Updated Joint Statement on the Treatment and Discharge of East Palestine Wastewater

Crest of the City of Baltimore

Brandon M. Scott
Mayor,
Baltimore City
250 City Hall - Baltimore Maryland 21202
(410) 396-3835 - Fax: (410) 576-9425

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

BALTIMORE, MD. (Saturday, March 25, 2023) - Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott issued the following statement regarding East Palestine Wastewater.

"The Baltimore City Department of Public Works was notified by Clean Harbors Environmental Services that the company has contracted with Norfolk Southern Railroad to accept, treat, and discharge the wastewater collected from rainwater, collected water, and stream water above and below the cleanup site of the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, OH that occurred on February 3, 2023. The facility is one of a number of facilities in locations around the country selected to process this material.

Both the City and the County teams have been in touch with the Governor's office as well as with the EPA. State and federal officials have assured us they are confident in the facility's ability to process this material. However, we have tasked our teams to do their due diligence to be certain that there is no risk to the health and safety or our residents and our environment. Additionally, we are seeking a legal opinion from the Attorney General's Office regarding the City's requirement to discharge the waste from the Norfolk Southern Railroad derailment.

We continue to learn more information and will share more information as updates become available."

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