East Palestine

Many questions still remain one year after the Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, on February 3, 2023.

The Allegheny Front has been covering this disaster since it first happened along with our partners at 90.5 WESA in Pittsburgh and Ideastream Public Media in Cleveland.

Our coverage of the anniversary is supported by the Fund for Investigative Journalism, with special thanks to Pete Carey, retired Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist with the Mercury News California, for his advice and guidance.

Protestors stand behind signs that read "Safe clean jobs now" and "We bleed for your greed," among others. A Black woman stands in the middle, speaking into a microphone

Outside a coal and steel conference, residents rally against pollution

Reid FrazierNovember 9, 2023

About 30 people attended a rally organized by local environmental groups to protest outside of a conference about metallurgical coal co-sponsored by Norfolk Southern.

EnergyEnvironmental JusticeHealthPollution

a front loader is dumping soil into a large tractor trailer truck in the foreground.

Cleanup almost finished in East Palestine, EPA says

Reid FrazierOctober 26, 2023

Norfolk Southern cleared more than 165 million tons of contaminated soil and over 39 million gallons of liquid waste from the derailment site.

Pollution

Bill Sutherin sits in a pew in the church

In East Palestine, churches provide vital services as town recovers from February train derailment

Ideastream Public MediaOctober 24, 2023

Churches sprang into action after the Norfolk Southern train derailment left residents scrambling to trust the town’s water and air.

Transportation

National Academies gather East Palestine health questions to consider future research

Julie GrantOctober 20, 2023

The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine are holding sessions to hear about lingering health questions from the community, scientists and local officials.

Health

A sign welcoms visitors to East Palestine, Ohio in red lettering.

Health experts to hold online workshops looking into the impacts of the Ohio train derailment

Julie GrantOctober 12, 2023

The National Academies are convening a committee to hear from East Palestine residents and healthcare professionals to inform future research.

HealthPollution

Eight months after the East Palestine derailment, some residents wonder if they’ll ever go home

Ideastream Public MediaOctober 12, 2023

They worry about toxic chemicals, including vinyl chloride, that spilled and burned after a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed Feb. 3.

HealthPollutionTransportation

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

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