Texas, Michigan Officials Say They Were Not Informed Toxic Waste From Ohio Train Derailment Could Be Sent to Their Communities

By Mary Webber First Posted: Feb 27, 2023 12:10 AM EST

Texas and Michigan officials reported that they were not informed that the toxic waste in the soil and water from the Ohio train derailment was taken to their areas.

Some officials claimed that they did not get any notice after toxic waste in water and soil from the site of the Ohio train derailment was delivered to hazardous waste companies in the two aforementioned states, according to Fox News.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Protection Agency told the media outlet that Norfolk Southern was responsible for the disposal of waste.

The EPA added that the company supplied Ohio EPA with its list of selected and utilized disposal utilities on February 23.

EPA then instructed Norfolk Southern to immediately pause the toxic waste shipments, adding that all waste disposal plans should undergo EPA review and approval moving forward.

The spokesperson said that since then, the toxic waste shipments have been postponed.

Texas and Michigan Receiving Ohio Train Derailment Toxic Waste

Harris County's chief executive said that around two million gallons of firefighting water from the train derailment site were expected to be disposed of in the county.

The official said that about half a million gallons were already there, as reported by CNN.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's spokesperson told CNN that the governor was not briefed regarding where in the country the toxic waste shipments would be sent.

The spokesperson, Daniel Tierney, added that it was typical as the train company is responsible for the transport of material, and the EPA is responsible for the regulation of the transport.

Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell said in a statement that she was not told that contaminated soil was taken to the U.S. Ecology Wayne Disposal in Belleville, Michigan.

Dingell said that they were not given heads-up on the decision and the action.

Some of the wastewater was also delivered to Texas Molecular, which injects hazardous waste into the ground for disposal, as cited by Associated Press News.

The company was reported to have experience in handling this type of waste disposal.

Ohio Train Derailment

U.S. President Joe Biden has earlier ordered federal agencies to go door-to-door in East Palestine, Ohio to check on families affected by the Ohio train derailment incident.

The president added that there were no immediate plans for him to visit the site. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump visited the site and delivered a speech to East Palestine residents.

Al Jazeera reported that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Environment Protection Agency, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency visited homes starting on Saturday, as directed by the president.

Workers of the involved agencies will be asking residents how they are doing, what the residents would need, and connecting them with appropriate resources from the government.

Officials noted that the immediate goal was to visit at least 400 homes.

Meanwhile, the Republican-led House of Representatives launched a probe into the derailment incident, which occurred on February 3.

The GOP also blamed Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for his response to the incident.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Ohio toxic train derailment: How long could impacts last? - from ABC News