The EPA temporarily halted the out-of-state shipments and rerouted them to certified facilities in Ohio as fallout from the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment continues as other states raise concerns.
Norfolk Southern, the rail company being held responsible for cleaning up the leak of toxic chemicals at the derailment site, was expecting to ship about two-million gallons of contaminated firefighting water to a facility in Harris County, Texas, and solid waste materials to a facility in Belleville, Michigan.
The operations were apparently being carried out without officials in both the states being notified until the Environmental Protection Agency stepped in last week.
"I know there are folks in other states who have concerns, legitimate concerns, about how this waste is being transported and how it will be disposed of. EPA will continue to work with our local, state and federal partners to use our longstanding experience and expertise in these matters to ensure the health and safety, and support the East Palestine community and to hold Norfolk Southern accountable," Debra Shore, an EPA regional administrator, said at a press conference.
In East Palestine, residents are still concerned about contaminants that have leaked into the soil and air. This week, additional wells will be drilled under the crash site to assess groundwater contamination, according to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.
A person who purchased a winning lottery ticket from a gas station in Florida has until this Monday to claim their winning prize after the ticket has gone unclaimed for several months.
President Joe Biden told a gathering of Native American nations that he would support the bid by the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, which invented lacrosse, to compete in the sport under its own flag in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Fifty-two endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles suffering from “cold stun” are rehabbing at four facilities in Florida after a flight on a private plane from the New England Aquarium in Massachusetts.
Last week's crash off the coast of Japan raised new questions about the safety of the helicopter-airplane hybrid, which has been involved in multiple fatal accidents over its relatively short time in service.
Amanda Perez, left, is comforted by fellow student Alejandro Barron following a shooting on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, campus, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)
Authorities in Oregon are investigating the deaths of two people whose bodies were found in creeks this week and the U.S. Coast Guard rescued five people from flooded areas on Tuesday.
