Multiple cars from the East Palestine train derailment have been relocated to a railyard in Conway in Beaver County.
The Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday it has conducted multiple visits to the site and identified three cars from the crash. Gov. Josh Shapiro's office said the stray railcars will be removed by Norfolk Southern. It is unclear how long the cars have been on site.
According to the EPA, these cars did not "appear to be breached," but do show some signs of charring from the fire ignited by the crash. An EPA on-scene coordinator who conducted a visit Tuesday noted that "diesel odors from the railyard were detected," and no product odor from the cars involved in the derailment were found.
The EPA will be following up with Norfolk Southern on the situation, the agency said.
Norfolk Southern did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Shapiro's press secretary, Manuel Bonder, said the administration immediately reached out to Norfolk Southern after hearing this weekend the cars were sent to Conway.
Bondor said the company is removing the cars from the site.
"The Shapiro Administration will continue monitoring the situation and responding accordingly to protect Pennsylvanians' safety and wellbeing," Bonder said in a statement.
The company continues to clean up the accident site in East Palestine, an effort overseen by the EPA. The excavation of contaminated soil on the south track is nearing completion and soil waste is continuing to be shipped off-site for disposal. Plans for the north track rail removal are underway.
On Monday, one vehicle hauling 40,000 pounds of contaminated soil from the site crashed on the SR-165. The Ohio State Highway Patrol estimates that approximately 20,000 pounds of soil spilled onto the roadway and berm. According to the EPA, the spill was contained and does not pose a threat to any nearby waterways.
Late last month, Ohio EPA director Anne Vogel estimated that as many as 40 to 45 trucks a day are taking the soil of East Palestine.
In total, about 11.4 million gallons of liquid wastewater have been hauled out of East Palestine, according to the Ohio EPA. There is currently a pile of approximately 17,300 tons of excavated soil waiting for removal from East Palestine, versus 19,900 tons that have been removed.
EPA and Norfolk Southern contractors are continuing to take soil samples across Ohio and Pennsylvania. To date, 137 properties have been sampled. EPA's review of the preliminary data indicates levels of semi-volatile organic chemicals and dioxins in the samples are similar to typical background levels.
Authorities remain confident that the air quality is safe. To date, 629 indoor air screenings have been conducted, and air monitoring continues 24/7 throughout the community. No detections of vinyl chloride or hydrogen chloride have been identified.
Ohio health officials opened a permanent health clinic this week to continue addressing residents' concerns about their health.
