EAST PALESTINE — Norfolk Southern, under the direction of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, recently installed additional monitoring wells east of the site of the 2023 train derailment as remediation efforts near completion on East Taggart Street behind Ceramfab to Pennsylvania’s state line.

“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 said. “Water and sediment sampling will follow per the EPA-approved work plan.”

The east end of the derailment site has garnered the most attention lately after the detection of 2-butoxyethanol in February. Toluene, semivolatile organic compounds SVOCs, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances PFAS and dioxin also were 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 as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether — is directly related to the rail disaster as more than 25,000 gallons of ethylene glycol monobutyl ether was released during the derailment 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.

The condition of the wetlands and State Line Lake were often brought up by residents during the EPA informational series that took place in the spring and summer of 2023 in biweekly 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. During those sessions, the EPA dismissed concerns of contamination in the wetlands and at Stateline Lake.

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

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

In other remediation updates, Nsmakingright.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 cleanup efforts wind down. The railroad reports that ongoing site restoration activities (equipment demobilization, back filling, 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 per the schedules defined in the associated work plans.

Reassessment (sheen surveys, sediment, and water sampling) 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 have been removed from the village.

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