geoff: In eastern Ohio,
residents have been on edge for
over a week following an
explosive train derailment and a
toxic chemical leak.
Evacuation orders have been
lifted and the all-clear has
been given, but in east
palest-een, a small community of
about 5000 people on the
Pennsylvania border, that has
done little to calm anxieties.
It was like something out of a
disaster movie.
A massive train derailment led
to an explosion.
Causing ominous plumes of smoke
to billow over the quiet village
of east palestine.
But it is what is in that smoke
that has residents still
concerned about returning home
.
The train, operated by Norfolk
southern, was carrying several
toxic chemicals,including the
-- used in plastic and paint
manufacturing including
carcinogenic vinyl chloride.
Residents within a one-mile
radius of the derailment were
ordered to evacuate immediately.
Resident Melissa Henry recalled
the moment she knew she had to
leave with her son.
>> It smelled like really,
really strong paint thinner. And
then his eyes turned like
bloodshot and he started
coughing.
And I was like, we are leaving.
Geoff: After a
controlled-release of the toxic
chemical, local officials
consulted the environmental
protection agency, and lifted
the evacuation order on
Wednesday.
>> We know everybody's
frustrated.
Everybody wants to be in their
homes.
We did the best we can.
The number one goal is public
safety.
Geoff: Now residents are
reluctantly returning with deep
anxiety about the lasting impact
of the chemical leak.
Linda Murphy lives roughly three
miles from the site of the train
derailment.
She is worried about what she is
seeing in waterways near her
home.
>> There were several dead fish
floating at multiple locations.
That is what we pay then, what
we drink, what we cook with.
And they could not reassure me
that the water was safe to
drink.
Geoff: Officials say the the
derailment was likely caused by
a mechanical issue with a rail
car axle.
Even though there have been no
deaths reported, there is deep
concern about the long-term
effects.
We are joined by Ohio governor
Mike dewine.
Whatcom to the newshour.
>> Thank you.
Geoff: Your office deemed it
safe for residents to return to
east Palestinian of Wednesday of
last week.
Days later, we learned the EPA
informed the railroad of several
other chemicals that were not
publicly discussed.
How can you assure people that
the area is safe when we are
still learning more about the
severity of this disaster?
Gov. Dewine: We rely on the
experts, what they tell us.
We continue to monitor the air
, we continue to monitor the
water.
The EPA continues to tell us
that it is in fact safe.
Where we have seen some traces
is in the water.
Which has gone into the Ohio
river.
Again, the experts tell us it is
such a small, small quantity,
that we really should not worry
about it.
But we are continuing to monitor
it.
In addition to that, we have
gone around to the different,
not only the public water
sources and tested all of them
and we will continue to test
them, but we have gone around to
people in that area who have
private wells and offered to
test that, those private wells
as well.
Geoff: A question about that.
Neither the railroad nor the
Ohio EPA is sure how much of
these chemicals spilled into the
soil and into the water.
As he mentioned, there are a
number of people who rely on
private wells for their drinking
water, as is the case in many
rural areas across this country.
How can you assure people their
drinking water is safe, not just
today, but moving forward?
Gov. Dewine: We are going to
continue to test it.
We have an obligation to the
people to continue to test, and
that is what we have done.
The soil itself is in the
process of being removed.
The only way you can really
clean it up is obviously a big,
massive big spell.
The only way you can clean it up
and be sure it is gone is to go
down and dig it out and remove
it.
And that's what's happening.
Geoff: Who is shouldering the
cost of that remediation?
Gov. Dewine: It's the railroad
the railroad caused this
problem, and they are the ones
who are shouldering the burden
of cleaning it up.
Geoff: Are you confide nor
folk southern can be trusted to
handle this work and cover the
costs moving forward?
Gov. Dewine: We are not taking
anyone's word for anything.
We are monitoring what they are
doing every single day.
We have people on the ground.
We are following what they are
doing.
And we are going to hold them
accountable.
That is our job.
Geoff: What is your message to
folks in east palestine and the
affected areas?
Who really are not sure what to
believe, and don't trust the
railroad, they don't trust the
help coming from the railroad,
and they don't really trust the
word of elected officials.
Gov. Dewine: We are not asking
them to trust the railroad.
We are not asking them to trust
elected officials.
What we are asking them to do is
to follow the science.
And the experts, the best
experts that we can find, are
monitoring this, they are going
to continue to monitor it, they
are going to continue to test
the water and monitor the air.
And that will continue.
We are asking them to accept
what the experts are saying, the
best people we can find, about
what is safe.
I understand people's concern.
If I lived there, I would have
concern as well.
But again, we have been very
transparent.
I have been over there several
times myself.
We have held a number of press
conferences.
We are going to continue to
publish what the tests is
finding what the test results
are.
I think by being transparent,
they being as open as we can,
that's how you engender trust
from the public.
But we don't take anything for
granted.
We are when to hold the railroad
accountable.
Geoff: Do you have any larger
concerns about rail safety,
given nor folk southern's track
record?
Gov. Dewine: Sure.
We want to see what the results
and the federal government
finishes their investigation.
They are the ones who come in
and do the analysis of why this
occurred.
Again, yes.
We certainly do.
You can't go through a situation
like we just went through and
are dealing with right now and
not be concerned.
Railroads are carrying, toxic --
carrying toxic material, and
they have a catastrophic wreck
such as this, yeah, it is very
concerning.
Geoff: Ohio governor Mike
dewine, thanks for your time.
We appreciate it.
Gov. Dewine: Thank you.