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EAST PALESTINE -- For the first time in the seven months since the February Norfolk Southern train derailment, both the Environmental Protection Agency and the railroad (through its third-party contractor Arcadis) disclosed a possible connection between the spread of contamination and the sewer systems when the Characterization Work Plan for Derailment-Area Soil was posted Monday on the EPA website.
The document, authored by Arcadis, details how and where contamination may have spread to other areas of the village, including the wetlands, parts of Park Drive, an area on Bacon Avenue, and an area inside the city park. The plan also outlines a need to "evaluate potential background contaminant sources" on indoor air quality and the risk of future groundwater contamination.
The 544-page document divides areas impacted by the derailment into five designated groups Category 1A, Category 1, Category 2, Category 3 and Category 4 to "allow use of a consistent characterization approach across each category." It also reveals a much larger area of concern than previously suggested.
Category 1A is basically ground zero -- where the cars derailed. These areas were likely impacted by the derailment and include Main Line 1, Main Line 2, the centerline (area between Main Lines 1 and 2), the North Ditch east of Pleasant Avenue, and Pleasant Avenue.
Category 1 areas are also considered likely to have been impacted by the derailment. Those areas include both car scrapping areas (where burned out and wrecked tankers were dismantled for removal), Burn Pits 1 and 2 (where the vinyl chloride was released and ignited), and areas located between burn pits such as the North Ditch. Other Category 1 areas include locations that may have absorbed chemical releases or fire-fighting water such as the South Ditch and part of the North Ditch.
Category 2 areas are areas that may have been impacted by the derailment or response efforts and where potential containment leakage may have occurred. This category includes areas where soil was stockpiled and the areas where the loading and washing of trucks were conducted. However, other Category 2 areas are further away from the derailment site. These areas include the parking area adjacent to the playground and ball field on Bacon Avenue where roll offs of sorbent material from Leslie Run remediation were stored, and an area in the park nestled between the gazebo and playing fields where 10 roll offs, two vacuum boxes and one storage tank were parked. Parts of Park Drive where Sulphur and Lesie Run connect were also included. Other areas labeled Category 2 are the underground areas beneath CeramFab, Brave Industries and the Strohecker building. The plan said those areas were known to have several drains tied together and where "product was found evident during the initial responses."
Category 3 areas are areas that have a lower probability of impact from the derailment. These areas also include parts of Park Drive where aeration equipment was used.
Category 4 areas are not currently designated but may be added if constituents of concern are discovered in nearby areas.
According to Acradis, the purpose of the work plan is "to identify and guide implementation efforts to delineate the extent of contamination for surface and subsurface soils, identify areas that may be potential long-term sources of groundwater contamination, identify potential preferential pathways, and assess potential vapor intrusion issues" and to determine if "conditions in or near preferential pathways that are known or suspected of carrying derailment materials, such as storm sewers, pose a potential risk to indoor air."
The complete copy of the plans can be viewed at epa.gov East Palestine derailment page under the document link.