ACROSS THE STATE LINE, AND DEFINITELY JUST THE WATER QUALITY AROUND THE AREA, ESPECIALLY AT GENEVA COLLEGE, LIKE WORRYING ABOUT POLLUTION THERE. A LOT OF THE FAMILIES THAT I WORK WITH IN MY WORK, I WORK WITH THE SALVATION ARMY. SO THEY HAVE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT WATER MAIN ISSUES, HEALTH ISSUES FOR THEIR KIDS. AND HONESTLY, AIR QUALITY WISE, IT DEFINITELY SEEMS A LOT MORE LIKE A SMELL IN THE AIR, LIKE A SMALL YOU KNOW, I GO BY A PLACE NOT TOO FAR FROM THAT WRECKAGE WHERE THERE’S HORSES AND SHEEP AND COWS OUT THERE GRAZING AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. SO I’M JUST WONDERING, YOU KNOW, WE’RE NOT GOING TO HEAR THE EFFECTS OF THAT UNTIL MAYBE FOUR OR FIVE, SIX MONTHS DOWN THE LINE. PENNSYLVANIA’S DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IS NOW CONDUCTING INDEPENDENT SURFACE WATER SAMPLING IN OUR STATE. IT SAYS PREVIOUSLY IT WAS COORDINATING WITH THE FEDERAL EPA. OHIO’S EPA, THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY CEMETERY COMMISSION AND THE NORFOLK SOUTHERN CONTROL SECTOR, AND REVIEWING THEIR SAMPLE INFORMATION IN FOR SURFACE WATER. HERE’S WHAT BEAVER COUNTY RESIDENTS REACTION TO THAT WORD. I MEAN, I THINK IT’S DEFINITELY LIKE A GOOD THING TO GET MORE EYES ON IT. I DEFINITELY DON’T THINK THAT CAN BE BAD. AND ANYWAY, I, I, I DON’T KNOW. I’M MORE REASSURED WITH THE NEWS STUFF. LIKE, YOU KNOW, FERGUSON HAD BAD DRINKING WATER FOR QUITE LIKE DECADES NOW. THE FEDERAL EPA INDICATES THERE’S NO CURRENT EVIDENCE OF AIR OR WATER CONTAMINATION FROM TH
Some Beaver County residents concerned about chemicals from Ohio derailment
![WTAE logo]()
Updated: 8:18 PM EST Feb 17, 2023
Some Beaver County residents have questions on their minds about any health and environmental impact from the derailment and release of chemicals across the state line in East Palestine, Ohio."You know, you're always afraid that it could affect your water or the air. And I have young grandchildren. It is a concern," said Debbie Mohr, of Beaver Falls."Mostly drinking water," said Logan Spangler, who lives and works in Beaver County. "We have no real clue how any kind of rainfall, snowfall, anything like that, can kind of move water around, what chemical is in that water, where it's going to go, where it's going to end up, and we don't really know how long it's going to last, do we?""My concern is, when it comes time for them to plow the fields and plant the corn and vegetables and everything. I'm thinking whatever chemical was in the air has got to settle down. Is it going to affect those crops? Farm animals?" said Tom Eiler, of Beaver Falls.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Ohio EPA, the Ohio River Valley Sanitation Authority and a Norfolk Southern contractor had been checking surface water samples. Pennsylvania had been reviewing its sample information. But now, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is conducting its own independent surface water sampling in our state."I hope that they do and I think that's a good idea, because I think we've seen a lot of the times, a lot of big companies and corporations will say anything to cover themselves up a little bit. So I'm kind of glad they're looking into that and they're looking into more independent testing for the good of the community and for people," said Joseph Rothacher, who lives in Rochester and works in Beaver Falls."They need to do a lot in a lot of other areas too. So this would be a start, if they started there. And they should check out the water and make sure it's healthy. I mean, these are lives we're talking about," Mohr said.There's been no evidence of current water or air contamination here in Beaver County, according to the federal EPA. The office of U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio has been hearing concerns from Beaver County residents who are among his District 17 constituents.In response to a request from Pittsburgh's Action News 4, Deluzio's office provided this sampling of resident comments, while withholding the release of the individuals' names for privacy.A constituent from Beaver:"It is entirely inadequate to trust the monitoring of an environmental disaster to the company responsible for that disaster. The long-term health and environmental implications are potentially severe, and directly threaten my family's health, wellbeing, and the value of our property... Norfolk Southern should have nothing to do with deciding how to proceed in this matter, and the Governor's office has disgraced itself by even suggesting that this is appropriate." Constituent from Sewickley:"I'd like to ask and urge you to demand additional answers around the derailment which has been on our minds in East Palestine. The government information on the 'downwind' impacts is not clear and very limited — what testing has been done, and what are the answers? ""Also, those same tracks run right through our district. Obviously, a similar disaster in Sewickley would be terrible, and there are many Northern trains on that line."Constituent in Monaca:"I have sincere concerns about my health and safety due to the most recent train derailment in East Palestine, OH. I am approximately 25 minutes away from the crash site. There are reports of animals/pets dying 18 minutes away from the train derailment. I am wondering if I should evacuate the area? Is the air quality, and drinking water safe? According to the chemical safety facts organization, vinyl chloride has a sweet smell, and can cause multiple kinds of cancer. Last week I distinctly remember smelling a sweetness in the air."
BEAVER FALLS, Pa. — Some Beaver County residents have questions on their minds about any health and environmental impact from the derailment and release of chemicals across the state line in East Palestine, Ohio.
"You know, you're always afraid that it could affect your water or the air. And I have young grandchildren. It is a concern," said Debbie Mohr, of Beaver Falls.
"Mostly drinking water," said Logan Spangler, who lives and works in Beaver County. "We have no real clue how any kind of rainfall, snowfall, anything like that, can kind of move water around, what chemical is in that water, where it's going to go, where it's going to end up, and we don't really know how long it's going to last, do we?"
"My concern is, when it comes time for them to plow the fields and plant the corn and vegetables and everything. I'm thinking whatever chemical was in the air has got to settle down. Is it going to affect those crops? Farm animals?" said Tom Eiler, of Beaver Falls.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Ohio EPA, the Ohio River Valley Sanitation Authority and a Norfolk Southern contractor had been checking surface water samples. Pennsylvania had been reviewing its sample information. But now, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is conducting its own independent surface water sampling in our state.
"I hope that they do and I think that's a good idea, because I think we've seen a lot of the times, a lot of big companies and corporations will say anything to cover themselves up a little bit. So I'm kind of glad they're looking into that and they're looking into more independent testing for the good of the community and for people," said Joseph Rothacher, who lives in Rochester and works in Beaver Falls.
"They need to do a lot in a lot of other areas too. So this would be a start, if they started there. And they should check out the water and make sure it's healthy. I mean, these are lives we're talking about," Mohr said.
There's been no evidence of current water or air contamination here in Beaver County, according to the federal EPA.
The office of U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio has been hearing concerns from Beaver County residents who are among his District 17 constituents.
In response to a request from Pittsburgh's Action News 4, Deluzio's office provided this sampling of resident comments, while withholding the release of the individuals' names for privacy.
A constituent from Beaver:
"It is entirely inadequate to trust the monitoring of an environmental disaster to the company responsible for that disaster. The long-term health and environmental implications are potentially severe, and directly threaten my family's health, wellbeing, and the value of our property... Norfolk Southern should have nothing to do with deciding how to proceed in this matter, and the Governor's office has disgraced itself by even suggesting that this is appropriate."
Constituent from Sewickley:
"I'd like to ask and urge you to demand additional answers around the derailment which has been on our minds in East Palestine. The government information on the 'downwind' impacts is not clear and very limited — what testing has been done, and what are the answers? "
"Also, those same tracks run right through our district. Obviously, a similar disaster in Sewickley would be terrible, and there are many Northern trains on that line."
Constituent in Monaca:
"I have sincere concerns about my health and safety due to the most recent train derailment in East Palestine, OH. I am approximately 25 minutes away from the crash site. There are reports of animals/pets dying 18 minutes away from the train derailment. I am wondering if I should evacuate the area? Is the air quality, and drinking water safe? According to the chemical safety facts organization, vinyl chloride has a sweet smell, and can cause multiple kinds of cancer. Last week I distinctly remember smelling a sweetness in the air."
