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  • How does EPA oversee cleanup at the derailment site?

    EPA leads the Unified Command consisting of different agencies to approve Norfolk Southern’s workplans and weekly activities. EPA also coordinates with other agencies to perform oversight, such as with Ohio EPA, the Columbiana County Health District, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. EPA and Ohio EPA personnel oversee safety…

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  • What are the health agencies doing?

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) are analyzing their Assessment of Chemical Exposure (ACE) survey results to assess the health impacts of the train derailment. CDC and ATSDR continue to support the Ohio and Pennsylvania health departments and will be…

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  • Change of owner and RMP facility ID number

    If a facility is sold to a new owner, does it keep its' original RMP Facility ID number? Yes. The facility will keep the ID number assigned by EPA.

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  • Facility ID number and re-registering a facility

    If a facility deregisters, then reregisters, should the facility use the original RMP Facility ID or will it be assigned a new ID? The facility should use the original ID assigned by EPA.

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  • Resubmission of RMP for a facility that previously deregistered

    A covered facility deregisters its RMP because it no longer has more than a threshold quantity of a regulated substance in a covered process. If the facility becomes subject to the CAA §112(r) risk management program regulations at a later date and submits a new RMP, should the facility submit…

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  • RMP Records Maintained Onsite

    Pursuant to 40 CFR Part 68, Subpart G, the owner or operator of a stationary source subject to the risk management program regulations in Part 68 must develop and submit a risk management plan (RMP). Does the owner or operator have to maintain a written copy of the RMP on…

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  • Now that the track is rebuilt, what else needs to be done and how long will it take?

    There is still a lot of work to do. Contaminated soil to the north and south of the tracks need to be removed. A full site assessment, including extensive sampling, of areas and properties near the derailment site needs to be conducted. A full assessment of impacted creeks will be…

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  • Change of Ownership

    If a facility that is subject to the risk management program regulations in 40 CFR Part 68 is sold to another owner, is the facility required to make a correction or a full update of its risk management plan (RMP)? If there are no changes in the covered operations at…

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  • Will my relocation assistance end if I request indoor cleaning from EPA?

    Residents within the eligible area–the village of East Palestine and the 1-mile by 2-mile Ohio-Pennsylvania evacuation area–who request indoor cleaning through EPA are still able to receive relocation assistance. Norfolk Southern has committed to give at least a 60-day notice to people receiving relocation assistance before this assistance can end…

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  • If there is a government shutdown, will work continue on the cleanup?

    A 45-day continuing resolution was recently passed to avoid a shutdown. EPA’s emergency response efforts, such as in East Palestine, would move forward under a lapse in appropriation. As a result, EPA personnel would continue to fully support those efforts during a lapse.

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  • RMP*eSubmit preparer access

    How does a new Preparer get access to a Risk Management Plan (RMP) via RMP*eSubmit? First, the person must register with CDX. To register with CDX, go to https://cdx.epa.gov/ and complete the registration process for a Risk Management Plan “Preparer”. Once set up as a “Preparer”, the Certifying Official needs…

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  • What is the process for refilling excavated areas at the derailment site?

    Areas that were excavated as part of the derailment cleanup effort will be backfilled with clean soil. Before soil is chosen as backfill it is tested for chemicals and heavy metals. While the source of backfill is still being identified, some areas have been temporarily backfilled with ballast (large gravel)…

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  • Five-year Anniversary Due Date and Time

    Pursuant to the risk management program regulations in 40 CFR §68.190, the owner or operator of a stationary source shall revise and update the RMP at least once every five years from the date of initial submission. At what time on the 5-year anniversary date is the RMP due? The…

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  • Required Contractor Contact Information

    A facility that uses a contractor to prepare its RMP must include in the registration section the name, mailing address, and telephone number of the contractor who prepared the RMP (40 CFR §68.160(b)(14)). When a contractor only prepares a portion of an RMP on behalf of a facility, does the…

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  • If a facility changes owners and significant changes have been made to plant operations is the facility required to update all sections of the RMP and resubmit it to EPA?

    Yes. If the facility has new ownership and plant operations have changed significantly, the new facility owner/operator needs to do a resubmission. For details on how to resubmit, see the Web page for RMP*eSubmit .

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