Marilyn Leistner, the mayor of Times Beach, Missouri, when the town was contaminated by dioxin and later condemned by the EPA in 1982, speaks to a group of East Palestine residents, Sept. 29, 2023 in Darlington, Pa. On April 22 and 23, Leistner will return to the area to speak at two seminars and discuss the aftermath of the train derailment and chemical spill. The first seminar will take place at the Columbiana Theatre. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

EAST PALESTINE — The aftermath of the 2023 East Palestine train derailment and chemical release will be the topic of discussion in two back-to-back seminars set for April 22 and 23 with toxicologist Dr. George Thompson and Marilyn Leistner — the last mayor of contaminated and condemned Times Beach, Missouri — set as the speakers.

The first seminar (“East Palestine Train Derailment: Implications for Ohio River Valley”) will take place at the Columbiana Theatre at 5 N. Main St. in Columbiana from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The second (“East Palestine Train Derailment: Consequences for Allegheny County”) will be held in Pennsylvania at Homestead United Presbyterian Church located at 908 Ann St., Homestead from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The Battle of Homestead Foundation — an organization of citizens, workers, educators and historians with a purpose to memorialize the dramatic labor conflict of the 1892 Battle of Homestead — is one of several groups sponsoring the seminars.

“The Feb. 3, 2023 Norfolk Southern freight train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio released millions of pounds of toxic chemicals into the air, water and soil across a wide, populated area,” the Battle of Homestead of Foundation said via a press release. “Currently, Norfolk Southern operates an estimated 50-70 freight trains daily through business and residential areas of Pittsburgh. How would our local officials need to react if a derailment similar to East Palestine occurred?”

Leistner will share her experiences of navigating and advocating through an environmental disaster and Thompson will share his 55 years of experience in the field of toxicology and the impacts of chemical exposure.

According to the Battle of Homestead Foundation, Thompson is an independent toxicologist that has authored 21 books on environmental safety and served as an expert witness in numerous lawsuits involving environmental negligence — including the class action lawsuit filed against Norfolk Southern by residents impacted. Thompson was hired by plaintiff attorneys to give expert testimony in that lawsuit that was settled for $600 million last year. Leistner led a campaign in 1982 to have Times Beach declared uninhabitable after it was discovered to be poisoned with dioxin. The town was bought out by the government and all its citizens relocated.

“[Thompson] was the only chemist to examine the contents of every rail car involved in the East Palestine derailment,” Battle of Homestead Foundation said. “[Leistner] travels the U.S. advising communities on their post-incident response to environmental disasters.”

The seminars are also sponsored by the Breathe Project (a clearinghouse for information on air quality in Pittsburgh, Southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond). Food & Water Watch (a D.C.-based non-governmental group focused on corporate and government accountability relating to food, water, and corporate overreach) and Izaak Walton League of America (an environmental organization founded in 1922 that promotes natural resource protection and outdoor recreation).

Both seminars are free but registration is encouraged at eventbrite.com.