EPA chief and Ohio governor drink tap water near train crash site after harsh criticism

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Reagan volunteered to drink tap water during a visit to a woman’s home in East Palestine, Ohio, demonstrating personally that the water is safe after Norfolk Southern train crash Feb 3

Dozens of railroad cars, including 11 loaded with toxic chemicals, derailed as the train passed through the city on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. Officials conducted a controlled burning of the spilled chemicals to prevent an explosion by releasing large plumes of hazardous chemicals into the air, which left a foul odor in the area and reportedly caused disease in livestock and pets.

EPA officials said air and water tests did not reveal any hazardous chemicals. However, critics including Sen. J. D. Vance, R-Ohio Stateurged high-ranking officials to drink water from the area if they truly believe it is safe.

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DeWine, Regan, and Rep. Bill Johnson, D-Ohio, did so Tuesday while visiting the woman’s home.

“Would anyone like a drink of water?” the woman asked. The officials readily agreed, and she directed them where to find the glasses, which they then distributed.

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“We believe in science so we don’t feel like your guinea pig, but we don’t mind showing you that we believe the water is safe,” Regan said.

The officials quickly toasted the landlord and drank water from the tap.

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“That’s good,” Regan remarked. “Very cold from the tap.”

“I think, you know, peace of mind is something we should continue… it’s understandable why you are worried. People are worried,” DeWine said.

The governor estimated the physical cleanup of the crash site to be “about halfway through”. About 15,000 pounds of contaminated soil and 1.1 million gallons of contaminated water have been recovered from the site so far, Nortfolk Southern said Monday.

“It’s a slow process, but there are a lot of people doing it here,” DeWine told the homeowner.

“It makes us feel better,” she replied.

Paul Best of Fox News contributed to this report.

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