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Air & Water Quality Testing Resources for Pennsylvanians Impacted by the East Palestine, Ohio Train Derailment

February 15, 2023

My team and I are continuing to monitor the latest developments from the Ohio train derailment, which occurred on the evening of February 3, 2023. We are also monitoring the potential long-term impacts on air & water quality in Western Pennsylvania, particularly in Lawrence County and towns near the crash site following the controlled burn of hazardous chemicals at the crash site days after the derailment.

On February 14, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advised my office that after the fire was extinguished on Feb. 8, the threat of vinyl chloride fire producing phosgene and hydrogen chloride no longer exists. U.S. EPA will continue 24-hour community air monitoring for other chemicals of concern.

Below, you will find some resources for free air & water quality testing in our area. Please scroll down for the latest updates.

  • Norfolk Southern Railroad is offering free air quality sampling & private well water quality testing in Pennsylvania via an independent contractor
    • You can request free air quality sampling & well water testing at:
      • Norfolk Southern's Family Assistance Center: 1-800-230-7049

 

  • If your home’s water has not been tested and you have concerns about the water’s quality, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has advised that you drink bottled water until the water can be tested and is safe to drink.

 

 

UPDATE: February 16, 2023

  • I participated in the Feb. 16 E.P.A. briefing with Pa. State Rep. Stephenie Scialabba (R-12). We learned that some residents have been presented with documents from Norfolk Southern Railroad during the air and water quality screening process. If you are presented with these documents, we encourage you to thoroughly review them. Our jobs as your representatives in both the state and federal governments is to protect your rights. We will continue to monitor this issue.
  • We asked the E.P.A. to provide additional resources to Pennsylvanians who are not currently receiving assistance. We understand that just 22 Pennsylvania households are currently eligible to receive assistance from Norfolk Southern due to the one-mile radius imposed around the crash site. Please check back to this page for updated information on this matter. We are working with the E.P.A. to provide a list of additional resources specifically for Pennsylvanians both inside and outside of the one-mile radius.
  • The E.P.A. is still advising residents seeking air and water quality testing to contact Norfolk Southern Railroad, whose independent contractor will provide testing. Additionally, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced that Pennsylvania will begin conducting independent water sampling in the area, notably along the Beaver River.

 

UPDATE: February 18, 2023

  • My team and I were briefed by the E.P.A. on the afternoon of February 18, 2023. We were told there are no plans to test private well water outside of the one-mile radius of the crash site at this time. The E.P.A. tells us they will consider expanding testing outside of the one-mile radius should they see chemical levels in well water spike inside the one-mile radius. Right now, they tell us well water levels inside the one-mile radius are safe.
  • Any Pennsylvanians outside of the one-mile radius who are seeking private well water testing are urged to contact the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (D.E.P.) for assistance. The number for their Northwest Pa. office, which covers Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Lawrence, Butler, and Venango counties, is 814-332-6945.