Sulphur Run sediment cleanup continues, residents may be disrupted: EPA

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (WKBN) — Sediment cleanup is scheduled to resume this week in Sulphur Run, and the EPA warns that some residents may be disrupted by the work.

A Saturday update by the EPA states sediment cleanup in Sulphur Run has progressed from the derailment site to further downstream, near James Street.

The cleanup will progress into residential and commercial areas, and the EPA warns noisy equipment will be used; however, that use will be limited to the timeframe of 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. in residential areas. Full work hours will span from 7:30 a.m. through 6 p.m.

Areas requiring further attention have been isolated using containment and sorbent boom — a tool made of synthetic material commonly used to contain oil spills.

The EPA says a full creek re-assessment will be conducted after all impacted areas of Leslie and Sulphur Run are cleaned.

The return of natural water flow back into Sulphur Run is underway and is complete at three of 15 areas. Work is expected to continue over the next several months.

The EPA reports that as of May 2: 177,741 tons of solid waste and 66,191,741 gallons of wastewater have been shipped for testing. It states that sampling work is nearly 60% complete.

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