 2023, at around 8:55 p.m. Ohio officials say a total of 38 railcars on a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in the town of East Palestine.
Since then, residents in the Ohio town have had to worry about their livelihoods, as chemicals released during the derailment proved to be toxic to the environment.
This past week, Harris County officials informed the public that millions of gallons of the wastewater, which was used to fight the fire during the derailment, was headed to a Harris County company that is reportedly capable to dispose of the toxins properly.
The company, Texas Molecular, is located in Deer Park, and elected officials in our area took a stand, stating more communication should’ve been had between them and the facility, on the transportation and safety thereof.
On Saturday, officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that they are putting a pause on the transport, despite over a million and a half gallons of that toxic wastewater already being in Harris County.
Additionally, the EPA stated that disposal plans for toxic waste in the future would be subject to EPA review and approval moving forward.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said that the hold is a temporary one, intended to give the EPA enough time to review and approve the transport.
“We are in very close touch with the EPA and the Department of Transportation,” Hidalgo said. “And I think they’re being very responsive to the concerns in our community, and that’s heartening. It’s heartening for them to pause things while they come up with the next steps.”
Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s office also says she has worked intensely with the EPA for the last few days in hopes of protecting communities from toxic waste disposal.
Congresswoman Jackson Lee has worked intensely with the EPA and EPA Administrator for the last few days to protect communities from toxic waste disposal. This process of dumping toxic waste in communities without prior notice to local cities and counties has to stop.
— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) February 25, 2023
You can read the EPA’s full statement below:
“Until February 24, Norfolk Southern had been solely responsible for the disposal of waste generated by the East Palestine train derailment. The company supplied Ohio EPA with their list of selected and utilized disposal facilities on February 23.
Within 24 hours of being notified, EPA instructed Norfolk Southern to immediately pause waste shipments from the East Palestine train derailment site. Waste disposal plans, including disposal location and transportation routes for contaminated waste, will be subject to EPA review and approval moving forward. EPA will ensure that all waste is disposed of in a safe and lawful manner at EPA-certified facilities to prevent further release of hazardous substances and impacts to communities.
Background:
When EPA generates and disposes of waste under its Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) authority, EPA conducts compliance checks to ensure the facility is a CERCLA-approved facility per the Off-Site Rule (40 CFR 300.440). The Off-Site Rule requires that CERCLA wastes may only be placed in a facility operating in compliance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act or other applicable Federal or State requirements. The Off-Site Rule ensures CERCLA wastes from response actions authorized or funded under CERCLA do not contribute to present or future environmental problems by directing these wastes to facilities determined to be environmentally sound.
Under EPA’s order to Norfolk Southern, the agency may stop or redirect work if it appears likely to result in a release or threatened release of hazardous substances into the environment or poses an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health, welfare or the environment.”
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