EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio — Amid growing outrage over the environmental fallout from last month’s Norfolk Southern train derailment in Ohio, federal regulators are touting new measures they say will improve railway safety nationwide.
But there are new concerns about where some of the hazardous materials are heading.
Among the disposal sites is one longtime incinerator in East Liverpool, Ohio, about 20 miles south of of the train derailment site in East Palestine.
NBC News spoke with several residents of East Liverpool who have been fighting the plant run by Heritage Thermal Services, previously known as Waste Technologies Industries for decades.
Since its opening in 1992, it has faced protests and multiple lawsuits from environmental groups. The EPA said the plant released high levels of toxic chemicals 195 times between 2010 and 2014.
“The facility show have never been here in the first place,” said Alonzo Spencer of East Liverpool.
The company has always denied wrongdoing.
Greg Bricker is the East Liverpool mayor. He lives across the river from the incinerator with a 2-year-old daughter.
"They gave me their assurances and we rely on them.”
Heritage Thermal Services says it is “fully permitted to manage the materials generated” at the derailment site and “stands ready to do its part to help protect human health and the environment.”
“I would ask that they just don’t forget about us,” said Melody Monteiro of East Liverpool.
Some longtime residents are skeptical of federal regulators.
“We are in a crisis right now,” said Ricardo Gonzalez. “It’s choking me up.”