EPA’s Response to Inaccurate Dioxin Reporting
Recently, EPA became aware of a report claiming that EPA failed to openly share data, particularly the waste-characterization data that was collected in February 2023 related to dioxin and furan (dioxin) compounds. Recent reporting on this issue is inaccurate and mischaracterizes EPA’s response and commitment to transparency.
Although air monitoring during the fire showed it was unlikely that high levels of dioxin were generated and released into the air, in February testing for dioxin in the heavily contaminated waste at the derailment site was conducted. EPA started sharing dioxin data from characterized site waste with the public as early as March 2023. This data sharing occurred through many meetings with community members at EPA’s welcome center and at community meetings and events. Furthermore, EPA posted this data on its webpage in the spring of 2023 and has openly discussed this data throughout the response. The dioxin and furan levels that were detected are not unusual for this type of waste. Additionally, EPA has sent this data to several requestors over the past year, including local community groups. The following link is an example of EPA’s transparency regarding this information and data:
EPA letter to River Valley Organizing and Unity Council (pdf)
. For more information on chemical data from the site-derived waste, please review EPA’s Waste Management Plans online. In addition to the site-characterization sampling that was conducted in February, testing began for dioxin off-site in residential, commercial and agriculture areas in March. Given the air monitoring that EPA conducted prior to, during and after the vent and burn, EPA had no reason to believe that dioxins posed a threat to the community. However, EPA conducted this testing in response to the community’s request to do so. This data was also shared with the public through various means and posted to EPA’s webpage in May 2023.
EPA prides itself on transparency and works diligently to provide the public with what information EPA has. Similarly, EPA welcomes outside information from credible sources and is eager to work with residents, scientists, and other subject matter experts. Since the early days of the response, EPA has worked with many outside academic, government, and third-party researchers, as well as community members, to openly share information and data.