I read reports of dead fish and chickens, but no cattle.
Although other reports indicate pets sick and dying, too. https://www.wtrf.com/ohio/animals-are-sick-and-dying-after-ohio-train-derailment/
Still not sure what is true, except for the fish. Even Snopes said that was true.
I've kept quiet about the matter so far, but I got to weigh in,
In my career I oversaw response to several dozens of spills of varying sizes and substances at petrochemical facilites. On and off site. I do know based on those materials and sizes, each response may be different to a certain degree. I will tell everyone with 100% certainty that between 1982 to 2013 I was never gave authorization, or got an approved response for the state or feds to intentionally set fire to a spill as an appropriate response. That is insane.
From what I have read from what were on manifests, all the substances including most serious (vinyl chloride monomers) should have been responded by tradional means, of:
1. Proactive air monitoring of the communtiy, and the spill area to insure proper PPE.
2. Census of vulnerable wildlife, and remove to safe distances where possible
3. Laser Focus on containment of the spill to the smallest area possible. Take all necessary steps to minimize any losses to streams or ground water sources.
4. Application of absorbants to help mitigate #1, and allow collection for additonal disposal or treatment. Or liquid recontainment where practical.
5. Sealed containment for all contaminants removed in this emergency response.
6. Likely High Temperature thermal incineration for disposal to what we called 7-"9:'s efficiency. Meaning all collected contaminants incinerated until 99.99999% of material has been reduced to that substance's elemental substrates.
Never Never Never, would have I authorized , or would have been given agency authorization to simply torch the spill.
This is levels of ineptitude, I can not believe has happened.
Who the "F" is running EPA nowadays?
