County Agencies to Seek Funding for East Palestine Well Testing

LISBON, Ohio – The Columbiana County Port Authority Board of Directors took action Monday to help provide additional well testing for residents affected by last year’s train derailment in East Palestine.

With a unanimous vote, and Chairman Charlie Presley participating by telephone, the board approved a resolution authorizing the port authority to enter into an agreement for technical and administration services with the county health district to seek upwards of $2 million in grant funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for residential well testing related to the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train Feb. 3, 2023.

With the agreement, the port authority is eligible to submit an application for funding, serving in the grantee role at the request of the health district while also providing administrative services. This dual role raised a question in the mind of board member Tad Herold, who said, “I’m confused why we’re the grantee and the administrator.”

Penny Traina, port authority director and CEO, said, “The health department is the sub-grantee. This is what we were told to do.” She added that the funding will come directly to the port authority, with the health district handling the testing of wells and the port authority handling the drawback of funding for work performed.

“We are providing the administration for the health department; they are applying for it,” Traina explained, saying health Commissioner Wes Vins requested the port authority’s assistance. 

The project would last 10 years, and Assistant Director Brittany Smith said the grant funds would allow the well-testing area currently being tested to be expanded.

A time frame for receiving the funding is not yet known.

The port authority would receive up to 7 percent of the awarded grant funding as compensation for its administrative services and could draw down an additional 3 percent of the funding to pay the health district for its work.

The only other business before the board at its monthly meeting was approving a CD renewal with Consumers National Bank for one year and approving routine financial reports. 

Pictured at top: A sign is seen at the edge of East Palestine, Ohio, on Jan. 29, 2024. (AP Photo | Carolyn Kaster)

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