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EAST PALESTINE -- Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said there were "no big surprises" from the feedback he received from East Palestine community members during a visit to the village on Friday, citing potential health impacts in the wake of Feb. 3 train derailment as the issue still weighing the heaviest on residents' minds.
"I came away from the meeting with the impression that things are moving forward but the one concern that was expressed was the same thing we've heard for months and that is 'what happens in the long run,' and that is what happens in the long run from a medical point of view," DeWine said. "And that's a very legitimate concern and we fully understand that. What we can do, as these studies are going on, is make sure these studies are based on not only what scientists want, but are also based on what people in the community want. They have questions and the studies should be aimed at trying to answer those questions."
Several health assessments are currently being carried out in the community to determine what epidemiological effects the rail disaster may have caused. The studies are being conducted by academic institutions, independent scientists and the National Institute of Health as well as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.
DeWine said the studies are evidence that the health concerns are being heard but said he understands some of the skepticism in the community. He addressed the growing mistrust between government agencies, specifically the Environmental Protection Agency, and the community, calling for continued transparency and clear communication as clean up efforts continue.
"The average person doesn't know what the EPA does or how they do it and people need to see what's going on," DeWine said. "This is their community, they live here, so when experts come in and do studies or do testing, they need to see and they need to be explained in terms a layperson can understand it. The more the agencies and the departments can do that, the better it is."
"Transparency is the key," he added. "Nothing hidden. Everything in the open. Will people continue to have doubts? Will they have concerns? Sure, that's human nature. Our jobs are to be as transparent as possible, show them what we are doing and, if there's questions, to be available to answer those questions."
DeWine didn't voice support or non-support for a public health declaration that both Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Sen. J.D. Vance asked to be considered in an open letter to EPA Federal Administrator Michael Regan last month. Instead DeWine insisted that actions, not labels, are what matter.
"How we label things isn't as important as what we do," he said. "We are constantly looking at what we are doing, what people are saying and trying to react and give the people what they want. We are going to continue to do that. Whatever you want to label it, the key is that dialogue and conversations continue."
When asked about how the responding agencies and officials can convince the public to believe the data that reflects that East Palestine and the surrounding communities are safe, DeWine said that only time can do that.
"We can continue to give numbers and explain the numbers but this is going to take time," he said. "If you lived here, you were traumatized in some way and trauma takes time. All we can do is provide the information and we will continue to do that. We just can't just walk away and we aren't going to."
While data has repeatedly indicated that air, soil and groundwater remain safe in the village, the surface water remains contaminated -- specifically Sulphur Run which weaves through town and under structures. Just last month, the EPA ordered Norfolk Southern to perform more testing and remediation of the waterways under the Clean Water Act. DeWine referred creek-related questions to Ohio EPA Director Ann Vogel.
"There is an assessment underway of the creeks to make sure we are getting the sediment that we know is contaminated and that we've known since Feb. 3 is contaminated," Vogel said. "We have cleaned all the creeks and we are on Number 3 with the culverts. We will continue to investigate the sheen and continue to clean it."
Besides meeting with community members, DeWine also visited the high school as well as the derailment site and temporary wastewater facility built by Norfolk Southern. He also utilized the visit to announce, in concert with Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik, that the state will award the village of East Palestine $150,000 to help support the purchase of new emergency response equipment and to reduce the amount of local funding necessary to cover the difference through the Governor's Office of Appalachia. The $150,000 represents more than 65 percent of the required local match.
DeWine also announced today that the first round of zero-interest, forgivable loans to be awarded as part of the East Palestine Emergency Support Program will be announced as early as next week. The loans will be awarded to businesses to assist with ongoing expenses and recovery efforts associated with the derailment. Eligible businesses can still apply through the online application available at development.ohio.gov/EastPalestine.
Friday's visit marked DeWine's first trip back to the village since the Ohio Department of Health fast-tracked the opening of a permanent health clinic in the village in April.
"When this tragedy started, we said we were going to be here, not for a few days, but we were going to be here and stay here," DeWine said.
The governor expressed both empathy for those who have lived through the rail disaster and optimism that the community has made strides on the road to recovery.
"This community suffered huge trauma. Very few villages in the state of Ohio have ever suffered trauma like the people here have," he said. "This is going to take a long time to completely heal from, but the good news from the meeting we had and the conversations I've had is that people are going about their lives and things are moving forward. That's what we want for this community and the people who live in East Palestine."