Here are highlights of Pennsylvania state government actions related to the Ohio/PA train derailment from the week of February 27.

Feb. 27: Shapiro Davis Administration Opening PA Health Resource Center In Beaver County Tuesday; Healthcare Providers Webinar; Door-To-Door Health Survey

On February 27, The Shapiro Administration announced the state Department of Health is opening a Health Resource Center in Darlington Township, Beaver County on Tuesday for residents of Beaver and Lawrence counties who have health concerns following the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, OH on February 3, 2023.

The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Agriculture will also be on hand at the Center to help interested residents sign up for free, independent water testing and to provide guidance on food and animal safety, respectively.

Health Center

The Department of Health is working with local leaders and healthcare providers to open the center starting Tuesday, February 28 at the Darlington Township Building, 3590 Darlington Rd., Darlington, PA 16115.

The Center will be open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and is scheduled to operate through March 10.

“Today, my Administration is taking another step to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of every Pennsylvanian affected by the Norfolk Southern train derailment,” said Gov. Shapiro. “Starting Tuesday, Pennsylvanians who are concerned about the impacts of the derailment on their health will have an additional resource to turn to, where they can talk to public health experts right in their own community from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Department of Human Services, to receive treatment should they need it. From the beginning of our response to Norfolk Southern's derailment, my Administration has worked hand-in-hand with first responders and emergency management personnel, our partners in Ohio, and the federal government to ensure our citizens in Western Pennsylvania have the resources and information they need to be safe and healthy.”

The Shapiro Administration has been working closely with leaders from both parties to help protect Pennsylvania communities affected by the Norfolk Southern train derailment — and the input and support from Sen. Elder Vogel, Sen. Camera Bartolotta, and Rep. Jim Marshall has been critical in opening this Health Resource Center.

Healthcare Providers Webinar

This week, DOH is inviting healthcare providers in the region to join an educational webinar to provide information on what they should be looking for in patients who visit their offices, and how to address any health concerns from residents affected by the derailment aftermath.

Healthcare providers, including family/primary care physicians and nurses, emergency department staff, and urgent care providers who are seeing patients with health concerns related to the derailment – and who are interested in joining the webinar – can register online here.

Door-To-Door Visits

On Sunday, February 26, DOH began partnering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to conduct door-to-door visits, starting with residents who were evacuated within the one-mile radius of the train derailment.

They are conducting Assessment of Chemical Exposure (ACE) surveys that include discussing symptoms, experiences, and concerns about the impact of the train derailment.

 If residents aren’t available, information will be provided, and clinicians will schedule a follow-up visit. The ACE surveyors are expected to reach other residents in the coming days and weeks, including residents who visit the Health Resource Center.

Air, Water Monitoring

Health, environmental, and safety officials from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and multiple federal agencies are working together to continually monitor air and water quality in the region. Monitoring has been in place since the incident began.

Pennsylvania continues to see no concerning air or water quality readings following this incident.

Two weeks ago, the Shapiro Administration announced DEP will conduct its own independent water sampling to closely monitor water contamination risks.

March 2: 200 PA Residents Impacted By Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Visit Beaver County Health Resource Center In First Two Days

On March 2, the Shapiro Administration announced the Health Resource Center, opened by the state Department of Health in Darlington Township, Beaver County on February 28, has already helped to connect 200 residents with resources and services in just the first two days.

Staff from DOH along with the Departments of Agriculture, Environmental Protection, and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency are also on site answering residents’ questions about their health, pets, farm animals, and air and water quality testing.

In the first few days, the most sought assistance has included DEP consultation, medical evaluations, general public health information and support with the Assessment of Chemical Exposure (ACE) surveys.

The Health Resource Center is open weekdays from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM through March 10 at the Darlington Township Building, 3590 Darlington Rd., Darlington, PA 16115.

Additional available services include access to health care providers from DOH, the Primary Health Network, Beaver County Behavioral Health Services, and local pastoral care services.    

Earlier this week, DOH staff, partnering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), made door-to-door visits at the 22 households within the one-mile evacuation zone to conduct ACE surveys.

Door-to-door visits will expand in the coming days and weeks. Residents who visit the Health Resource Center in Darlington will also have the opportunity to complete the survey there on site.

In the past two days, DOH preparedness and epidemiology staff, in partnership with Dr. Michael J. Lynch from the Pittsburgh Poison Center, also conducted three educational webinars for more than 580 health care providers from 17 Pennsylvania counties.

The webinars provided information about what health care providers should consider when seeing patients in their offices, and how to address the real health concerns from residents affected by the derailment aftermath.

The next phase of the health care response includes personal outreach to first responders who were on-site following the train derailment. DOH staff will be carefully assessing any symptoms, experiences, and concerns about the impact of the train derailment on their lives as emergency personnel.

Health, environmental, and safety officials from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and multiple federal agencies are working together to continually monitor air and water quality in the region.

Monitoring has been in place since the incident began, including the timing of the controlled vent and burn, the fire afterwards, and the days since.

So far, no measurements of vinyl chloride, hydrogen chloride, or phosgene have exceeded health-based thresholds for short-term exposure.

March 2: Acting Attorney General Henry Opens Complaint Hotline For Reports Related To Ohio/PA Train Derailment

On March 1, Acting Attorney General Michelle Henry ​​announced a new hotline to accept complaints from those who might be experiencing lasting impact from the Ohio/PA train derailment catastrophe.

“Pennsylvanians have a constitutional right to clean air and pure water, and I am committed to defending that right,” said Acting Attorney General Michelle Henry. “The derailment of this train, including multiple rail cars carrying hazardous materials, has the potential to impact Pennsylvania, as the site is less than one mile from the Pennsylvania border. I am thankful for the leadership of Governor Shapiro on this matter and I encourage impacted citizens to reach out to my Office to report concerns.”

The Office of Attorney General has created a hotline for citizens to call regarding the derailment. The hotline number is (724) 858-4689, citizens may also email derailment@attorneygeneral.gov,  or visit the Norfolk Southern Derailment webpage. 

March 1: Senate Committee Votes 9-1 To Issue A Subpoena To Compel CEO Of Norfolk Southern To Appear At March 8 Hearing On Train Derailment; 2nd Subpoena Expected Next Week For Documents

On March 1, the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, voted 8 to 1 to issue a subpoena to Alan Shaw, CEO of Norfolk Southern, to compel his attendance at a March 8 hearing at 9:00 a.m. on the Ohio/PA train derailment and “to remain until excused.”

The lone vote against the subpoena was Committee Vice Chair Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-Berks).  She also made a motion that was defeated to Table the subpoena until there is a list of documents the Committee would like to request from the company.

In addition, Sen. Wayne Langerholc (R-Cambria) recused himself from the votes on the subpoena because the law firm he is of-counsel with has represented Norfolk Southern, although he personally did not do any legal work directly or indirectly for the company he said.

 Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Adams), Majority Chair of the Committee, said, “Additionally, our cover letter will be requesting documents, videos, correspondence, emails, texts related to the decision that triggered this emergency response.

“We will follow up to proceed next week with additional subpoenas for those documents should Mr. Alan Shaw not be forthcoming in providing all the documents we need in our capacity for constitutional oversight,” said Sen. Mastriano.

Click Here for more.

PA Train Derailment Dashboard

The PA Emergency Management Agency has established an online dashboard where the public can find one-stop-shop information on air and water testing, health resources, cleaning services, how to get in touch with Norfolk Southern and much more. 

Related Articles:

-- Feb. 27: Shapiro Davis Administration Opening PA Health Resource Center In Beaver County Tuesday; Healthcare Providers Webinar; Door-To-Door Health Survey  [PaEN]

-- March 2:  200 PA Residents Impacted By Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Visit Beaver County Health Resource Center In First Two Days  [PaEN]

-- Senate Committee Votes 9-1 To Issue A Subpoena To Compel CEO Of Norfolk Southern To Appear At March 8 Hearing On Train Derailment; 2nd Subpoena Expected Next Week For Documents  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Pennsylvania State Actions On Ohio/PA Train Derailment - Week Of Feb. 27  [PaEN]

-- Feb. 27: Shapiro Davis Administration Opening PA Health Resource Center In Beaver County Tuesday; Healthcare Providers Webinar; Door-To-Door Health Survey  [PaEN]

-- Acting Attorney General Henry Opens Complaint Hotline For Reports Related To Ohio/PA Train Derailment  [PaEN]

-- March 2:  200 PA Residents Impacted By Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Visit Beaver County Health Resource Center In First Two Days  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Hundreds Of PA Residents Turn To Beaver County Resource Center Near Train Derailment Site For Help

-- TribLive: PA Residents Seek Answers To Train Derailment-Related Questions At Beaver County Clinic

-- Post-Gazette: PA Residents Worried About Ohio/PA Train Derailment Flocking To Beaver County Health Center

-- Inquirer: We Sat Down With Gov. Shapiro To Talk About His First Month, First Budget, Train Derailment, Here Are Our Takeaways

-- PennLive: DEP To Spend Week Testing Well Water Samples Collected Within Mile Of Train Derailment

-- PennLive: Are You Drinking Bottled Water Sourced Near Ohio/PA Train Derailment? How To Tell [No Reason To Freak Out If You’ve Been Drinking It]

-- NextPittsburgh: Pittsburgh Scientists Answer Questions On Ohio/PA Train Derailment; Experts Agreed That Pittsburghers Are Probably Safe, But Maybe Not Residents In Beaver, Butler Counties

-- TribLive: Carnegie Mellon Air Quality Data Shows Levels Of One Chemical Of ‘Potential Concern’ From Ohio Train Derailment Site

-- WESA: CMU Researchers Find High Levels Of A Hazardous Chemical Acrolein Weeks After Ohio/PA Train Derailment [Acrolein Also Used In Fracking Fluids And To Treat Shale Gas Drilling Impoundments]

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: PA Members Of Congress Urge Biden To Permanently Ban Rail Shipments Of LNG Natural Gas Warning Of Risk Of Explosion, Catastrophe

-- Altoona Mirror Editorial: Norfolk Southern Has Some Image Work To Repair

Resources

-- Beaver Times: Beaver Countians Near Ohio/PA Train Derailment Rush To Confirm Safe Water

-- Beaver Times: Resources Listed For Beaver Countians Near Ohio/PA Train Derailment

Senate Hearing

-- Senate Committee Votes 9-1 To Issue A Subpoena To Compel CEO Of Norfolk Southern To Appear At March 8 Hearing On Train Derailment; 2nd Subpoena Expected Next Week For Documents  [PaEN] 

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Senate Committee Votes To Subpoena Norfolk Southern CEO To March 8 Hearing

-- Post-Gazette - Ford Turner: PA Senate Committee Subpoenaed Norfolk Southern CEO In Ohio/PA Derailment Probe

-- AP: Norfolk Southern CEO To Testify In U.S. Senate March 9 About Ohio/PA Train Derailment

-- WESA: Railroad Group Defends Industry Safety Practices As PA Opens Health Center In Beaver County Near Ohio/PA Train Derailment

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: PA Senate Hearing: Federal Regulators Tie PA’s Hands On Hazmat Train Safety  [Senate Transportation Committee hearing video, testimony]

-- PennLive: PA Senate Panel Learns There’s Little State Can Do To Implement Own Railway Rules

-- Post-Gazette - Ford Turner: PA Senate Consider Issuing Subpoena To Norfolk Southern To Compel Testimony

Other NewsClips

-- EnergyWire: Is Shipping LNG Natural Gas By Rail Safe?

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Well At Least The Ohio/PA Train Derailment Wasn’t LNG Natural Gas

-- WESA: PA Cong. Deluzio Helped Introduce New Bill In Congress To Lower Threshold For Labeling Trains ‘High Hazard’

-- PA Capital-Star: PA’s Cong. Deluzio, California’s Khanna Look To Beef Up Regs For Toxic Trains

-- PA Capital-Star: PA’s U.S. Senators Casey, Fetterman Join Bill Aimed At Preventing Future Train Derailments

-- AP: Ohio U.S. Senators Introduce Rail Safety Bill After Fiery Crash

-- Post-Gazette: East Palestine, Ohio Provided The Life This PA Family Always Wanted, Now They Fear It’s Gone Forever Because Of The Train Derailment

-- Grist: In A Growing Petrochemical Hub, The Ohio/PA Train Derailment Triggers ‘An Uneasy Feeling’; Upper Ohio River Valley Has Been Layered In Industrial Pollution For Centuries, And Residents Are Fed Up

-- The Allegheny Front: Could Dioxins Be In The Soil After Ohio/PA Train Derailment?  Experts Weigh In

-- AP: EPA Orders Norfolk Southern To Testing For Dioxins From Train Derailment

-- Scranton Times: Locals Not Worried About Train Derailment; NE PA Emergency Responders Say They Are Prepared

-- NBCNews: Residents Near Ohio Train Derailment Site Diagnosed With Ailments Associated With Chemical Exposure, Including Bronchitis

-- TribLive/AP: Angry Ohio Residents Confront Railroad Over Health Fears

-- UnionProgress.com: Ohio Residents Plead: ‘By The Grace Of God, Please Get Our People Out Of Here’

-- WESA: East Palestine, Ohio Real Estate Market Rattled By Train Derailment, As Residents Weigh How To Respond

-- AP: Contaminated Waste Shipments From Ohio/PA Train Derailment Site Resume

-- WESA/The Allegheny Front: EPA Asks For Quicker Disposal Of Hazardous Waste From Ohio/PA Train Derailment, While Some Voice Concerns

-- WPost: Ohio/PA Train Derailment Waste Grows As EPA Struggles To Find Disposal Sites

-- The Guardian: Plan To Incinerate Soil From Ohio Train Derailment Is ‘Horrifying,’ Says Expert

-- AP/TribLive: EPA Opens Office Near Site Of Ohio Toxic Train Derailment

-- Post-Gazette: 20 Cars Of Another Norfolk Southern Cargo Train Derail In Springfield, OH

-- TribLive/AP: NTSB: Key Tank Car Part Melted After Ohio/PA Train Derailment

-- AP/TribLive: Federal Railroad Administration Urges Railroads To Reexamine Track Detectors After Ohio/PA Trail Derailment

-- USA Today: Experts Say Trains Are Becoming Less Safe: ‘Disasters Like East Palestine Will Be More And More Prevalent’

-- PA Capital-Star: Federal Railroad Administration: Over Last 10 Years, Norfolk Southern Had 163 Train Derailments, 2.9 Hazardous Material Releases Per Year

[Posted: March 4, 2023]

3/6/2023