Environmental Safety Company (EPA) administrator Michael Regan stated on Friday that he expects the cleanup in East Palestine, Ohio, to take three months.
“We are absolutely laser focused on ensuring that Norfolk Southern cleans up this mess as quickly as possible. We are optimistic that the cleanup will be complete in three months,” Regan stated throughout a convention name on Friday.
“We will continue to be transparent. We will continue to ensure that the people of East Palestine get the protection that they deserve and that Norfolk Southern will be held accountable,” the EPA administrator added.
Regan additionally addressed governors looking for to dam hazardous waste shipments from East Palestine to amenities of their states, saying that transport contaminated soil to different states shouldn’t be “out of the ordinary,” and {that a} governor wanting to dam these shipments is “unusual.”
Environmental Safety Company Administrator Michael Regan speaks throughout a information convention in East Palestine, Ohio, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Regan introduced the company will maintain Norfolk Southern accountable for the prices of the cleanup of the Feb. 3 freight practice derailment. (AP Photograph/Matt Freed)
“I would say that the response of some states to block potential shipment of those wastes is unusual,” he stated. “We are reminding all states that any attempt to impede inter-state shipment of hazardous waste threatens the integrity of the system.”
The EPA administrator additionally famous that these similar states “routinely receive similar waste from all around the country.”
Due to this fact, the EPA is placing all states “on notice,” and the federal government company “will take all action to ensure that hazardous waste handling and disposal continues across the country,” Regan stated.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) “stated that he would block shipments from Norfolk Southern from East Palestine to the Oklahoma facility,” Regan lamented, including, “This is impermissible, and this is unacceptable.”
Regan concluded by urging the governors of different states to “not interfere” with the cleanup of East Palestine.
You may observe Alana Mastrangelo on Fb and Twitter at @ARmastrangelo, and on Instagram.
Learn the complete article here
