The Biden administration stated several federal agencies have been dispatched to East Palestine, Ohio, after a train derailment released hazardous airborne material.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials are deploying medical personnel and toxicologists to conduct public health testing and assessments, according to a White House release.
Dozens of Environmental Protection Agency personnel, including on-scene coordinators, agency scientists and regional teams are present, the White House added. EPA employees have been tasked with monitoring air quality, screening homes for contaminants, securing Norfolk Southern commitment to pay for clean up, and ensuring safe drinking water.
The air quality monitoring can detect a wide range of compounds, including volatile organic compounds, phosgene and hydrogen chloride.
EPA members have helped monitor air inside 500 homes under a voluntary screening program, according to administration officials. Neither vinyl chloride or hydrogen chloride were found in levels high enough for concern.
The EPA also has helped state and local agencies test surface and ground water to ensure safe drinking water. Testing includes surface water testing to monitor downstream impacts on the Ohio River, the White House said.
The National Transportation Safety Board with support from the U.S. Department of Transportation is leading the investigation to determine the cause of the derailment.
“The Biden Administration is mobilizing a robust, multi-agency effort to support the people of East Palestine, Ohio,” a Biden administration official told Fox News. “Since February 3, the Environmental Protection Agency has had personnel on the ground. FEMA is coordinating with the emergency operations center working closely with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency.”
The White House official claimed FEMA is not the agency best equipped to meet Ohio’s needs after the train derailment, according to the Fox News report. The official reportedly said that for that reason the administration turned down a request for disaster relief this week from Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH).
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