By Stephanie Elverd

Special to The Times

COLUMBIANA – One month after the Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, environmental advocate Erin Brockovich returned to the area as concerns continue to mount over possible environmental and long-term health implications over the spills and controlled burn of chemicals.

In her latest visit to the area, Brockovich held her second town hall meeting at Columbiana’s theater on Thursday, telling the crowd to stay focused on those responsible and to keep telling their stories.

“I don’t want to get lost in the politics of anything. I want to stay very focused on who did this – Norfolk Southern Railroad – and what’s happening to the people and that’s where I want to stay focused,” Brockovich said. “This is your story and people need to be talking to you. You know what you’ve experienced and you know what you’re going through. We need to hear from you. Everybody needs to hear from you.”

Brockovich and her team of other advocates, attorneys and paid experts walked the crowd through Norfolk Southern’s history of derailments, the NTSB’s report, the health ailments attributed to the chemicals that either spilled in the disaster or were released during the controlled burn and the legal process for filing lawsuits.

Attorney Mikal Watts stressed the importance of testing for residents potentially exposed to the toxic materials and water expert Robert Bowcock expressed concern with cleanup efforts being conducted by both federal agencies and those contracted by Norfolk Southern.

Brockovich expressed frustration that more than 30 years after she began her advocacy work, disasters continue to fall on small communities like East Palestine.

“We continue to have disasters like this. We continue to cut maintenance, we continue to cut infrastructure and funding,” she said. “We continue to push away oversight and regulations. We have no coverage. We have no enforcement. And then another disaster happens. I just don’t feel like we’ve made much progress.”

But regulations aside, Watts insisted the blame lies with the railroad.

“The bottom line is this, this company burned everyone. Whether or not there should have been regulations, whether you agree with Republicans or Democrats, I don’t care,” he said. “And whether certain regulations were in place or not, does not matter. Norfolk Southern had an affirmative duty to prevent the hazard of derailment and they did not do so. They are legally responsible for what happened to you.”

Residents who want more information on access to testing clinics and medical facilities equipped to screen for possible toxins can visit eastpleastinejustice.com where they can find a comprehensive list of testing locations within 50 miles of East Palestine. Residents are also encouraged to share their stories, photos and concerns.

Brockovich said she wants the people of East Palestine to know that they matter.

“I was taught the greatest and most valuable resources we have is our land to grow our food, our water, our people and our health. That’s what matters,” Brockovich said. “And we stand here in the breadbasket of America, with everybody concerned about what will be the outcome to our land, to our water, to our farms, to the food we grow, to our children and the legacy of what we want to leave and it all feels like it’s in jeopardy. Those things matter. You matter. Your stories matter. What happened to you matters.”

Stephanie Elverd can be reached at selverd@mojonews.com