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EPA Opens Investigation into ASPECT Failures in East Palestine [1]

['Mary Allain']

Date: 2024-07-17 18:18:05+00:00

July 17, 2024

EPA Opens Investigation into ASPECT Failures in East Palestine

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, in a huge win for whistleblowers and the East Palestine community, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) opened an investigation into the Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology (ASPECT) flight missions, policies, procedures, and quality assurance project plans employed during the East Palestine, Ohio toxic train derailment in February 2023. This investigation comes after Government Accountability Project whistleblower client, Dr. Robert Kroutil, disclosed EPA’s failure to deploy the ASPECT plane in a timely manner and negligence in data collection – having turned off chemical sensors in and around the area of East Palestine. Government Accountability Project applauds the EPA in its efforts into opening an investigation not long after receiving the disclosure. This investigation will hopefully shed light on why the ASPECT plane was not deployed properly after this disaster that has left many sick or displaced.

Government Accountability Project Senior Environmental Officer, Lesley Pacey, commented:

“We are pleased that the EPA OIG has agreed to move forward with an investigation into our whistleblower’s important disclosures concerning the ASPECT’s delayed use and misuse in East Palestine. This is a huge step toward gathering additional information for residents harmed by this disaster and preventing the misuse of EPA’s best chemical sensing technology during future disasters.”

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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[1] Url: https://whistleblower.org/press/epa-opens-investigation-into-aspect-failures-in-east-palestine/

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