Gov. DeWine, officials drink water from East Palestine resident’s tap

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (WXIX) - Gov. Mike DeWine visited East Palestine Tuesday and drank water from a resident’s tap after he had been questioned if the water in the village is safe following the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train on Feb. 3.

“One of the things we did today during two home visits was to drink some of the water - the village water,” DeWine said. “This village water is safe.”

DeWine was joined by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan who also drank the tap water.

The governor says the EPA continues to receive clean test results and reassured the public that the agency will continue testing and collecting water samples.

During the visit to East Palestine, EPA administrator Regan said the agency is ordering Norfolk Southern to pay for all of the derailment cleanups.

“Let me be clear: Norfolk Southern will pay for cleaning up the mess they created and for the trauma they’ve inflicted on this community,” Regan said.

RELATED: “EPA orders Norfolk Southern to conduct cleanup for East Palestine train derailment”

DeWine and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro are also calling on U.S. Congress to look at rail safety legislation.

“There is something fundamentally wrong when a train like this can come into a state, and the current law does not require - despite what they were hauling - does not require them to notify the state or local officials,” DeWine explained. “That simply has to be changed. The fact that this train did not qualify under current law requiring the railroad company to make that notification is just absurd.”

A comment DeWine says he hears often from East Palestine residents is, “Don’t leave us.”

“We’re in this for the long run [...] when the cameras are gone, we’re still gonna be here,” he said.

As cleaning efforts continue, a health clinic opened up Tuesday at noon in East Palestine to examine residents or answer questions regarding their health. All visits are free and people can make an appointment by calling 234-564-7755 or 234-564-7888.

- continues water sampling and indoor air screenings

more than 550 homes tested.

North and Southern will pay for cleaning up this mess.

EPA orders Northern southern to do the following:

- Clean up contamination in soil and water.. transport to safe location

- Reimburse the EPA and local residents affected

- Will attend in public meetings at EPA’s request and share information... “full transparency is the only option”

“environmental damage”

if they fail, the agency will step in and do it themselves. train company will pay triple.

“i know this order cannot undo the nightmare,... but it will help with the pain and suffering”

DeWine:

- When the train derailment occurred, the ohio epa was at the scene. same with us epa

- At noon they opened a clinic 234-564-7755 or 7888.. helps residents with medical/health concerns for free.

- Water testing is continuing. The village water is safe. Know that because of testing. tetsing will continue once a week.

- Private wells will also be tested.

- “There is something fundamentally wrong when a train comes into this state and....” attack on law. “This train did not

“Don’t leave us” from residents, according to DeWine. “We will not leave them.”

Congressman Bill Johnson (east palestine)

- “There are some bright spots in this tragedy, and when you look at the collaborative work [...] I am amazed at how many moving parts this tragedy has evoked. And yet we are making progress.”

- Actively engaged in making rail safety legislation. He and other colleagues. AN investigation will let us know whether or not these laws will be necessary.

Questions

- How will we know if it will work? “We’re gonna do everything we can to continue to work at this. We’re in this for the long run [...] when the cameras are gone, we’re still gonna be here.” - DeWine

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