East Palestine Derailment

Maybe we can send a few truckloads to D.C. and/or certain addresses in Delaware? That just may get the attention needed!

 

Like the national debt?

 

Always has been. At least my whole life.

 

East Palestine train derailment site workers are getting sick, union says (yahoo.com)

"Many other Employees reported that they continue to experience migraines and nausea, days after the derailment, and they all suspect that they were willingly exposed to these chemicals at the direction of NS [Norfolk Southern]," the letter reads.

 

Here’s the real reason the EPA doesn’t want to test for toxins in East Palestine | Stephen Lester
take it for what its worth but valid points imo.
As for the cleanup workers, none of the pictures I saw showed many if any in ppe when working. It would be no surprise.
one of the fire departments is complaining about reimbursements for testing their firefighters, funny thing they admitted to only being a relay for pumpers.
Which if anyone poured water on that fire, they didn't do it for very long.

 

Why would the EPA want to prove they were wrong for approving the burning of these chemicals. In my mind that's exactly what testing for dioxins would do, if found. Not testing for them proves they are just as shady as any other government entity. I wouldn't trust their findings even if they did the testing unless obviously it wasn't in their favor.

 

The EPA didn't, dewine authorized it with Shapiros consent. It appears to me, the fire chief and the governor was buffaloed by norfolk into doing it.
But at the same time, knowing how the local FD's act when put into a questionable situation, they will not send anyone in and sit back and watch it burn.
ie they never tried to contain or put it out.

 

Well that's not how firefighters should act. So why would you think they sat on their hands and watched it burn instead of doing what they're trained to do? I understand it's a huge chemical situation no one knew what to do with. Maybe firefighters are just as lazy as the rest of the population now a days? Scared?

I just can't believe theres not a "spill plan" already determined for a certain chemical and size of spill. I'm thinking there should be before any hazardous chemical is transported in any volume. I guess I shouldn't be surprised though it's so much easier to be reactive than proactive.

 

Personal experience with the local FD and the place I work at... When they were remodeling it, the FD wanted these access holes cut into the concrete foundation for access to the basement. So they could get into the basement from more than 1 spot, easier to evacuate smoke and get water in as well as people.
Once they were cut -the FD showed up looked at it, and said I'm not sending my guys in there if it catches on fire. So this guy basically said- if a fire breaks out in your basement, we are going to let it burn. This is the mentality here at least...
They are a bunch of power trippers. Try telling me not to shut off a false alarm because they want to do it, and it is the same dept that told me to stop raking out a fireline in the woods to prevent a fire from spreading.
I don't mean any disrespect to anyone who risks their lives as a firefighter, it's just my experience with dealing with my local dept. It is probably obvious I have no love for them at all.
I cringe every time the idiot employees set off the alarm at work because I know I get to deal with attitudes.
Let me edit and add the holes cut into the foundation are large enough for a man kitted out in scba gear to enter the hole..

 

To the best of my info, spill and contingency plans rest with Chemtrec or the like. The RR (as with any business) has to have contingency plans when it comes to Hazmat in volume--generally contracted out.
Where Chemtrec hands it off, I don't know.
I could see the EPA getting involved when the 'methyl ethyl bad Sh!#' goes beyond the initial site, either into the ground (and water) or surface water, or air for that matter.
When it comes to a desperate disposition of that much bulk material, I reckon everything changes. I can't believe that was an easy decision by that group to weigh out the consequences of polluting the air or letting that much crap continue into the ground.

Especially in the pressure cooker of time urgency.

I suppose hindsight will be 20/20, and either path will require pretty serious mitigation.

 

Our old safety guy, and fire captain, called that family of stuff "methyl ethyl kill ya kwik"

One thing I question is if they really needed to burn that stuff off...might have been better to let it be and see if maybe it would've been ok, and at that point, would have other options...I know they didn't like the odds, but would it really have been that much worse? And maybe a small chance things would have been better!
I know, Monday morning quarterback...

 

The hazardous materials book that (I think it was) NH mountain man posted has all kinds of info on the chemicals and how to deal/treat them. It's been a while since I looked in mine, but I think it deals with if they're leaking, on fire, amounts...all kinds of stuff. I'll find my copy and see if I can find that chemical.

Bad stuff round here is nicknamed methyl ethyl death.

And it doesn't surprise me they didn't want to put people through cutouts into a basement, even though they suggested it to begin with. Lots of potential issues with that scenario, without knowing details.... They have to think about/take into account crew safety as well.

 

I understand why they may not want to, but to just say I'm not after the fact is just a face palm. It still allows as I said smoke evacuation and access to pour water in.
At some point though you need to decide send in someone or let it burn, they basically said "we're letting it burn" without saying it.
Firefighting is inherently dangerous.
It's the risk you take when you decide to do that job. No one else is being paid to enter into a burning building, that is why they collect a check..

 

Having 2 family members that are volunteer fire fighters ( daughter and son in law ) for a local rural city , the “ check “ they collect is $15 a run .
Proud of both of them for doing a great service at what amounts to peanuts .

 

Wow, those vollies are rollin in the dough! Our locals are finally up to $8 per call. Just a couple years ago it was $2. They don't do it for the $, that's for sure.

 

yea everyone is proud of their first responders.. wasn't speaking about volunteers, my specific FD is paid hourly and so was the other one.
Wasn't ragging on FD personnel in general, just my local jokes who do collect a check.

 

Most Fire Departments around here are full time now. They are compensated pretty well imo. Yes there are hazards to their jobs, but the same can be said for many other jobs and careers with much worse pay and benefits, including retirement. My FF friend that is a Captain made 140K w/ OT last year. The Lieutenant from the same town made almost the exact same, within 5k. It's all public record. The three most heavily funded town departments are usually Schools, then Police and Fire. Fire and Police Departments gets better training than any other jobs I've ever done or seen.