🟢Back to the Area 🟢 to collect follow up samples in & around #EastPalestine #Ohio. This is our team's 4th trip to the area since mid-February. Updates will be posted below.

Also looking forward to the #science & community sharing event in the coming weeks (in the works).

1/n Image
Visited a home today along Sulfur Run.

It’s still contaminated.

After moving rocks, the PID read 2.1 ppm (not ppb) coming off the creek.

Background in air was 0-3 ppb
Contractors (paid by someone) seem to have left garbage in Sulfur Run. They didn’t clean up. You can’t tell me the sorbent pad is going to be used again.

Who is overseeing them?

#CareForThePeople ImageImage
Also saw 1 hay bale in a culvert.

Unclear what it’s purpose is in the culvert.

Contractors were using them for damming up thecontaminated creeks before. Image
When sampling Sulfur Run, Norfolk Southern contractors and EPA Region 5 EHS lead approached.

Said someone upstream was releasing water raising creek levels 1 foot quickly.

Said they warned everyone.

(Didn’t warn me, or photographer whose been in the area since the disaster) Image
Was told 2 city workers in the #EastPalestine #Ohio Municipal Building got ill while in their building. Headaches, sore throats, other issues. @OSHA_DOL what did you do for them?

Contaminated Sulfur Run flows directly under the building.

Contractors then flushed the culvert. Image
I do appreciate EPA R5 EHS person approaching me on-site.

The communication of worker safety risks (and with the public) clearly is not where it needs to be.
Walked by an aeration setup in downtown #EastPalestine and someone walked by shouted not to stand there because it’s poison.

The acrid chemical odor was in the air with a slight breeze. ImageImage
Lots of contamination remains in the Sulfur Run banks.

When disturbed, you can see it. You can’t use visual observation to know if contamination isn’t there.

2.49 ppm PID signal above that water
0-0.020 ppm in ambient air nearby

@EPA, dredging is being asked for by residents
Windows and doors for homes are sometimes less than 10 ft from the creek.

Some residents complained of headaches and odors in their house when contractors power washed the creeks and installed aerators outside their doors. Image
At #EastPalestine park there’s a odd looking surfactant like material on the surface. This might be related to the spill/fires. Image
🙏🏻Had a GREAT meeting with @EPAGreatLakes today in #EastPalestine #Ohio.

A lot of hardworking officials working on behalf of the people. They are in charge of the #disaster recovery.

We shared community concerns directly.

They have A LOT of good things in the works. Image
I’d say that “train derailment” is a PR description of the #disaster.

It was the Norfolk Southern #chemical spill and chemical #fires that caused harm.

“Train derailments” happen a lot.
Loading up for the day. The joy of research, packing ice bags at the hotel and loading/unloading coolers.

(Elevator creaked due to weight!)

Thanks to all the students who helped prep bottles, supplies, and are ready to analyze the samples when they arrive. ImageImage
Had a great experience working with Professor @lauryn_spearing @UICnews and #gradstudent Joe on their community research study for the spill and fires in #EastPalestine.

They’ll have a lot to share in the coming weeks!

#Ohio and #Pennsylvania Image

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More from @TheWheltonGroup

Jun 26, 2023
Contaminated stormwater is being stored in #EastPalestine (w/ apparent sheen) in open atmosphere 1 M gallon tanks.

USEPA claims “presence of hazardous materials” w/ DOT placards.



What are the test results?

https://t.co/E749HVcSPy

Photo: Rick Tsai, EP https://t.co/xKMdGOjUZwepa.gov/east-palestine…
wfmj.com/story/48589838…




Images collected June 23, 2023.

It’s possible that the wastewater going into the tanks does not contain any VOCs, but the apparent sheen and lack of publicly available test results indicate otherwise.

Certainly cheaper not to install a cover on two 1 MG tanks.
Mr. Tsai has been an effective eyes and ears for the disaster response and recovery.

His Facebook group “Off the Rails” is where he helps others understand what he’s seeing and hearing.

This type of self-documentation of agency actions is critical during disaster response.
Read 6 tweets
Jun 11, 2023
Amazing day in the field!

Did the 7 hour drive and put 7 hours of field work in, day 1.

Our 6th research visit to #EastPalestine #Ohio area has begun.

🧵

1/n Image
Sulfur Run, where the chemicals first entered waterways from The Norfolk Southern #disaster is practically free of water in some places.

Some places are flowing others seemingly with stagnant pools. Image
Sheen still exudes from the Sulfur Run creek banks in places where we visited.

We did see free floating sheen (not from us disturbing) after the confluence of Sulfur Run and Leslie Run.
Read 36 tweets
Mar 9, 2023
Today, at 10am EST the U.S. Senate @EPWCmte holds a hearing about the #chemicalspill #fires #disaster caused in #EastPalestine #Ohio in Room SD-406

Will officials by asked why they’re not testing for chemicals we found? Officials lack full transparency.
epw.senate.gov/public/
This isn’t a classic chemical spill. Officials set hazardous chemicals -on fire- likely creating 100s-1000s of other materials.

You have to throw the kitchen sink at the chemical screening /identification problem. They have not done that, yet.

Officials must course correct.
When you review the county drinking water well testing data they didn’t test for a number of the chemicals in the creek.

So, what was the purpose of testing? Spending that $? Telling residents water is safe?

Why did these agencies choose not to be thorough in their approach?
Read 7 tweets
Mar 4, 2023
🚨 Field Work, March 3-4, 2023 🚨

This week @PurdueAg @PurdueEngineers Prof. @caitlin_h2o, as well as students Rasul & @aliya_ehde visited the #Ohio and #Pennsylvania to sample creeks and understand "what's changed since last week".

Observations are below.

1/n
During the trip, the team collected creek water from creeks upstream of the train derailment site, including in #Pennsylvania.

They also went to several other creeks in Ohio, no "sheens" were observed there.

2/
It was pouring out....

Kudos to Professor @caitlin_h2o for leading the team...

....in the #rain! 🌧️

3/
Read 10 tweets
Mar 3, 2023
Excited to be sharing lessons learned from #American #wildfires and #disasters @imperialcollege.

Our friends in #Britain face some of the same #resilience challenges with #fire, #infrastructure, & #publichealth.

CAGB building, room 765
11.00 GMT

@NSF @WaterResearch @EPA
Thanks to Prof. @GuillermoRein @ImperialHazelab and everyone for organizing and participating in the seminar. I truly learned a lot. Some really brilliant and insightful researchers here in working on global building #fire and #wildfire challenges.
I even got to see aluminum composite burn, a material examined after the #GrenfellTowerFire.

I also learned about smoldering.

(@TheRock your name came up … in a good way)
Read 5 tweets
Mar 2, 2023
Today, I asked @OSHA_DOL to deploy #worker safety teams to evaluate past/ongoing chemical exposures to cleanup workers in #EastPalestine #Ohio.

Worker and local air monitoring should be considered.

Review our Twitter thread for images and videos: Image
Unfortunately, there are some typos. I apologize.

I'm running on 4 hours sleep, but felt it was important to get this to OSHA ASAP.
FYI @smartunionworks, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, @BMWEDIBT, @BLET, Brotherhood Railway Carmen, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, @IBEW, @TCUnionHQ, National Conference of Firemen and Oilers, @transportworker
Read 5 tweets

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