I don’t know if you could pay me to do this but according to CNN, the governor of Ohio drank East Palestine water to show it’s safe.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine says the water of East Palestine is safe to drink. This comes after a freight train from the Norfolk Southern Railway Company derailed in the town earlier this month, spilling toxic chemicals. DeWine and EPA Administrator Michael Regan even went so far as to visit resident Carolyn Brown’s home and drink water from her tap to show her that the water meets safety standards. What’s more, the EPA announced yesterday that it is “taking control” of the cleanup efforts.
So, who’s at fault? Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said state environmental officials have made a “criminal referral” against Norfolk Southern and DeWine says the Ohio attorney general is also reviewing all actions the law “allows him to take.”
Under the current order, Norfolk Southern must now do the following in East Palestine:
- Identify and clean up contaminated soil and water.
- Pay for the costs of work performed by the EPA
- Reimburse the EPA for additional cleaning services offered to businesses and residents.
- Attend and participate in public meetings requested by the EPA.
In a statement yesterday, Norfolk Southern said it has already committed over $6 million to date in East Palestine, including $3.8 million in financial assistance to families affected by the accident.
Source: CNN
