The back of CeramFab, a manufacturing facility on East Taggart Street in East Palestine, is pictured just steps from the tracks and “ground zero” of the 2023 train derailment. The EPA reports that a vapor-intrusion study to determine if chemicals migrated under the facility is now complete. The EPA said the study did not identify any buildings where derailment-related vapor intrusion mitigation is needed. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

EAST PALESTINE — Through an email to the Morning Journal, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified the “other chemicals” recently detected at the eastern end of the site of the 2023 East Palestine train derailment as toluene, semivolatile organic compounds SVOCs, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances PFAS and dioxin but said those compounds “were isolated and not likely derailment-related due to extent and location.”

Last week, the Village of East Palestine reported through its website epohio.org that 2-butoxyethanol as well as other chemicals not specified were detected at the East End of the derailment.

While 2-Butoxyethanol — a colorless liquid with a fruity odor used as a solvent in spray lacquers, enamels, varnishes and latex paints and as an ingredient in paint thinners and herbicides — can cause irritation of the nose and eyes, headache, a metallic taste in the mouth and vomiting and has been shown to cause reproductive problems and minor birth defects in laboratory animals, the CDC said high-dose exposure is needed to cause such symptoms. Over 25,000 gallons of ethylene glycol monobutyl ether was released during the derailment when Car 36 suffered a cracked tank head.

“The derailment-related chemical found in the East End is ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, known as 2-butoxyethanol,” the EAP said. “Unlike vinyl chloride, this chemical has a low toxicity, as outlined in EPA’s recent newsletter. This contamination was characterized as part of the “double-check” sampling efforts and was not a surprise to see some of this compound present.

The EPA added that the East End “has been extensively sampled and assessed for groundwater, soil, and sediment impacts, and to “address low-level derailment contamination found” soil and sediment excavations are underway and will be completed in March. The EPA also said that “additional groundwater monitoring wells will also be installed around the site to continue monitoring.”

The “double-check” — also known as confirmatory sampling and Appendix E in remediation work plans — is now complete. The EPA said that includes the vapor-intrusion study to determine if possible contamination made its way inside the businesses located at ground zero and potentially in the soil underneath the structures.

One of those businesses is the 80,000-square-foot CeramFab building sits right next to where the train derailed and Car Scrapping Area 4 where burned out cars were dismantled for disposal. According to Appendix E, CeramFab reported odors inside the building that reflected the need for ambient air, indoor air, and sub-slab vapor sampling and that “potential preferential pathways” would be considered and identified through the study. Extensive excavation of the soil was performed up to the CeramFab building, but not under it, as doing so would have required the building be razed. Aside from CeramFab, Brave Industries and U.S. Stonewares and Strohecker Industries were assessed during the vapor intrusion study.

“Vapor investigation sampling is complete and EPA has not identified any buildings where derailment-related vapor intrusion mitigation is needed,” the EPA said.

It was unclear if Leake Oil and the State Line Tavern — two other businesses located along the tracks where the train derailed – were included in that study. What is known through court documents is that the owner of CeramFab (Edwin Wang) and owners of State Line (Kelly Likovich and Terry Berresford) believe their properties are still contaminated. They filed suit against Norfolk Southern, seeking $500 million and $5 million in damage respectively.

The EPA also quelled rumors through the email that additional exceedances of vinyl chloride had recently been found at the derailment through its email since Chris Hunsicker of Norfolk Southern, who is directing remediation efforts, reported in November that exceedances of vinyl chloride, benzene, trimethylbenzene and 2-butoxyethanol have been detected through the confirmatory sampling.

“Following a few soil excavations to remove vinyl chloride found as a result of Appendix E sampling in 2024, no additional derailment-related vinyl chloride has been found,” the EPA said.

The EPA also dismissed rumors that uncovered contamination at the East Palestine City Park has played a role in the lagging park renovation project and reiterated that no derailment-related material has been detected in the park and any exceedances found in that area were there before the rail disaster.

“EPA is not involved in the park improvements project and is not aware of any delays impacting the park project related to the cleanup,” the EPA said. “EPA’s “double-check” sampling occurred in areas near the park where mitigation activities and equipment were staged in the weeks immediately following the derailment. The sampling results showed no exceedances of derailment-related contamination and that no further cleanup was needed. Results did show evidence of legacy contamination, such as from burning fuels, coal, and/or industrial activities.”