Federal Environmental Protection Agency under scrutiny for alleged manipulation of soil examination results following East Palestine catastrophe
In February 2023, a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, spilling and burning hazardous chemicals, including vinyl chloride. The incident has since been under scrutiny, with credible allegations emerging that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) manipulated soil testing data to downplay environmental contamination.
According to the Government Accountability Project (GAP), a watchdog nonprofit, the EPA worked with Norfolk Southern to alter soil sampling methods. A letter obtained by GAP through the Freedom of Information Act shows that on March 7, 2023, the EPA directed Norfolk Southern to remove certain hazardous chemicals from soil sampling lists. The EPA also collected "baseline" soil samples from locations heavily exposed to the derailment fire and chemical burn-off, which should normally come from uncontaminated areas to provide an accurate benchmark for contamination levels. Confidential whistleblowers, including former EPA contamination specialists and dioxin experts, have corroborated these claims.
These allegations suggest EPA’s involvement in efforts to minimize the perceived environmental impact from the incident and to protect Norfolk Southern from liability. The derailment released hazardous materials affecting air, ground, and water, with potential long-term health effects still being investigated. The controversy has sparked lawsuits from residents alleging wrongful deaths and health harms.
To date, Norfolk Southern and the Village of East Palestine have reached settlement agreements, but independent confirmation and official EPA responses addressing these allegations have not been detailed. Lesley Pacey, GAP’s senior environmental officer, argues that the EPA's decision ignores the complex, chaotic chemistry of high-temperature combustion of chlorinated compounds. Some of the compounds not tested for, like tetrachlorophenol and trichlorobenzenes, can be precursors of dioxins, and their presence could suggest more serious contamination.
The Alliance for Chemical Distribution is opposing the merger of Norfolk Southern with larger rival Union Pacific, arguing that prior similar rail mergers have led the chemical distribution industry's customers to pay 'increasingly high rates for unreliable and inadequate service'. The EPA, in response to these allegations, stated that they are 'very concerned' and committed to maximum transparency, conducting a thorough review of decisions made in the aftermath of the train derailment, and ensuring the health and safety of the people of East Palestine.
[1] Government Accountability Project (GAP) Press Release, "Whistleblower: EPA Colluded with Norfolk Southern to Manipulate Soil Testing Data Following East Palestine Derailment," 29 July 2023. [2] Environmental Health News, "EPA Accused of Colluding with Norfolk Southern to Manipulate Soil Testing Data After East Palestine Derailment," 29 July 2023. [3] Village of East Palestine Settlement Agreement with Norfolk Southern, 2023. [4] EPA Spokesperson Statement, "EPA Responds to Allegations of Collusion with Norfolk Southern," 30 July 2023.
- TheEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Norfolk Southern's reputations have been tarnished due to allegations of manipulating soil testing data following the East Palestine derailment, as reported by the Government Accountality Project and Environmental Health News.
- The EPA's potential involvement in minimizing the perceived environmental impact of the East Palestine derailment has raised concerns about the transparency and integrity of the agency, leading to lawsuits from affected residents and criticism from organizations like the Alliance for Chemical Distribution.
- In the realm of environmental-science, politics, business, and general-news, the East Palestine derailment and the subsequent allegations of EPA collusion have sparked a significant debate, with many questioning the agency's responsibilities toward public health and safety.
