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.

Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) mobile laboratory bus

Researchers find high levels of hazardous chemicals weeks after East Palestine derailment

Reid FrazierMarch 3, 2023

Carnegie Mellon and Texas A&M researchers found high levels of acrolein, a chemical found in manufacturing and formed in combustion. It is considered a hazardous air pollutant.

HealthPollutionTransportation

Emotions spill over in East Palestine in contentious public meeting

Abigail BottarMarch 3, 2023

This was the first time Norfolk Southern faced the residents of East Palestine, who shouted and booed and expressed frustrations and fears.

HealthPollutionTransportation

After community pressure, EPA orders Norfolk Southern to test for dioxins

Reid FrazierMarch 2, 2023

Concerns about dioxins have been mounting since the company intentionally burned several rail cars’ worth of vinyl chloride.

PollutionTransportation

Hazardous Waste from train derailment site heads to disposal facilities in Ohio, Indiana

Julie GrantFebruary 28, 2023

Contaminated waste, including soil and liquid, is being sent to hazardous waste landfills, incinerators, and injection well.

PollutionTransportation

New bill would lower threshold for labeling trains ‘high-hazard’

Oliver MorrisonFebruary 28, 2023

The bill would also require high-hazard trains to travel at slower speeds in newer cars, with better braking equipment and additional reporting requirements.

PoliticsPollutionTransportation

Pa. leaders begin to piece together what happened after East Palestine derailment

Oliver MorrisonFebruary 24, 2023

A dozen residents testified under oath about how dramatically the accident had altered their lives. Norfolk Southern's CEO was a no-show.

PoliticsTransportation

Man with a 'Make Norfolk Southern pay" t-shirt

Activists look to outside researchers for answers on soil and water safety in East Palestine

Kara HolsoppleFebruary 24, 2023

We spoke with River Valley Organizing, an East Liverpool, Ohio nonprofit, about its effort to secure independent soil and water testing.

HealthTransportationWaterYour Environment Update

Smoke cloud from burning vinyl chloride.

Could dioxins be in the soil after the East Palestine train derailment? Experts weigh in

Julie GrantFebruary 24, 2023

Experts fear that dioxins, a group of toxic chemicals, could have been formed when vinyl chloride was burned at the derailment site.

Food and AgricultureHealthPollutionTransportation

Episode for February 24, 2024: The latest on the Ohio train derailment

The Allegheny FrontFebruary 24, 2023

We have the latest on the aftermath of the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. We hear from residents in Beaver County who feel left out of the response and farmers concerned about the black soot they found on their homes and properties. Experts are now warning dioxins could be present. Plus, some are looking for additional soil and water testing from independent researchers outside of the government.

Full EpisodeTransportation

Transportation Secretary visits East Palestine, calls for tougher rules for railroads

Reid FrazierFebruary 23, 2023

Buttigieg proposed improvements to rail safety, like higher fines, stronger railcar standards, and requiring at least two crew members on a train.

PollutionTransportation

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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.

Researchers find high levels of hazardous chemicals weeks after East Palestine derailment

Emotions spill over in East Palestine in contentious public meeting

After community pressure, EPA orders Norfolk Southern to test for dioxins

Hazardous Waste from train derailment site heads to disposal facilities in Ohio, Indiana

New bill would lower threshold for labeling trains ‘high-hazard’

Pa. leaders begin to piece together what happened after East Palestine derailment

Activists look to outside researchers for answers on soil and water safety in East Palestine

Could dioxins be in the soil after the East Palestine train derailment? Experts weigh in

Episode for February 24, 2024: The latest on the Ohio train derailment

Transportation Secretary visits East Palestine, calls for tougher rules for railroads

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