Ohio residents are still dealing with the stench of chemicals from a train derailment and the environmental disaster that followed. Now famed activist Erin Brockovich sounds alarm on lack of transparency from state and federal officials.
Fallout from Ohio chemical train derailment keeps getting worse
Residents in and near the site of the East Palestine, Ohio, are still dealing with the stench of chemicals and sulfur after a train derailed along the Norfolk Southern Railway on February 3, 2023, carrying vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, ethylhexyl acrylate and ethylene glycol monobutyl ether.
In the wreck, 38 cars derailed, 11 of which contained hazardous materials. Another 12 cars were damaged by a fire. Hundreds of nearby residents were forced to evacuate for several days.
On February 6, crews conducted what officials called a “controlled release” of hazardous chemicals, which sent a large plume of black smoke into the air, NPR reported.
At a news conference on February 14, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said that, following a controlled release of the chemicals, members of the Ohio National Guard in protective suits were sent into the area to measure the air. No one was allowed back into the area until it was deemed safe, CBS reported.
“In fact, the monitoring showed that the air was basically what it was prior to the actual train crash,” DeWine said.
Critics say problem getting worse, public being given disinformation
Residents of East Palestine say the stench from chemicals and sulfur remains powerful, BBC reported. Many plan to leave the town.
Local and federal officials, while advising residents to drink bottled water, told people it was safe to return to the town only a couple of days after the derailment. However, environmental experts have voiced skepticism.
Erin Brockovich sounds alarm on lack of transparency from State and Federal officials
Famed consumer advocate Erin Brockovich is sounding the alarm over the train derailment and is slamming officials over a lack of transparency and making testing information public.
Brockovich was the subject of the titular Oscar-winning film Erin Brockovich, portrayed by Julia Roberts, for her environmental work in building a case against Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) involving groundwater contamination in Hinkley, California, in 1993.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this in the 30 years that I’ve done this,” says Brockovich. “The lack of information, the lack of transparency, the confusion, not actually seeing any data sets. What are you looking for? What are you not looking for?”
Brockovich says she would like the state EPA to put up test results in order for the public to know exactly what chemicals are in the air and water, Fox reported.
“I have never seen anything like this in my entire career where there is no information, almost a shutdown,” Brockovich said. “And it is frustrating.”
“It’s wrong,” Brockovich continued. “And I really am concerned about that community and the answers they’re not getting. And if we don’t give it to them, they’re never going to be able to protect their health and welfare.”
