Toxic wastewater from East Palestine train derailment heading to Texas to be injected into the earth
By jdheyes // 2023-02-27
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Even though state and federal officials have been saying for weeks now that the water in and around East Palestine, Ohio, is safe to consume and there's no worry at all, much of it is now slated for transport to Texas because it is 'toxic' and must be 'disposed of properly', according to a Friday report. According to a top official from Harris County, home to Houston, the water will be headed to a suburb for disposal. "I and my office heard today that ‘firefighting water’ from the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment is slated to be disposed of in our county," noted Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo in a Wednesday statement on Twitter. "Our Harris County Pollution Control Department and Harris County Attorney’s Office have reached out to the company and the Environmental Protection Agency to receive more information about the timing, transportation mechanisms, and contents, as well as to ensure all regulations are being met." No further details were given, however, the judge did say that her office is working very closely with the Deer Park, Texas mayor. "I have communicated with Deer Park Emergency Management and Mayor [Jerry] Mouton and am very sensitive to the concerns that this news naturally brings to our community," Hildago's statement noted further. "We will keep residents informed as we learn more." The wastewater is being directed to Texas Molecular, a company that specializes in disposing of hazardous waste by injecting it into the ground. This follows a recent announcement from Ohio EPA officials, who expressed concern that the fire-suppressing chemicals used may have entered the Ohio River, potentially creating a chemical plume that is now flowing downstream, Zero Hedge reported. Per the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Molecular "is authorized to accept and manage a variety of waste streams, including vinyl chloride, as part of their … hazardous waste permit and underground injection control permit," which includes the chemical vinyl chloride, just one of several that the Norfolk Southern train was carrying when it derailed due to an overheated axle on car No. 23. "Our technology safely removes hazardous constituents from the biosphere. We are part of the solution to reduce risk and protect the environment, whether in our local area or other places that need the capabilities we offer to protect the environment," the company said in a statement to KHOU-TV. The firm added that it will be injecting the water very deeply into the earth, allegedly so that it doesn't seep into local water tables. "This injection, in some cases, is usually 4,000 or 5,000 feet down, below any kind of drinking water aquifer," said George Guillen, the executive director of the Environmental Institute of Houston. The environmental expert says there's nothing for anyone to worry about though the water contains "very, very toxic" materials. At a press conference, representatives from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency stated that the chemicals used to extinguish the fires that broke out after the derailment may have infiltrated the Ohio River, resulting in the formation of a chemical plume that is currently in motion downstream. After visiting the site of the derailment on February 23 (after Donald Trump did), Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg cautioned Norfolk Southern, the railway company responsible for the incident, to follow through on its commitments to clean up the area near East Palestine and assist the town in its recovery efforts, The Epoch Times reported. During his visit, Buttigieg also met with representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board, who had recently issued a preliminary report on their findings. The Secretary has faced scrutiny for his handling of the disaster. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com ZeroHedge.com
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