Ohio train derailment updates: Senators Brown, Vance seek additional air monitoring

Ohio’s U.S. senators sent a letter to state and federal Environmental Protection Agency officials on Saturday urging them to test for dioxins that might have been released during the Feb. 3 train derailment in East Palestine.

Neither the Ohio nor U.S. Environmental Protection Agency appear to be testing for dioxins, pollutants that are created when chemicals burn, Sens. Sherrod Brown, a Cleveland Democrat, and J.D. Vance, a Cincinnati Republican, wrote. Air and water monitoring has not returned results hazardous to humans, the agencies have said in recent days. But dioxins can linger much longer.

“According to the U.S. EPA, dioxins are highly toxic, can interfere with hormones, and can cause cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, or damage to the immune system,” the senators wrote. “We are concerned that that the burning of large volumes of vinyl chloride may have resulted in the formation of dioxins that may have been dispersed throughout the East Palestine community and potentially a much large area.”

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An eastbound Norfolk Southern Railway freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, Feb. 3, causing damage to about 50 cars, 11 of which contained hazardous materials. Vinyl chloride, a gas contained in five of the cars, was released and burned to prevent an explosion, causing toxic fumes to be released in the area.

Residents were allowed to return home last week and were told they could safely drink village water on Wednesday.

Here's what we know as of Saturday.

Donald Trump and Erin Brockovich to visit Ohio

Former President Donald Trump and environmental activist Erin Brockovich plan to visit East Palestine next week.

Trump will visit Wednesday, according to a statement sent Saturday morning. Trump took some credit for the late Friday announcement that FEMA would be sending staff to Ohio and said he hoped President Joe Biden would also be there.

“This is good news because we got them to ‘move.’ The people of East Palestine need help,” he said in the statement.

Brockovich plans to hold a town hall with residents Thursday, she said in a tweet Friday night. Brockovich is best known for investigating illnesses experienced by residents of Hinkley, California, from contaminated groundwater in the 1990s. Pacific Gas and Electric Company settled a class action lawsuit stemming from the investigation for $333 million in 1996.

“Please understand that Superman isn’t coming to make everything all better. This will likely get worse before they get better.But #eastpalastine you are not alone and we aren’t going anywhere.

Biden administration sends help including FEMA

The Biden administration on Friday said it would send more assistance to East Palestine following requests by Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio's congressional delegation.

The Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will deploy medical personnel and toxicologists to conduct public health testing and assessments. DeWine explained Friday that the train derailment and controlled burn of chemicals on board did not meet FEMA's definition.

But hours later, DeWine and FEMA Regional Administrator Thomas C. Sivak announced a FEMA senior response official and Regional Incident Management Assistance Team would be dispatched to East Palestine.

East Palestine train derailment:Water intakes to close as chemicals from East Palestine approach Cincinnati

DeWine: Chemical plume in Ohio River has dissipated

The plume of butyl acrylate – a compound used in paints, plastics and other products that leaked into the Ohio River – has “completely dissipated” according to the latest testing, DeWine said Friday.

“We do believe that there’s no reason to be concerned about water from the Ohio River and there’s never really been a reason to be concerned,” he said at a press conference.

The plume was expected to reach Cincinnati this weekend. Officials with Greater Cincinnati Water Works said water intakes would be closed off before any detectable levels of chemicals get to the city.

East Palestine derailment still not declared 'disaster'

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Cleveland Democrat, called on DeWine to declare the derailment a disaster, which would open the state to receive more federal resources. However, DeWine's office said Ohio isn't eligible for federal disaster relief because the derailment didn't cause property damage, which is part of the criteria for assistance.

What happened with the Detroit train derailment?

A Norfolk Southern train derailed near Detroit on Thursday morning, causing road closures for part of the day.

According to the Detroit Free Press, about 30 cars were derailed in Van Buren Township, Michigan, none of which were carrying hazardous materials. No injuries were reported.

Who owns Norfolk Southern Railroad?

Norfolk Southern is a subsidiary of Norfolk Southern Corp., a transportation company headquartered in Atlanta.

Alan Shaw is the CEO and president of Norfolk Southern Corp.

Norfolk Southern skipped the East Palestine town hall

Hundreds of East Palestine residents attended a meeting at East Palestine High School Wednesday evening to voice concerns and frustrations over the train derailment. But one key voice was missing: Norfolk Southern.

Mayor Trent Conaway told reporters immediately before the event that residents wouldn't get an opportunity to question the rail company involved in the incident, saying Norfolk Southern backed out of the open house meeting.

'Why are people getting sick?'East Palestine residents voice concerns; Norfolk Southern skips meeting

The mayor reiterated during the meeting that he invited Norfolk Southern "many times."

Other officials, including members of the state and federal environmental protection agencies, Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the Ohio Department of Health, and U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta, attended the meeting to try to provide some answers to residents exposed to dangerous chemicals released into the air from the derailment and through a controlled burn.

Officials explained that in some cases a smell may persist in the area but that may not mean the air is at dangerous levels. They also assured residents they can use their water.

Norfolk Southern CEO writes letter to residents

The day after Norfolk Southern representatives skipped the town hall, Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw sent a letter to residents pledging not to abandon the community.

"I know you also have questions about whether Norfolk Southern will be here to help make things right," Shaw wrote. "My simple answer is that we are here and will stay here for as long as it takes to ensure your safety and to help East Palestine recover and thrive."

At a press conference Tuesday, DeWine said he talked to the CEO of Norfolk Southern and received promises that it will stay in East Palestine until the situation is remediated.

"If they don't, we've got an attorney general that will file a lawsuit," the governor said. "They're responsible for this. They did it. The impact on this community is huge − not just the physical problem that might be caused, but the inconvenience, the terror."

Is water in Ohio contaminated?

The Ohio EPA said East Palestine residents could safely drink village water on Wednesday, according to a release issued by Gov. DeWine. The agency tested five wells that feed into East Palestine's municipal water system and no raw contaminants were detected.

Chemicals from the train cars were detected in creeks and streams near the village after the derailment, leading to the deaths of around 3,500 fish. Ohio Department of Natural Resources director Mary Mertz said Tuesday the department hasn't seen an increase in fish deaths since the first couple of days after the incident, and there are no signs of non-aquatic life being harmed.

Is there acid rain in Ohio?

Acid rain could have formed after the controlled release and burn of chemicals Feb. 6, Kevin Crist, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and the director of the Air Quality Center at Ohio University, said. If it did form and fall, it would have most likely occurred downwind of East Palestine.

Vinyl chloride in the atmosphere breaks down into hydrochloric acid, a component of acid rain.

"If in that plume you got moisture there may be a local effect on the trees and stuff in that area, but it would be gone now," Crist told The Enquirer Thursday. "I don't think acid rain is going to be an issue."

What caused the derailment?

The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating what caused the train to derail. The board said Tuesday investigators identified the rail car that initiated the derailment and have surveillance video that shows “what appears to be a wheel bearing in the final stage of overheat failure moments before the derailment.” A preliminary report is expected to be published in two weeks.

Norfolk Southern has declined to share the route the train traveled before reaching East Palestine. But the two potential routes put the train on a path through several larger cities, such as Cleveland or Mansfield.

East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment:Photos show fallout

A controlled release of toxic chemicals happened Feb. 6

During a press conference Tuesday, DeWine said he was made aware on Feb. 5 that one car containing vinyl chloride was at risk of exploding. DeWine said responders were faced with "two bad options," allow the car to explode, which could launch deadly shrapnel with a near-one-mile trajectory, or vent and burn the chemical.

DeWine said Ohio and Pennsylvania authorities communicated with Norfolk and decided to prevent the explosion. Remaining East Palestine residents were evacuated from the area, and Norfolk executed the controlled release and burn of the vinyl chloride in five cars around 4:15 p.m. on Feb. 6, creating a large plume above the village.

Both railroad mainlines were restored to service Feb. 7, Norfolk Southern said.

Authorities and Norfolk Southern have not publicly stated how much vinyl chloride was released, but a federal lawsuit filed Thursday estimates 1.1 million pounds of the chemical was spilled during the fire and derailment.

Pennsylvania governor: State will hold Norfolk Southern accountable

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro wrote a letter to Norfolk CEO Alan Shaw on Tuesday expressing his concern with the company's response after the derailment. Here are some things the governor said:

• Norfolk Southern did not immediately notify the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection nor the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency about the derailment, and the agencies instead found out independently a few hours later.

• Norfolk Southern failed to implement unified command, creating confusion and lack of awareness in the response.

• Norfolk Southern did not indicate to state and local responders that it was going to vent and burn all five cars with vinyl chloride, rather than just the one that was at risk of exploding. The company also failed to say how many cars contained hazardous chemicals.

• Norfolk Southern did not want to explore possible alternatives to venting and burning the vinyl chloride. "Norfolk Southern failed to explore all potential courses of action, including some that may have kept the rail line closed longer but could have resulted in a safer overall approach for first responders, residents and the environment," the governor wrote.

What is vinyl chloride?

Vinyl chloride is a colorless gas used to make polyvinyl chloride, the hard plastic resin in plastic products, like credit cards, car parts, PVC pipe and more. Vinyl chloride exposure is associated with an increased risk of a rare form of liver cancer as well as brain and lung cancers.

Burning it sends phosgene, a toxic gas that was used as a weapon during World War I, and hydrogen chloride into the air, which is why residents had to be evacuated. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it is continuing to monitor the air quality in East Palestine following the release.

What chemicals were on the train in Ohio?

The rail cars contained vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, ethylhexyl acrylate, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and isobutylene, the EPA said in a letter to Norfolk Southern Feb. 10.

Norfolk Southern shared its remediation plan on Monday

Norfolk Southern issued its remediation plan to the Ohio EPA on Monday. On Wednesday, the company said it has:

• Completed more than 400 in-home air tests, none of which have yielded concerning results.

• Implemented an outdoor air-monitoring programin East Palestine and the broader region.

• Is actively sampling the village's drinking water supply.

• Has distributed over $1.5 million in direct financial assistance to more than 1,000 affected families.

• Established a $1 million fund for the community for immediate use.

Was anyone injured in East Palestine?

No injuries to the train crew, first responders or community members have been reported, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

A look at the data:How often do train wrecks spill hazardous chemicals into neighborhoods?

Where is East Palestine, Ohio?

The village of East Palestine, Ohio, is about 50 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and about 21 miles south of Youngstown, Ohio. It is part of Columbiana County.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Donald Trump, Erin Brockovich to visit East Palestine | Latest updates