The head of the Environmental Protection Agency Michael Regan made a stop in East Palestine, Ohio, to speak with residents who continue to raise concerns about the health and safety of their town after a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous materials derailed there two weeks ago.
"Since the fire EPA air monitoring has not detected any levels of health concerns in the community that are attributed to the train derailment," Regan said at a press conference.
The latest reassurance from an official comes following reports of sudden animal deaths, complaints about headaches, and images of ominous skies reported on social media over the last two weeks.
Residents of the village with a population of about 5,000 people have said local, state, and federal agencies have not been forthcoming about the fallout of the derailment and controlled burn of the leaked toxic chemicals in the soil, water and air.
While stating that the Biden administration would support Gov. Mike DeWine with "anything the state needs" in order to recover from the derailment, Regan also emphasized how the rail company itself would be held accountable by the government.
"I am asking that [residents] trust the government, And that's hard. We know that there is a lack of trust, which is why the state and the federal government have pledged to be very transparent," he said.
Heavy rainfall flooded parts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, with two communities declaring a state of emergency as water poured into homes, creating moats around their foundations and leading to boat rescues of residents. Concern about a dam listed in poor condition led to more evacuations.
The leading decongestant used by millions of Americans looking for relief from a stuffy nose is no better than a dummy pill, according to government experts who reviewed the latest research on the long-questioned drug ingredient.
Hurricane Lee, still a Category 3 storm with winds of 115 mph, is expected to increase in size but be significantly weaker in the coming days, as it turns north to reach the U.S. East Coast, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The U.S. approved updated COVID-19 vaccines Monday, hoping to rev up protection against the latest coronavirus strains and blunt any surge this fall and winter.
An earthquake has sown destruction and devastation in Morocco, where death and injury counts continue to rise as rescue crews dig out people both alive and dead in villages that were reduced to rubble.
Hurricane Lee whipped up waves of more than 15 feet (5 meters) on Monday as the Category 3 storm cranked through open waters just north of the Caribbean region.
