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  • Can I leave my car or other vehicles on my property while I am away?

    The cleaning team will need workspace outside of your home or place of business to set up trailers and equipment. If it is determined that your vehicles need to be moved, you should arrange to temporarily remove them from your property.

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  • What happens to my belongings during the cleaning?

    The items you leave on your property and inside your home or place of business will remain where you left them and will not be removed.

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  • What is defined as a structure (home or place of business)?

    While generally defined as a building, a structure under the structural cleaning program will include only those habitable spaces where indoor occupancy is frequent and regularly occurring on a daily or near-daily basis. Examples of residential structures include primary residences and living spaces, and examples of commercial structures include offices…

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  • Why is cleaning of homes and places of businesses happening?

    Norfolk Southern, with EPA oversight, is providing indoor cleaning to eligible occupants in response to concerns about the impact of the derailment and cleanup work on homes and places of businesses. The cleaning is to address potential dust that may have been generated as part of the train derailment and…

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  • How do I contact EPA about lead concerns in my area?

    Answer: You may call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD(5323) or visit our Contact Us about Lead page . You can also report violations online . Question Number: 23002-33312 Find a printable PDF copy of all frequent questions pertaining to lead .

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  • What work still needs to be done at the derailment site?

    Although contaminated soil has been excavated and removed from the derailment site, some additional work remains. Soil sampling continues to check all areas where cleanup operations took place. Stream assessments continue, and culvert clean out has started. Groundwater and drinking water sampling also continues. Expect these investigations and possible additional…

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  • What do I do with my indoor plants during the cleaning?

    You may leave plants on your property and inside your home or place of business. However, the cleaning team will not move any of your belongings, including plants. You may want to consider moving plants outside for the day, if possible, and watering them before you leave.

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  • Does this mean my home or place of business is contaminated?

    No. However, indoor cleaning is being offered to address potential dust emissions that may have been generated as part of the train derailment and cleanup work. This service is being offered as an additional service to interested members of the community.

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  • What can I do to protect my family from lead contamination that was found in my neighborhood?

    If environmental exposure to lead is suspected, you should contact your local or state environmental office to determine if there are known or suspected sources of lead in the area. If there are known or suspected sources of lead, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the following…

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  • What happens if any of my items get damaged during the cleaning process?

    If any items get damaged, an independent appraiser will estimate the value of the item by using the videos and photos of your belongings to determine a fair value for the item that needs to be replaced. The assessment will then be presented to you for your approval. If you…

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  • What should I do with food items?

    Any food in your kitchen cabinets and refrigerator/freezer that you will not need while you are away can be left in place. This includes items such as spices, canned, boxed, and bagged foods, and refrigerated/frozen foods. Before you leave your home or office, please be sure to empty all garbage…

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  • How do I know that my belongings will be safe during the cleaning?

    Before the team begins cleaning, they will videotape each room and photograph the items you left. The videos and photos provide a record of the items that were present and the conditions of those items at the time the cleaning team entered your structure. An EPA representative will be present…

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  • Why are you cleaning homes and places of business?

    Since the derailment, property owners and renters have voiced concerns about the impact of the derailment and cleanup work on their homes and place of business. In response, Norfolk Southern, with EPA oversight, is providing indoor cleaning to interested, eligible occupants.

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  • I’m not concerned about dust. What about chemicals that may have been released by the event or the cleanup?

    The air and soil in and around the community has been monitored and sampled, and results confirm our confidence that the air and soil in East Palestine and surrounding communities, including inside homes, is not a concern for incident specific chemicals. While community testing conducted to date has not indicated…

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  • What is the potential danger posed by historical lead smelting sites?

    Answer: The potential danger posed by historical lead smelting sites varies by site and depends upon whether a completed exposure pathway to the contaminant exists. For example, if site surfaces are redeveloped and, as a result, covered, there is no direct contact. Therefore, without such exposure, there is no current…

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