Watchdog group accuses EPA of flawed testing

The Government Accountability Project (GAP) has intensified scrutiny of the EPA's actions following the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, accusing the agency of manipulating dioxin contamination testing. GAP cites an EPA letter that allegedly directed Norfolk Southern to exclude certain chemicals from its sampling list, undermining the accuracy of contamination assessments. In response to these serious allegations, the EPA has pledged to conduct a comprehensive investigation to ensure public safety and transparency. This scrutiny comes on the heels of previous reports indicating that the Biden Administration failed to disclose potential health risks linked to the derailment, including the emergence of “cancer clusters. ” GAP contends that the EPA's sampling strategy ignored critical environmental factors, such as wind direction at the time of the vent-and-burn, which could have affected contamination levels.

GAP Senior Environmental Officer Leslie Pacey emphasized that the flawed testing undermines public health and safety in East Palestine. The situation reflects broader concerns about corporate accountability and government oversight in environmental crises. As investigations continue, residents remain anxious about the long-term impacts of the chemical release on their health and environment.