Remarks for the East Palestine Press Conference, As Prepared for Delivery
Michael Regan
East Palestine, OH
Good afternoon, everyone. It’s an honor to join President Biden in East Palestine today—a community that embodies strength, resilience, hope, and progress.
Thank you, Mr. President, for your laser focus on this community from day one. Thank you for directing EPA and all the federal partners, and thank you for all you are doing to support East Palestine. You have never forgotten them.
Mayor Conaway, thank you for being here. It’s because of your remarkable leadership and tenacity that East Palestine is well on its way to full restoration.
It’s been a year since a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed—releasing toxins into the environment and upending countless lives.
For many, it’s been a year of fear, uncertainty, and disarray.
While we recognize times have been challenging, thanks to President Biden’s strong leadership, this administration has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with East Palestine every single day since last February.
Immediately after the disaster, the president vowed to hold Norfolk Southern accountable and committed to mobilizing a whole-of-government response—using every tool available to assist the people of this community during their time of need.
I’m grateful to work for a president who cares deeply about this community and stays true to his word.
Under the president’s leadership, emergency response personnel from the U.S. EPA arrived on the scene within hours of the derailment, joining the local first responders who heroically prevented loss of life, serious injury, and additional property damage in the surrounding residential area.
Folks, it’s been a year of action, and I’m proud of all that we’ve accomplished since last February.
The U.S. EPA continues to direct clean-up in East Palestine, and to date:
- We’ve removed more than 176,000 tons of contaminated soil out of the community for safe disposal.
- We’ve shipped more than 43 million gallons of wastewater off-site, more than 6 million gallons of which were treated onsite prior to being safely shipped off-site.
- We’ve collected more than 115 million air monitoring data points, and more than 45,000 samples in and around the community, using high tech EPA aircraft, mobile labs, and stationary air monitors.
- EPA’s Community Welcome Center has served more than 1,200 visitors, and received over 1,300 calls, and is still available to residents who may have questions.
- My agency continues to engage residents and provide information through our regular newsletter and community events.
And every step of the way, we’ve held Norfolk Southern accountable for the harm they’ve inflicted on this community.
We have leveraged every enforcement tool available to EPA against Norfolk Southern to ensure they complete and pay for the extensive cleanup activities conducted over the last year.
I’m grateful to our federal state and local partners, as well as our partners in the House and Senate, who have worked tirelessly to help restore this community.
So many lives were upended, and so much has changed since last February, but I've seen firsthand the strength and resilience of East Palestine, and I’m certain you all are well on your way to bouncing back stronger than ever before.
Thank you.
Now, it’s my pleasure to turn things over to Mayor Conaway.