East Palestine

The Allegheny Front is covering the Norfolk Southern train derailment. We are talking with residents, examining environmental and health concerns and reporting on the latest news.

OSHA fines Norfolk Southern for worker safety violations at East Palestine chemical cleanup

Reid FrazierAugust 9, 2023

The company will have to also monitor for medical issues of workers brought in to clear and rebuild the tracks.

HealthTransportation

6 months since the East Palestine train derailment, concerns remain for health and railway safety

Julie GrantAugust 3, 2023

Residents, independent researchers and railway advocates gave the community an update at the six-month anniversary of the Norfolk Southern derailment.

HealthPollutionTransportation

People in front of the cameras at the EPA building

Ohio activists join national groups to deliver petition to EPA to ban vinyl chloride

Julie GrantJuly 28, 2023

Vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen, was vented from derailed railcars in East Palestine and burned. Very few chemicals in the U.S. have been banned.

Environmental JusticeTransportationYour Environment Update

Norfolk Southern finishes soil remediation under East Palestine train tracks

Abigail BottarJuly 7, 2023

Norfolk Southern has completed soil remediation under both tracks in East Palestine where the February train derailment took place.

PollutionTransportation

Smoke cloud from burning vinyl chloride.

NTSB hearing casts doubt on decision to vent and burn derailed Norfolk Southern train

Abigail BottarJune 23, 2023

The owner of the vinyl chloride in the railcars and an outside expert testified that the catastrophic explosion emergency responders feared was not likely.

Transportation

The public praises NTSB at a meeting ahead of hearings in East Palestine

Julie GrantJune 22, 2023

The NTSB held a public meeting ahead of two days of hearings on the train derailment and the decision to burn vinyl chloride.

TransportationYour Environment Update

EPA assures farmers that it’s safe to grow food near East Palestine train derailment

Julie GrantJune 16, 2023

The agency says the results of extensive testing for chemicals reveal nothing worrying for farmers or consumers.

Food and AgricultureHealthPollutionYour Environment Update

Dr. Arthur Chang in a church, speaking to a crowd

Officials don’t know what the long-term health impacts will be from the East Palestine derailment

Julie GrantJune 7, 2023

Residents told to see their doctors. "We may not know how to get rid of vinyl chloride from the body, but we know how to treat those cancers.”

HealthPollution

Three students stand under a tree on the school grounds

These high school students are grappling with living in the shadow of chemical pollution

Reid FrazierJune 2, 2023

Living near Shell's ethane cracker and East Palestine, one student came to a realization: "I was like, ‘Oh, wait a minute, stuff is actually serious.'"

HealthPollutionThe Coming Chemical BoomYour Environment Update

Kendall Crawford in a floral dress standing on a porch with her daughter

Three months after the East Palestine derailment, deep anxiety lingers

The Ohio NewsroomMay 16, 2023

East Palestine residents still grapple with physical and psychological impacts in the wake of the traumatic event.

HealthNewsPollutionTransportation

Full Episodes

Episode for September 22, 2023

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