Free legal clinic on tap in EP

Jun 7, 2023

EAST PALESTINE — River Valley Organizing (RVO), in collaboration with several legal services, will hold a free legal clinic in East Palestine Saturday for area residents impacted by February's Norfolk Southern train derailment.

"When the Norfolk Southern derailment turned our lives upside down, many of us didn't know where to turn or who to trust," said RVO East Palestine Organizer Timothea Deeter. "That's why River Valley Organizing is partnering with groups that have no agenda other than to hold Norfolk Southern accountable and make sure the people of East Palestine are treated fairly."

The clinic will be held in two sessions at the First United Presbyterian Church of East Palestine, 109 Rebecca St., East Palestine, OH 44413. The first from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with the second taking place from 3 to 6 p.m. No registration is required, but reserving a time slot is encouraged.

Lawyers from Community Legal Aid, Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services, Case Western Reserve University Environmental and Health Law Clinics, and the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) will be on hand to answer residents’ questions about various legal issues relating to the Norfolk Southern disaster. Other issues such as the difference between class actions and individual lawsuits, current status of ongoing litigation, legislation that has been proposed to improve railroad safety and housing issues can also be discussed.

All lawyers participating at the free legal clinic work for nonprofits, are not soliciting clients, and will not charge for any information they share.

"Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for qualifying residents to get the legal services they need to resolve issues that have emerged as a result of the train derailment," said Rachel Nader, advocacy director for Community Legal Aid.

To reserve a time slot, access the link at rivervalleyorganizing.org.

NFS seeks to dismiss lawsuit

Earlier this week, Norfolk Southern attorneys filed a 57-page motion asking U.S. District Court Judge Benita Pearson to dismiss a class action lawsuit filed by East Palestine residents and businesses and to disallow any request for punitive damages from the lawsuit.

The motion argued that Norfolk Southern did not own the tankers of vinyl chloride that were compromised and vented nor did it construct the overheated wheel bearing that "caused the train to derail." It further argued that the company "as a common carrier, was required by federal law to transport vinyl chloride, a hazardous chemical with numerous industrial uses." The motion also made note of the company's financial contributions to East Palestine as well as recovery and revitalization projects that the railroad has sponsored or paid for in the village since the derailment and cited those projects and donations as Norfolk Southern's ongoing efforts "to make things right."

Unity Council to travel to state house

The Unity Council for the East Palestine Train Derailment — a community oversight committee created by concerned residents in East Palestine and other communities impacted by the NFS train derailment — is planning to travel to the Statehouse in Columbus today in an effort to demand a declaration of emergency from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. DeWine has until July 3 to declare an emergency for the East Palestine area.

To register for the Columbus trip or for more information on upcoming events, contact [email protected].

VC exposure fact sheet released

Responding agencies involved in the response to the East Palestine train derailment have released a fact sheet as an additional source of information regarding vinyl chloride exposure and detection using medical testing. The fact sheet can be accessed at epa.gov and is in response to the concerns of residents who say independent tests have detected elevated levels of Thiodiglycolic acid — the vinyl chloride metabolite — in their urine.

County health district recognized for response

Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff recognized the Columbiana County Health District for its response to the East Palestine train derailment during the Ohio Public Health Conference in April.

Columbiana County Health Commissioner Wesley Vins was presented the Ohio Department of Health Director's Award for leadership during the event. The county health district was commended for the setup of the health clinic in the days following the rail disaster and its work to establish the permanent health clinic on Walnut Street. The district's private wells sampling program was also commended.

EPA to hold ‘Meet the Helpers’ event

The Region 5 Environmental Protection Agency will hold a Meet The Helpers event to give the public an opportunity to meet and interact with responders of the derailment and see EPA vehicles up close. The event will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at East Palestine Memorial Public Library located at 309 N. Market St. EPA responders will be at the event with our Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) bus.

Excavation underway at North Pleasant Drive

North Pleasant Drive in East Palestine will be closed this week to excavate under the railroad tracks at the road crossing. The road will likely be closed for several days, and traffic will be rerouted to James Street during this closure. During the excavation, EPA will oversee air monitoring and other controls to ensure the safety of all residents. All excavation areas will be secured and covered during the process. Soil will be sampled to ensure contaminated material is removed and cleared areas will be backfilled.

To date, 57,231 tons of solid waste and contaminated soil have been removed from the derailment site with an additional 20,021,502 gallons of liquid waste disposed of. The EPA estimates that 90 percent of the work has been completed on the northbound track.

Garden opens on Taggart

The Threshold Residential Services community sensory garden recently opened on the south side of Taggart Street. This garden is billed as "a safe, relaxing, and interactive space open to the whole community." Designed to engage and elevate the senses, the garden is meant to "enhance the lives of people with developmental disabilities and their families."

NFS to sponsor festival to kick off summer

Norfolk Southern is sponsoring the East Palestine Summer Kick-Off Festival which will be held Sunday at the East Palestine City Park from noon to 7 p.m. Airbrush tattoos, bounce houses, cotton candy, pizza, popcorn, face painting, foam fun, petting zoo and more attractions will be offered free of charge. Live music and entertainment will be provided. The event is open to village residents and those in surrounding communities.

Race set for Saturday

The Road2Recovery Hometown Walk & 5K Run with guest host and Jerome Bettis of Pittsburgh Steelers fame will take place Saturday in the village.

The proceeds from the race, which benefit youth initiatives in East Palestine, have already exceeded $100,000.

The race will start at 9 a.m. on Thomas Street near Middle School parking lot and proceed south to West North Avenue. Runners will continue through the westside of town, make a loop at the park and make their way to the finish line at the high school track. The Hometown Walk will also start at 9 a.m. at the middle school. The walking route follows along the North Market Street store fronts.

[email protected]

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