EPA chief Michael Regan was in East Palestine, Ohio Thursday to hear from concerned residents, visit the train derailment site and meet first responders.
Most people living within a 30 mile radius of the accident want to know if the air and water are safe, free of the toxic chemicals spilled or burned after the accident.
Regan says testing of the village’s five wells shows no contamination and tests in hundreds of homes detected no toxins. But the stench of the disaster is still in the air and some are suffering from headaches and nausea.
It is understandable they are fearful of any lasting effects.
Regan is asking them to “...trust the government,” saying his agency is “testing for everything… on the train.”
Trust is deserved by earning it.
We’re asking the nation’s top environmental official to earn that trust by continuing to clearly communicate all useful information.
Transparency is a must.
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