"Plume of chemicals" moves down Ohio River after train derailment
An official of the state Environmental Production Agency explained that the main chemicals involved were fire combustion chemicals.
Ohio River / Wikimedia Commons.
This Tuesday, an official from the Environmental Protection Agency, reported that there is a "plume of chemicals" following the course of the river downstream after the recent train derailment which occurred in East Palestine, Ohio.
Tiffani Kavalec, director of the agency's water management subdivision, explained that the Ohio River is "capable of diluting pollutants fairly quickly," however, this would be in reference to a significantly lower levels of pollutants or contamination over greater periods of time.
According to the official, the plume is composed primarily of the residue of "fire-burning chemicals," although it may also have various "volatile organic compounds" that were also being transported on the railroad.
He also pointed out that it was possible that the plume was descending towards Huntington, in West Virginia and although it is not known what impact it would have on the communities, on the soil and water, he believes that at the moment it is not necessary to take any further precautions.
He also noted that it was possible that the plume was moving down towards Huntington, West Virginia and although it is not known what impact it would have on communities, soil and water, he believes that at this time it is not necessary to take any furhter precautions.
“The farther you go down the Ohio, the lower the risk,” he said, emphasizing that pollutants moving up the Ohio River are going at a rate of a mile an hour, which in any case would give officials the opportunity to to close the intakes of the river in advance to prevent it from being ingested.
"We are keeping a close eye on it and we are definitely concerned about the safety of our water – that is our daily job to do," said Northern Kentucky Water District water quality manager Mary Carol Wagner.
GOP launches investigation into derailment
After the silence maintained by the Biden Administration on the derailment of the train carrying toxic substances, the Republican Party decided to begin an investigation to be carried out in the coming weeks, once the cleanup and safety of all, has been ensured.
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