CBS News reported today that a truck carrying 40,000 pounds of contaminated soil from Norfolk Southern’s East Palestine, Ohio train derailment overturned on Monday.
A representative of the State of Ohio Environmental Protection Agency said that roughly half of the soil (20,000 pounds or 10 tons) spilled along State Road 165 in Columbiana County. There were no reported injuries or environmental impacts.
The CBS News report may be viewed HERE.
My brothers and sisters, thank heavens there were no injuries or environmental impacts in this rollover; however, as a former environmental enforcement manager with the State of New Mexico Environment Department, I can’t help but wonder why – if this waste stream was a regulated hazardous waste or even a special waste with unique handling, transportation and disposal requirements – it wound be commercially transported without an enclosed container or a tightly-fitted, lined tarp (as reported in the news story) to prevent fugitive emissions and spillage.
Let’s pray that all of the responsible parties and contractors are willing to learn from any missteps in the site abatement, transport and mitigation efforts, such that future derailments and subsequent transportation mishaps are prevented.
Praise Jesus forevermore!
