Ms. Anne Vogel
Director
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency PO Box 1049
Columbus, OH 43216
The Honorable Michael S. Regan Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20460
Dear Director Vogel and Administrator Michael Regan:
We write regarding the February 3, 2023 Norfolk Southern train derailment near the Ohio- Pennsylvania border in East Palestine, Ohio and to inquire about the scope of monitoring in East Palestine and the surrounding communities. Specifically, we request additional information regarding the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA)’s and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s plans to monitor East Palestine and the surrounding area for dioxins.
We appreciate the swift responses both of your agencies have executed in response to this crisis, and for the assistance to local authorities and residents. We also appreciate the extensive air monitoring U.S. EPA has undertaken related to vinyl chloride and several known by-products that are produced when vinyl chloride burns including phosgene and hydrogen chloride. However, following our visits to East Palestine this past week where we heard directly from members of the community, we remain concerned that it does not appear that the U.S. EPA, OEPA, or Norfolk Southern is texting for dioxins.
The combustion of vinyl chloride can lead to the formation of dioxins. Dioxins are a group of compounds that are persistent environmental pollutants known to bioaccumulate in animals and humans. According to the U.S. EPA, dioxins are highly toxic, can interfere with hormones, and1 can cause cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, or damage to the immune system. We are concerned that that the burning of large volumes of vinyl chloride may have resulted in the formation of dioxins that may have been dispersed throughout the East Palestine community and potentially a much large area.