Was East Palestine a failure of the EPA?
FOX News Chief Washington Correspondent Mike Emanuel reports on how no public health emergency was declared in East Palestine despite concerns in the “special report.”
The Environmental Protection Agency objected. Whistleblower claims Initial data collected from the scene of last year’s derailment of a Norfolk Southern train transporting corrosive materials along the Pennsylvania-Ohio border is riddled with errors and calls for “no confidence.” Ta.
A person who said he helped develop the technology and interpret data from advanced radiation sensors for the EPA’s high-tech aircraft used to survey damage and measure hazardous materials told The Associated Press that the planes were enlisted too late. said. Meanwhile, a whistleblower told the news organization that it may not have been necessary to burn off toxic controlled-release vinyl chloride from five rail cars.
The Texas-based EPA’s ASPECT single-engine turboprop aircraft hosts what the agency calls a “suite of sensors and software” that will provide critical data collection support in disaster areas. These tools include infrared line scanners, various spectrometers, digital mapping cameras, and more.
Robert Krutle told the AP that the plane did not fly over the site near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border until the day after the controlled release of vinyl chloride.
Politicians react to Biden’s first visit to East Palestine in a year: ‘Too late’
“We found that the data provided by the ASPECT aircraft’s two flights to East Palestine on February 7 were incomplete and irregular,” said Kurtil, whose team reviewed the results of the high-altitude flights. There wasn’t. I couldn’t trust it.” The claim that chemical sensors were not activated when the aircraft flew over contaminated streams in the area is inconclusive.
In comments to NewsNation, Krutil called the development “the most unusual I’ve ever seen.”
In a lengthy response to a FOX News Digital investigation, the Environmental Protection Agency asserted that the whistleblower’s characterization of the ASPECT plane’s response was “false” and that weather conditions prevented the plane from surveying the scene quickly. He added, pushing back on this claim.
“EPA Region 5” [in the Midwest] requested ASPECT to fly to East Palestine at midnight on February 5, 2023. Immediately after the request was made, the aircraft was deployed to Pittsburgh from its home base in Addison, Texas, the same day. Due to the low ceiling and icing conditions, the flight crew determined that the aircraft was unsafe to fly on February 6, 2023, when the controlled burn took place. ”
Pence ‘no-Wall’ torches Biden: ‘derailed’ Ohio long before failing to respond to train spill
When Mother Nature cooperated the next day, ASPECT flew two missions over the site, the agency said, adding that EPA staff were already on the scene and “establishing a robust air monitoring network within the community.” he added.
The EPA said pollutants, with the exception of particulate matter, were below detectable levels in FOX News Digital measurements taken from the ground during the first two days before the planes flew over. The agency said Mr. Kurtil “mentioned by the contractor” was not an ASPECT flight crew member in Ohio and did not comment on internal personnel matters regarding the contractor.
The agency has collected 28,000 air samples since the disaster and has not detected any “persistent chemicals of concern in the air” since residents were allowed to return to their homes. said. The agency added that it will continue to honor public records requests and be transparent in its response to the tragedy.
Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s office said there have been repeated calls for anyone with relevant information to come forward regarding whistleblowers, including in the aftermath of the South Norfolk spill.
“They just couldn’t bring it forward,” a spokesperson for Mr. DeWine said.
“If there were people who had the knowledge at the time…they knew who was in charge and it was very clear who was on the scene,” said Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, and Sen. DeWine. He added that he had spoken publicly. Same plea.
Erin Brockovich slams federal response to East Palestine disaster
“I know there are experts who have a different opinion.” [on the disaster response]. …Vance said he didn’t bring anyone. [further information] Please move forward,” the spokesperson added.
Mr. Vance’s office did not respond to requests for comment, but the senator specifically called President Biden’s visit to East Palestine, one year after the derailment, “pure politics” and a “political stunt.” I called it similar.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Waterways, air, and land beyond the nearby Pennsylvania border, including the Beaver County area of the state, were similarly affected by the disaster.
“I am very sorry to hear about these delays and failures in response, especially as the people of my district in East Palestine, Ohio, and here in Pennsylvania have been dealing with the aftermath of this derailment for over a year. ,” Vogel told FOX News Digital about the whistleblower account ahead of the EPA’s backlash.
“Had we intervened early, the situation could have been different after the derailment and we could have better supported those responding to the accident.”
February 22, 2023: Former President Trump visits East Palestine, Ohio, to inspect Little Beaver Creek and water pumps in the wake of the February 3 Norfolk Southern freight train derailment. (Javin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Pa.) of Gettysburg has held at least two public hearings in Beaver County in the wake of the disaster, including one in March, where shared their thoughts on how residents are still feeling the long-term effects.
In April, Mr. Mastriano, Mr. Vogel and state Sen. Michelle Brooks launched an effort to allow Pennsylvania-based disaster victims to claim additional tax credits for payments from Norfolk South.
Fox News Digital also reached out to Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who was also a public figure in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, but did not receive a response by press time. East Palestine city officials did not respond to requests for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
