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  • What’s the difference between air sampling and air monitoring?

    Air monitoring and air sampling are two different methods of looking at air quality. Air monitoring uses electronic devices to provide real-time readings of contaminants in the air. Air sampling involves trapping air over a period of time in a container that is then sent to a laboratory for analysis…

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  • What is EPA’s role in sampling?

    EPA is part of the Unified Command consisting of different agencies to review, approve and direct Norfolk Southern’s workplans and site activities. Surface water sampling is performed by Norfolk Southern contractors, with EPA and Ohio EPA oversight. Soil sampling is performed both by Norfolk Southern contractors and EPA contractors. Air…

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  • Redoing calculations if RMP*Comp is updated

    Will RMP*Comp be updated? If so, would I have to redo calculations I might already have made with an earlier version? No, you do not have to redo your work if you have already completed your consequence analyses. RMP*Comp is based on the EPA's Offsite Consequence Analysis Guidance (OCA Guidance)…

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  • Different distances to toxic endpoints with different versions of RMP*Comp

    I've noticed that for certain chemicals, RMP*Comp gives substantially different distances to the toxic endpoint than previous versions. Why? In the current version of RMP*Comp, we have incorporated new chemical-specific distance tables for ammonia, chlorine, and sulfur dioxide. The generic tables are still used for other chemicals (you can see…

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  • Distance to endpoint calculations used by RMP*Comp

    Does RMP*Comp perform some math or modelling in order to arrive at an endpoint distance, or is it simply interpolating from the tables in the EPA's Offsite Consequence Analysis Guidance (OCA Guidance)? RMP*Comp follows the procedures set out in the OCA Guidance . This means that for some scenarios, the…

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  • What is the plume map and what does it tell us?

    The plume map is an “event reconstruction” based on known weather and on-site observations during a 10-hour time period after the vent-and-burn operation that occurred on Monday, February 6. It tells us where soot likely fell to the ground and where the highest concentrations of particles may be. This information…

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  • How can residents communicate with EPA about activities at the Norwood Landfill site?

    This EPA website ( www.epa.gov/norwood ) is dedicated to the investigations in the Norwood community. We encourage you to use the site and submit any questions you might have through the form that appears on the website. We also welcome any feedback you might have on the webpage.

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  • Where can residents get the most accurate and up-to-date information on the Norwood Landfill site?

    The www.epa.gov/norwood website is the site with the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding EPA’s investigations in the Norwood community.

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  • What is split sampling?

    Split sampling is a technique where multiple samples are collected from the same location at the same time and then sent to separate laboratories for analysis. Checking to see if the labs get the same or similar results is a way to determine the accuracy of the data. If there…

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  • What work happens after contamination under and between the train tracks is removed?

    After track work is complete, additional cleanup and assessments will continue. This includes shipping solid and liquid wastes off-site, excavating in areas where rail cars were staged and scrapped, and sampling and monitoring groundwater, soil, surface water, and sediment.

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  • Columbiana County Health District has sampled my private well, will it be sampled again?

    Residents will be contacted if they are within the priority zones and have signed up for private well sampling. Within 60 days after the first sample, private wells are resampled, and residents will be contacted to schedule resampling. Residents within one of the four priority zones can also schedule a…

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  • RMP*Comp and emergency response

    Can I use RMP*Comp for emergency response? No. It's a planning tool. Many other tools are available for response, including ALOHA . You can learn more by reading CAMEO tools for RMP .

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  • Minimum and Maximum Distance to Endpoint

    The Chemical Accident Prevention Provisions require the completion of a worst-case release scenario analysis (40 CFR §68.25). This analysis includes estimating the greatest distance to endpoint as defined by the parameters in §68.22. Is there a required minimum or maximum distance for the distance to endpoint in the worst case…

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  • If I want to talk with EPA about sampling on my property or ask a specific question about my property, who should I contact?

    Please contact Katie Page, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, at 215-814-2409 or [email protected] to ask any questions related to your property.

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  • What is the East Palestine Potable Water Sampling Work Plan?

    In February, EPA required Norfolk Southern to investigate drinking water sources through a work plan approved by responding agencies. The work plan is being used to monitor drinking water near the derailment site, and recently changed to include more areas for water sampling. These new areas were chosen based on…

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