FILE - In this photo taken with a drone, portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train that derailed the previous night in East Palestine, Ohio, remain on fire at mid-day, Feb. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

EAST PALESTINE — Norfolk Southern, under the direction of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recently installed additional monitoring wells east of the site of the 2023 train derailment as remediation efforts near completion.

“Installation of the enhanced monitoring network of groundwater wells has been completed as part of the approach for monitoring water and sediments within the wetlands,” Norfolk Southern reported. “Water and sediment sampling will follow per the EPA-approved work plan.”

The east end of the derailment site has garnered the most attention as of late following the detection of 2-butoxyethanol in February. Toluene, semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and dioxin were also detected east of the site but the EPA previously said those compounds “were isolated and not likely derailment-related due to extent and location.”

However, the 2-butoxyethanol — also known ethylene glycol monobutyl ether – is directly related to the rail disaster as over 25,000 gallons were released when Car 36 suffered a cracked tank head.

The EPA describes 2-butoxyethanol as a colorless liquid with a fruity odor used as a solvent in spray lacquers, enamels, varnishes and latex paints and as an ingredient in paint thinners and herbicides. Exposure to the chemical can cause irritation of the nose and eyes, headache, a metallic taste in the mouth and vomiting.

First responders and firefighters look on as Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance visit the site of a 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Rebecca Droke/Pool Photo via AP)

The condition of the wetlands and State Line Lake were often brought up by residents during the EPA informational series in the spring and summer of 2023 in bi-weekly sessions focused on soil sampling, air monitoring, private-well testing, impacts on ground and surface water, remediation efforts at the derailment site and public health. At that time, the EPA dismissed concerns of contamination in the wetlands and at State Line Lake.

However, late last year it was confirmed the wetlands were targeted for remediation.

In November, Norfolk Southern Director of Environmental Operations Chris Hunsicker said pumps had been put in place to redirect clean water around the swampy area in order to address contaminants in the wetlands.

In other remediation updates, nsmakingitright.com reports that “Taggart Street remains open to traffic and the community should anticipate periodic site-related equipment and vehicles on the road.” Air monitoring continues sitewide but will be reduced as clean-up efforts wind down.

The railroad reports that ongoing site restoration activities (equipment demobilization, backfilling, management of clean/restoration soil stockpiles, revegetation, and stormwater infrastructure construction) will continue as weather conditions allow.

This will include off-site shipment of excess restoration and reconstruction materials. Ongoing monitoring of surface water, groundwater and drinking water wells continues.

Re-assessment of Sulphur and Leslie Run is underway and will “continue as weather conditions allow and is anticipated to be completed within two weeks.”

To date, 74 million gallons of wastewater and 224,813 tons of waste soil has been removed from the village.

Regular site progress updates can be viewed at nsmakingitright.com.