Plan to incinerate soil from Ohio train derailment is 'horrifying', says expert

[infullview]

Contaminated soil from the site around the East Palestine train wreck in Ohio is being sent to a nearby incinerator with a history of clean air violations, raising fears that the chemicals being removed from the ground will be redistributed across the region.

The new plan is “horrifying”, said Kyla Bennett, a former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official now with the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility non-profit. She is one among a number of public health advocates and local residents who have slammed Norfolk Southern and state and federal officials over the decision.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/04/east-ohio-train-derailment-soil

OK, I don't often find myself siding with big business, in this case the rail industry, but this is EXACTLY the right thing to do with contaminated soil. It's NOT incineration as the article would have you believe, it's heat treating the soil to burn off the contaminates. After this type of treatment, the soil can be returned to the site. I've been in EPA waste related industries for years now and this is the right way to do the clean up. The only thing I can recognize as bad here is that the facility doing the treatment has a less than stellar reputation. That does not mean this won't work.

[Phoenix61]

1. She's spot on.

This facility has had a huge history of violations. Add
that the science on burning dioxin is unclear but it is known it has to be burned at a very high temp.
“Among the chemicals that had been released at dangerous levels was dioxin, and among the issues cited by the EPA were a failure by Heritage to maintain a required minimum temperature, raising questions about whether the facility can handle more dioxin and PFAS waste.”

[twodogsbarking]

2. They won't be happy until no one is happy. Mission accomplished.

[GGoss]

3. Thank You For This !!!