What is EPA’s role?
EPA will provide oversight of the cleaning.
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The expectation is for cleaning to take less than one day. The duration will be dependent on the size of the structure and the scope of work.
While it is strongly recommended that you leave the property during the cleaning, you are not required to do so.
Basements or attics will be considered for cleaning if they are finished and habitable areas.
Acute or short-term exposure assumes that a person has been exposed to a chemical for a short period of time. Long term, also known as chronic, exposure assumes a person has been constantly exposed to a chemical for a lifetime, or approximately 70 years.
Yes. Results show that levels of dioxin and semi-volatile organic compounds are well below any levels that we would consider restricting activities, and all are either at or below typical background levels for soil in the United States. In addition, the village has cleaned all recreational equipment, including the pool…
Norfolk Southern contractors use engineering controls to reduce dust generated from cleanup activities and disturbed soil surfaces. All contaminated material leaving the derailment site is secured and tarped, and all contaminated material on site is tarped nightly. Trucks are decontaminated before they leave the site, and large water trucks are…
Yes, photos and videos of your property will be taken as a requirement of the program. This is done to ensure that the conditions of the property both pre- and post-cleaning are documented thoroughly.
Yes. You can continue to use your land as you normally would. Residential soil sampling results are within typical ranges for the area. Follow normal measures like peeling root vegetables and washing leafy greens.
Acute exposure is any contact with a substance that occurs once or for up to 14 days. Intermediate exposure is contact occurring for more than 14 days but less than one year. Chronic exposure is contact occurring for longer than one year.
Most healthy adults and children will recover quickly from smoke exposure and will not have long-lasting health effects. But people with chronic diseases, such as asthma, other lung disease, or cardiovascular disease are at greater risk of experiencing more severe health effects. Children, pregnant people, and people over 65 also…
Cleaning will be performed by workers contracted by Norfolk Southern who are trained and experienced with structure cleaning. Cleaning teams will wear the following: badges, identification clothing, safety vest, shoe covers, gloves (when appropriate for the task), and face coverings (upon request by the property owner or renter).
Based on air monitoring and sampling conducted in and around the community, there is no evidence to suggest there is contamination of concern inside structures.
There is no reason to believe that the particles in the smoke produced from the train derailment fire contain substances at levels of concern on residential, recreational, or agricultural properties. As an extra step, EPA is directing that soil sampling be conducted in areas most impacted by smoke and particles…
In addition to our overall guidance about soil use and safety, part of the soil sampling plan has been targeted toward recreational sites. If any results indicate a concern, the public will be informed. At this point, there are no concerns with outdoor activities or sports, except for inside Sulfur…