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EAST PALESTINE -- In another bipartisan gesture toward East Palestine, U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown and J.D. Vance said "voluntary public health surveillance activities are critical to understand the scope of potential health consequences" caused by last year's Norfolk Southern train derailment.
On Wednesday, the lawmakers sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to track potential health impacts in the wake of the rail disaster.
That's something those in the communities impacted have also requested.
The letter was announced in a press release from the office of Brown, D-Ohio.
"We write to you today to urge the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to utilize its full authorities to continue to support the local community and monitor and ensure affordable treatment for the potential long-term health impacts of the train derailment, and to establish a voluntary disease registry for the residents of East Palestine," the letter stated.
Brown and Vance, R-Ohio, wrote that that the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (also known as CERCLA or Superfund) grants the CDC and ATSDR the authority to establish and maintain a national registry of serious diseases and illnesses and a national registry of persons exposed to toxic substances.
The letter added that the ATSDR also has the authority in cases of public health emergencies caused by exposures to toxic substances, such as this one, to provide medical care and testing to exposed individuals, including but not limited to tissue sampling, chromosomal testing where appropriate, epidemiological studies or any other appropriate assistance.
The senators noted that the ATSDR "has experience with establishing such case registries in order to understand the prevalence and causes of certain diseases," citing the World Trade Center Health Registry as an example.
Health concerns have weighed heavy on many residents' minds since last year's derailment and chemical release.
Some have reported experiencing persistent nosebleeds, upper respiratory issues, digestive difficulties, dizziness and skin rashes, among other symptoms.
"Our offices have heard from several residents of East Palestine who are concerned about the health effects of toxic chemicals that they may have been exposed to during the derailment," the letter read. "At a recent workshop on public health priorities in East Palestine hosted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, several experts discussed the importance of establishing a disease registry to monitor and address health concerns for community members and responders following a contamination."
The request came the same week as today's planned trip by President Joe Biden to East Palestine more than a year after the derailment.
Biden has been heavily criticized for not visiting sooner and has been urged by both Brown and Vance to grant a Presidential Disaster Declaration for the village and surrounding areas requested by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine six months ago.
The senators have also come together to request the possibility of enacting Social Security Act 1181a to give people in communities impacted by derailment free medical care. The lawmakers have also jointly requested the Environmental Protection Agency study the feasibility of making a determination under the CERCLA that the rail disaster derailment in East Palestine constitutes a public health emergency.
"The residents of East Palestine deserve to know how this disaster has impacted their long-term health. We appreciate the aid and guidance that the administration has already provided to respond to the immediate health effects of the train derailment, and request your continued support to ensure long-term health monitoring for the community, including the establishment of an ATSDR registry for interested individuals," the letter said.