DETROIT (WXYZ) — Wayne County Executive Warren Evans said during a Friday evening press that more than 218,000 gallons of toxic liquid waste was on its way to the county and some had already arrived.
The arrival of the waste comes after the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and was a surprise to Evans, as well as members of Congress Rashida Tlaib and Debbie Dingell, who stood by his side during the press conference. Officials said they were "blindsided" and weren't informed of the waste transport.
After lawmakers learned about two trucks bringing the waste to Michigan, they were in contact with the Environmental Protection Agency, which halted the additional waste on its way to Wayne County.
Officials say some of the waste left Ohio on Wednesday and was going to the Republic Waste Service facility in Van Buren Township. More was being taken to the Ecology Wayne Disposal in Belleville.
Michigan officials are unsure of exactly how much is in Michigan but say the waste contains vinyl chloride, a carcinogen.
"1.8 million people are being sandbagged. Vinyl chloride is a serious carcinogen and something we should have heard about sooner. The landfill taking the deep well injections is a facility cited many times and shut down in the past,” Evans said. "Just because they are licensed, we have to ask why were these facilities cited in the past for a number of violations? Any of us that live and breathe are at risk."
7 Action News reached out to the EPA and are waiting to hear back.
Evans said they're still piecing together details about how the waste was brought to Wayne County. He was joined by other government officials at the Guardian Building in Detroit including Congresswomen Dingell and Tlaib.
"Right now, all of us are focused on one thing: ensuring that everyone we represent is safe and all Michigan residents are safe," Dingell said.
East Palestine has become a source of controversy, both environmental and political, following the derailment of a train earlier this month. The Norfolk Southern railroad is among those under fire after chemicals were released from the train as part of the response effort.
Wayne County Health Director Abdul El-Sayed said during the press conference that research shows prolonged exposure to vinyl chloride could cause harm to the liver, lungs and tumors, which has officials concerned. The impacts it could have on the environment aren't clear.
Congresswoman Dingell released a statement Friday in response to an update from the office of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine stating contaminated soil from the site of the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine will be moved via truck to U.S. Ecology Wayne Disposal in Belleville.
“We were not given a heads up on this reported action. Our priority is to always keep the people we represent safe. We are making inquiries of EPA, DOT, Norfolk Southern, U.S. Ecology, the state of Ohio, and all others involved to understand what is being shipped, whether these are approved storage facilities, the implications of this decision, and how we ensure the safety of all Michigan residents.”
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy released the following statement:
Michigan EGLE is aware of and monitoring the disposal of hazardous soil and liquids from the Ohio train derailment at licensed hazardous waste facilities in Michigan to ensure that all health and environmental protection laws and procedures are rigorously adhered to. We expect the Ohio soils to be handled in accordance with all laws and regulations as any other contaminated site material that is disposed of at the facilities, which are subject to extensive monitoring to ensure that hazardous waste does not present a threat to the environment or human health.
The US Ecology hazardous waste landfill is subject to multiple environmental regulatory programs carried out by multiple government oversight agencies. The soils may need pre-treatment depending on the type and concentrations of contaminants that are present. EGLE oversees extensive monitoring and conducts unannounced inspections of the facility as part of our oversight responsibility, and will continue to ensure that the facility meets or exceeds all regulatory standards.
EGLE has also been informed that liquid wastes from the Ohio site may be disposed of in Michigan’s hazardous waste injection well. This facility is also licensed federally and by the state, has rigorous monitoring and reporting requirements and is subject to unannounced inspections to ensure compliance.
While EGLE licenses, inspects, and oversees hazardous waste disposal facilities in conjunction with federal regulators, the state has no authority to either require approval for individual shipments of hazardous material, or to prohibit hazardous waste from being transported across state lines for disposal. Norfolk Southern Railroad chose the sites where wastes will be disposed which also include locations in Texas and Ohio.
EGLE will continue to monitor the receipt of Ohio waste at licensed hazardous waste disposal facilities in Michigan to ensure protection for the public and the environment.
