Authorities ordered more than 40,000 people to evacuate parts of Orange County, California, after a tank holding toxic methyl methacrylate at an aerospace facility became unstable and risked explosion. Officials say the tank is likely to fail, though no injuries have been reported.
Posts tagged as “the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency”
A new government study has revealed that nearly half of the United States' tap water contains one or more "forever chemicals" known as PFAS, which have been linked to a range of health problems. The study is the first nationwide effort to test for PFAS in tap water from private sources, and is a reminder of the importance of being aware of the water sources in your area. The EPA has established a health advisory level for two types of PFAS, but individuals should take steps to protect their health, such as using a water filter or drinking bottled water.
On June 24, 2023, a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed after a bridge collapse near Columbus, Montana, causing multiple tanker cars to leak petroleum products into the Yellowstone River. Stillwater County Disaster and Emergency Services is working with multiple agencies to assess the environmental impact of the crash and contain the hazardous materials. The cause of the bridge collapse is still under investigation.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires caused an orange glow and unhealthy air quality in the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, prompting advisories, school closings, and postponed outdoor events. The Air Quality Index (AQI) was used to measure the daily air pollution and communicate associated risks to the public. People are urged to limit time outside and wear masks until the air quality improves.
This article discusses the disruption to daily life caused by a thick, hazardous haze caused by wildfires in Quebec and Nova Scotia. The haze has caused players to be chased from ballfields, actors to be chased from Broadway stages, and thousands of flights to be delayed. The EPA has issued an air quality alert and urged people to take precautions to protect their health. The haze is expected to persist into Thursday and possibly the weekend.
Residents of East Palestine, Ohio are facing the aftermath of a freight train derailment that released toxic chemicals into the environment, forcing thousands of locals to evacuate. A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Norfolk Southern, the company responsible for the derailment, alleging that they discharged more cancer-causing Vinyl Chloride into the environment than all industrial emitters combined did in the course of a year. The EPA is conducting tests to assess the damage and urging residents to take precautions to protect their health, while the lawsuit against Norfolk Southern is ongoing.
On Wednesday evening, residents of East Palestine, Ohio were allowed to return home after a 50-car train derailed near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border and released toxic chemicals into the air. The evacuation order was issued as a precautionary measure, and testing showed the air had returned to normal levels. No injuries were reported, and Norfolk Southern is working with the EPA to clean up the site.