In this Aug. 10, 2023 photo, a sheen glistens on the surface of Leslie Run after sediment disturbance. Early this week, the EPA reported its preliminary results from a study to assess the sheen. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

EAST PALESTINE — In its latest newsletter dedicated to the response and remediation efforts in the wake of last year’s Norfolk Southern train derailment and chemical spill, the U.S. the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its preliminary findings from qualitative stream assessments in Sulphur and Leslie Run.

The early results from the date collected after the EPA issued an order to Norfolk Southern on Oct. 18 that instructed the railroad to conduct additional cleanup and sheen investigations focused on oily sheens and sediments in area surface water, show that 66 percent of areas observed areas in Sulphur Run and 59 percent of the areas observed in Leslie Run had visible sheen. In unaffected upstream areas, 92 percent of observed areas had no sheen present.

“Preliminary findings from qualitative stream assessments in Sulphur and Leslie Run show different levels of oily sheen found in each stream when sediments are intentionally disturbed,” the newsletter stated. “Over the last few months, crews assessed both impacted downstream and unaffected upstream areas.”

Areas in both creeks were graded during a process that involved agitating the stream sediment and turning over rocks and then grading sheen uncovered on a scale of 0-3 — 0 being no sheen visible and 3 being heavy sheen. A total of 821 locations were assessed and sediment samples taken. Those samples were analyzed to determine what chemicals are present and will dictate what further action is needed.

“Following this qualitative sheen survey, some of the sheens and associated sediments were sampled to determine their chemical makeup,” the fancy said via the newsletter. “Preliminary results of that sampling are undergoing review. That review will then guide planning for precisely how and where additional cleanup and monitoring of the streams will be conducted.”

An investigation into underground portions of the creeks in the village revealed no noticeable sheen in four of culverts which have cleaned out “using upstream and downstream dams and vacuum trucks to safely pump out sediment.” Assessment is still ongoing in the fifth and final culvert. That culvert did show some evidence of sheen generation when certain sediments were disturbed, however air monitoring and sampling have shown no detections of contaminants of concern during cleanout and assessment activity.

In other remediation news, Norfolk Southern announced Monday that the majority of the backfill work at the site has also been completed and that backfilling the area behind Leake Oil with new stone and gravel.

In October, both the railroad and the EPA announced that all soil impacted from the derailment, approximately 176,000 tons, had been shipped off site and disposed of.

In the coming weeks, additional soil investigation and sampling will continue in and around the derailment site. This work is performed in areas where equipment, materials, and debris were handled as part of the overall emergency response. Groundwater monitoring will also continue at the site while maintenance and winterization will continue at the on-site Norfolk Southern wastewater treatment system on Pleasant Drive, including replacing quick-connect hoses with more stable PVC piping. Water will continue to be shipped off-site for disposal as hazardous waste until the wastewater treatment system is active.