February 3, 2026
New Documents Reveal Deep Flaws in Norfolk Southern’s Dioxin Soil Sampling Plan
WASHINGTON—Today, Government Accountability Project submitted a new analysis to the Congressional offices of Representatives Michael Rulli (R-OH) and Chris Deluzio (D-PA) that raises more questions about the scientific integrity of the dioxin soil sampling plan submitted by Norfolk Southern and its contractor Arcadis after the catastrophic chemical burn in East Palestine, Ohio, as well as the current status of crops and health in the small town.
The recent findings are based on a technical review of internal expert comments on the sampling plan based on a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) quality control review obtained via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Key findings from the technical review and FOIA documents include multiple practices that undermine data integrity and called “not acceptable” in the internal comments, meaning the public cannot trust that the data accurately reflects true health risks in East Palestine.
These newly found errors only demonstrate the importance of EPA oversight as data collected by Government Accountability Project whistleblower Scott Smith showing that dioxin levels are rising, rather than decreasing, since the derailment. Smith’s sampling data show that average soil dioxin levels at the same location, Brushville Supply on Taggart Street, in East Palestine increased by over 350% between 2024 and August 2025, rising from 1,300 ppt in 2024 to 5,300 ppt in 2025.
These revelations are especially concerning considering the ongoing health issues still being experienced by residents, and Government Accountability Project’s unanswered petition submitted to EPA calling for immediate action to warn residents in and around East Palestine, Ohio, about the presence of dioxins and other harmful environmental contaminants in garden produce and wild game. Failure to act swiftly to protect residents from dioxin exposure would pose a continued endangerment to public health three years after the derailment. While this petition was submitted in 2024, EPA has still neither granted nor denied relief.
“From improper sample handling to eliminating standard operating procedures, the deficiencies are not minor. They are fundamental failures that hide the true extent of life-threatening contamination in East Palestine,” stated Lesley Pacey, Senior Environmental Investigator at Government Accountability Project. “Despite EPA’s statutory duty to protect public health, the agency has continued to publicly assure residents that it is safe to grow and eat food from their home gardens—even after independent testing found dioxin toxic equivalency levels in garden produce far exceeding background and state cleanup benchmarks. EPA’s failure to warn has left an ongoing exposure pathway unaddressed, compounding the risk of chronic illness and cancer more than three years after the derailment.”
Government Accountability Project has sent this new information to Reps. Michael Rulli (R-OH) and Chris Deluzio (D-PA) to call for oversight of EPA and proper remediation for the residents of East Palestine.
Contact: [email protected]
Government Accountability Project
Government Accountability Project is the nation’s leading whistleblower protection organization. Through litigating whistleblower cases, publicizing concerns and developing legal reforms, Government Accountability Project’s mission is to protect the public interest by promoting government and corporate accountability. Founded in 1977, Government Accountability Project is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C.
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