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.

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 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.

🟢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 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

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/

https://twitter.com/thewheltongroup/status/1633122309471977472

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.

🚨 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/

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.

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:

https://twitter.com/TheWheltonGroup/status/1629669556322025474?s=20

https://twitter.com/TheWheltonGroup/status/1631329241068445697

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.

15 min into airplane boarding noticeable ventilation was turned on and you could feel the breeze.

A few minutes later 2892 ppm was the CO2 level reached then it started dropping —> 2077 —> 2067 —> …

Plane about 40% full so far. Still boarding.

https://twitter.com/TheWheltonGroup/status/1460689867487301634

Plane 100% full. Doors closed. Now sitting on tarmac. Delayed due to “small” maintenance issue.

737
Probably 162 passengers

So probably 15-20 min >2200 ppm CO2 on plane so far.

I guess I’ll keep tracking….

NEW: #Indiana considering whether to legalize 14.4 ppb #lead in drinking water for #infants and #toddlers with House Bill 1045.

Bill here: iga.in.gov/legislative/20…

My perspective provided below. There's still time to fix a bad bill and protect Indiana's children.
1/ 2/ The current bill requires #preschool and #childcare facilities to conduct drinking water testing for lead. If lead "equals or exceeds 15 parts per billion" (ppb), they must reduce the lead levels.

Testing = Good

15 ppb lead = Bad

Wow. Water utility district meeting update about #CZULightningComplex fire. Question 1: Is it safe for chemical absorption through skin? Utility says Waterboard would only allow Do Not Drink-Do Not Use order. We recommended Do Not Use order based on #TubbsFire and #CampFire Yes, a DNU order should have been issued b/c no one understands if hazardous waste scale water contam. is present. Bathing in hazardous waste level water is NOT acceptable. Why did the Waterboard not allow the utility to issue a Do Not Use order? Utility needs to change to a DNU.