Ohio EPA

His efforts exposing contamination in soil and water across Ohio has in large part led to our awareness of PFAS chemicals.

It's been one year since a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine. Since then, Norfolk Southern has been cleaning and remediating the effected areas, but some residents still think the town is unsafe to live in.

The counties receiving grants will use the funding to implement local projects to increase the quality of recyclable material, decrease contamination of recycling bins and improve drop-off recycling programs. The Ohio EPA estimates this project will impact over 190,000 households across the state.

Dioxins form when chemicals like vinyl chloride are burned. Experts say the presence of dioxins in East Palestine is likely, but the amount and risk level will remain unknown without proper testing.

The freight rail company submitted the plan to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. It includes installing wells to monitor groundwater and sampling soil near the site of the derailment.

East Palestine Fire Chief Keith Drabick lifted the evacuation at a press conference Wednesday night. It had been in place since Sunday.

If confirmed by the Ohio Senate, Anne Vogel will replace director Laurie Stevenson, who is set to retire at the end of the year.

Anne Vogel, the governor's policy director, has experience with DeWine's environmental programs.

The project will remove the last remaining dam on the lower Cuyahoga River. The dam's removal will restore more than a mile of river access for community use, while also reestablishing fish and wildlife habitat and could be complete by 2026.

A nonprofit research group has found the oil and gas industry in Ohio used PFAS known as “forever” chemicals, thousands of times over the past decade.