On August 27, the Shapiro Administration announced the Department of Environmental Protection will continue to sample private drinking water wells in Pennsylvania within a one-mile radius of the derailment site over the next ten years after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency confirms Norfolk Southern’s active remediation is complete.

This commitment is included in a proposed federal consent decree between the EPA and Norfolk Southern, which includes funding for the work.

Additionally, DEP will oversee Norfolk Southern’s testing of three groundwater monitoring wells located in Pennsylvania.

While no water contamination has been found related to the derailment, the Shapiro Administration said the long-term testing plan is designed to give residents peace of mind and demonstrate the Commonwealth’s commitment to remaining on the ground in Beaver and Lawrence counties.

Gov. Josh Shapiro and Attorney General Michelle Henry are also pushing Norfolk Southern to go further and submitted a comment on the proposed consent decree on August 2, 2024, asking for the agreement to include more expansive testing, as well as payment from the railroad for health treatment costs for those impacted, stronger monitoring provisions to expand monitoring beyond two miles out from the derailment site, and that Norfolk Southern adopt all the recommendations on rail safety from the NTSB final report on the derailment.

"Since the derailment last February [2023], my Administration has made clear that we are focused on delivering the help our communities need, protecting the health and safety of Pennsylvanians, and holding Norfolk Southern accountable," said Gov. Josh Shapiro. "We’re following through on our commitment to keep a strong DEP presence in Western Pennsylvania for at least the next ten years with independent testing for private drinking water wells to ensure there continue to be no long-term impacts from this disaster. My Administration will continue to work with our federal and local partners to support the people impacted by the derailment for as long as it is needed."

“There has not been any detection of ongoing contamination related to the derailment and subsequent controlled burn. DEP will continue to monitor the private drinking water and groundwater to make sure that if there is an issue down the road we can both alert residents and take action to address it immediately,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “We are committed to the people of western Pennsylvania that were affected by the derailment, and we are committed to ensuring that their water is safe.”

In April, the Pennsylvania Department of Health conducted a second round of Assessment of Chemical Exposure (ACE) surveys to assess the health impacts of the derailment for residents and first responders.

Results of the latest surveys are being analyzed and will be amended later this fall to the initial ACE surveys of residents and first responders which were conducted following the derailment.

Click Here for the complete announcement.

Visit PEMA’s Train Derailment Dashboard and DEP’s Ohio Train Derailment webpages for more information on Pennsylvania’s response.

NewsClips:

-- Post-Gazette: Shapiro Announces 10-Year Plan To Test Water Near Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Site

Resource Links - Norfolk Southern Derailment:

-- DEP: Interim Report On A Full Year Of Sampling Finds No Evidence Of Contamination In Western PA Related To Norfolk Southern Train Derailment   [PaEN]

-- Shapiro Announces Norfolk Southern Repaid PA Fire Departments, First Responders $1 Million  [PaEN]

-- Dept. Of Health Establishes Community-Based Health Resource Network To Provide Long-Term Assistance To Residents Impacted By Norfolk Southern Train Derailment  [PaEN]

-- House Passes Bipartisan Legislation To Strengthen Rail Safety After Norfolk Southern Train Derailment  [PaEN]  [No PA Senate Action]

-- NTSB: Failed Wheel Bearing Caused Norfolk Southern Train Derailment; Decision To Vent And Burn Hazmat Tank Cars ‘Unnecessary’

-- PA Senate Hearing: Norfolk Southern CEO: Ignition Of Rail Cars Following Ohio Trainwreck Was A 'Success'   [PaEN]

[Posted: August 27, 2024]

9/2/2024