docmedic t1_jaaysam wrote on February 28, 2023 at 3:00 AM

Reply to comment by BabySnark317537 in As crews remove contaminated soil and liquid from Ohio toxic train wreck site, concerns emerge about where it's going. by ILikeTalkn2Myself

It’s probably all going according to waste disposal protocols, but the fact that the EPA had to stop and review the plans… like, is that not part of the protocol, and they just did it because it’s optics?

Can the EPA quit it with the optics? We don’t need the head to nervously pretend to sip water or for the agency to pretend to order people around.

BabySnark317537 t1_jab14uh wrote on February 28, 2023 at 3:18 AM

The state and the railroads have always been allowed to do what they want and the EPA as an agency barely has any teeth. Because of the public outcry the EPA has been allowed to tell the railroad no. And turns out Texas and Michagan didn't feel like taking the usual waste. Which means the EPA *gets * to review the plans before they are enacted. They weren't allowed before. This is real progress which is just as sad as the deregulation that led to this horrible situation.

RunningNumbers t1_jacknps wrote on February 28, 2023 at 1:46 PM

You know much of the authority of the Federal EPA has been spun off to state EPA agencies over the past few decades.

Lots of this is the responsibility of state agencies rather than federal.

Gundamamam t1_jacfelx wrote on February 28, 2023 at 1:00 PM

Like Michigan's governor getting upset that the waste was being sent to a toxic waste processing facility in michigan. Like, thats what its for. Is the governor going to try and block any other out of state businesses from using that waste disposal company or only the Norfolk Southern spill because its in the news?

doommaster t1_jac8jg7 wrote on February 28, 2023 at 11:48 AM

the fact that the EPA told people "it was safe to return to their homes" was sooo crazy to me as an outside observer... damn America is fucked.

The fact alone, that these companies are allowed to transport reactive chemicals, that interact with another in really harmful ways, all on the same train, is crazy to me.
That's like telling people to use acid and chlorine cleaner right after the other...