The Allegheny Front

A former EPA administrator is calling the agency's response to the train derailment in East Palestine too weak. Questions are being asked about the cleanup and testing of the creeks polluted by the derailment. Some researchers say Ohio EPA isn't testing surface water for enough chemicals. Also, trout season is nearly here, with opening day on April 1. We catch up with officials stocking a local lake with some of the 3 million trout that will be released throughout Pennsylvania this year.   

Spring starts on March 20, but for many places, spring has been here for a while. How does that impact nature?  We have the story of one family in East Palestine who isn't sure if their home or water is safe. We talk with U.S. EPA's onsite coordinator there, who breaks down how the government is monitoring chemical pollution. We have news about U.S. Steel, Shell's ethane cracker, and proposed federal rules for PFAS in drinking water.

People in East Palestine want to know if their homes are polluted by long-lasting chemicals called dioxins from the train derailment last month. We'll also hear from residents near the derailment site who are finding the investments they've made in their homes are worth a lot less after the crash. Plus, an environmental group is trying to stop the U.S. Forest Service from clear cutting a section of national forest to promote the growth of white oak trees.

We have updates on the train derailment in East Palestine, where many people are deeply skeptical of officials who say it is safe to return to their homes. Meanwhile, Republican politicians are walking a fine line in East Palestine: showing concern for residents without being seen as liberal environmentalists. EPA orders Norfolk Southern to test for dioxins. Plus, the Bearded Ladies Cabaret tackles climate change with a comedy show in drag, on ice.

We discuss what we know about air and water issues in the aftermath of the train derailment in Ohio. We also have reactions to a government report that finds many conventional oil and gas drillers in Pennsylvania aren't following regulations. Plus, lead from bullets is showing up in birds of prey. We'll hear about solutions to the problem. 

Can new recycling technologies that break plastics down into their chemical components save us from the plastic waste crisis? We talk with an environmental reporter about a new government study. Also, the North Country National Scenic Trail has only about 20 known hikers who have trekked the entire 4,800 miles through eight states, including Pennsylvania. But in the farm country of northwestern Ohio, one more name is about to be added to the list.

One stop for some birds migrating south from Pennsylvania is the cloud forest in Costa Rica. But the cool, misty mountains are getting warmer and drier. Plus, closer to home, birders and naturalists oppose a new development next to a wetland in Huntington County. And, January is National Radon Action month, and that means it's time to test your home for the radioactive, cancer-causing gas.

An electric heat pump can reduce the carbon footprint of your home. We look at the pros and cons of this climate solution. The National Weather Service wants the public to become "river ice spotters" to help monitor for ice jams on area rivers. Plus, Frick Park has a new resident: Castor the beaver. We have news about new PFAS standards for drinking water in Pennsylvania, the Chesapeake Bay, and the new Pa. DEP secretary.