Oklahoma government blocks shipment of toxic waste from train derailment in eastern Palestine
‘There are still too many unanswered questions’: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt BLOCKS shipment of toxic waste from eastern Palestine train derailment site to hazardous waste disposal plant
- Waste from the Norfolk Southern site was to be taken to the plant in Waynoka, OK
- Governor Stitt blocked it at the last minute last night out of security fears.
- The EPA says it is playing politics and putting the residents of East Palestine at risk
Oklahoma’s governor has blocked a planned shipment of toxic waste from the train derailment in eastern Palestine to a hazardous waste plant in his state, saying there are still too many unanswered questions about the materials.
The waste was to be transported from the accident site in Ohio to the Lone Mountain landfill in Waynoka, Oklahoma.
Last night, Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt blocked the shipment, saying he was still not convinced it was safe for Oklahomans.
Environmental Protection Agency bosses say it’s ‘playing politics’ and insist it’s safe.
Hazardous materials from the East Palestine derailment were supposed to be taken to Oklahoma, but the governor stopped their shipment at the last minute.
Debris from the derailment was to be transported to Oklahoma.
Stitt, in a tweet and Facebook post, said: “I found out late yesterday that a shipment of toxic waste from the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio was arriving in Oklahoma.
‘I immediately worked with my team, Senator Lankford, Senator Mullin and Congressman Lucas to prevent the shipment from reaching our state.
‘There are too many unanswered questions and I have finally made the decision that this is not in the best interest of Oklahomans.
‘Since late last night that shipment has been blocked.’
It’s unclear how much Norfolk Southern, the railroad company responsible for the derailed train, paid the facility in Oklahoma to accept the waste, or why it was chosen as the site to send it.
The waste was to be transported from the accident site in Ohio to the Lone Mountain landfill in Waynoka, Oklahoma (pictured)
The plant in Waynoka is more than 1,000 miles from the derailment site.
It is also unclear how it was to be transported and who was responsible for that journey.
The EPA, which is part of the government, is desperate to move the materials.
He has been widely criticized for his handling of the crisis, which began on February 3, and has been called the biggest environmental disaster in US history.
Residents of eastern Palestine have been reluctant to return to their homes for fear of contamination, despite repeated assurances from the EPA that it is safe.
‘Let’s be clear: Norfolk Southern has a contract with a licensed disposal facility in Oklahoma that can accept this waste.
‘As always with waste disposal, EPA has security measures in place to ensure that communities are protected every step of the way.
Governor Stitt is playing politics at the expense of the people of East Palestine, Ohio.
“We are reviewing all legal authorities to ensure that the people of East Palestine, who have suffered enough, do not become the victim of this political swagger,” said EPA chief Maria Michalos.
Neither the EPA nor Norfolk Southern or Clean Harbors responded to questions from DailyMail.com Monday morning.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt blocked the shipment last night, saying in a statement that he was not convinced it was safe for Oklahomans.