EAST PALESTINE — The Region 5 Environmental Protection Agency is asking East Palestine residents who want indoor cleaning conducted in their homes to fill out an online form, the EPA said in its latest derailment newsletter.

The indoor cleaning program was announced at last month’s village council meeting and is being billed as part of the process and progress to getting those displaced by the derailment back in their homes.

The program is offered to eligible homes and businesses in East Palestine to address potential dust emissions generated as part of the derailment and cleanup work. Owners and renters may express interest by filling out the online form at epa.gov/east-palestine

•oh-train-derailment, calling the EPA hotline at 330-775-6517 or visiting the EPA Community Welcome Center located at 25 N. Market St. Deadline to request a cleaning is Sept. 5.

Anyone in the village of East Palestine limits or within the 1-mile by 2-mile evacuation area in Ohio and Pennsylvania is eligible for the cleaning service. Once the EPA has confirmed home or office eligibility, a pre-cleaning interview with the EPA and Norfolk Southern representatives will take place at the home or office.

Priority will be given to those who have been relocated and wish to return before construction is complete. Phase 1 of the program is for families currently displaced. Phase 2 will involve buildings located west of Market Street. Phase 3 will be conducted for all other areas after truck traffic is reduced.

WHAT WILL BE DONE

According to epa.gov, cleaning will include a top-down approach, starting from the top floor and working down, addressing habitable spaces. Workers will wet-wipe accessible horizontal hard surfaces; wet mop hard floors; vacuum floors, carpets and appropriate soft surfaces; and dry dust appropriate vertical surfaces.

Cleaning teams will not move appliances, and cleaning under furniture and appliances will be done using a long-ranged cleaning tool. Cleaning teams will not open cabinets, drawers or private spaces for cleaning. Cleaning does not include washing clothing, blankets or other personally worn items or the exterior of structures (requests for exterior cleaning can be made through the Norfolk Southern Family Assistance Center).

Per the recommendations of health agencies, duct cleaning is not necessary and will not be part of the cleaning under this program.

The cleaning program is led by the EPA and funded by Norfolk Southern and was due to “property owners and renters who have voiced concerns about the impact of the derailment and cleanup work on their homes and place of business.”

REMEDIATION

In other news, the EPA gave a detailed update on remediation efforts, reporting that nearly all of the contaminated soil in Car Scrapping Area 3 has been removed and disposed of offsite, with just a few more feet left to excavate and backfill.

Sampling work is underway in Car Scrapping Area 4 and South Ditch to determine the levels of contaminants of concern in layers of the soil.

Sediment and water sampling continue in Sulphur Run to develop a characterization of the creek. Paving and rock placement continues throughout the village to control dust and mud tracking off-site.

Contaminated soil, debris and contact water continue to be removed for off-site treatment or disposal with 89,158 tons of solid waste and 28,664,680 gallons of liquid waste shipped as of Aug. 4.

The use of vapor suppressants will be ongoing to address odor and vapor issues associated with excavation.

Collection of sediment samples in Sulphur Run will continue to develop a characterization of the creek, which remains contaminated.