As of February 3rd, a train was derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. That train was carrying a very toxic chemical called vinyl chloride, and when it derailed it exploded, releasing the harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. This could become a national environmental disaster. This chemical has now spread all around Ohio’s streams, rivers, and waterways. The local officials are telling everyone it’s fine and they are okay to go back home, but the citizens of Ohio are weary. They don’t believe that their officials are telling the truth because in all their waterways there are dead floating fish, some say their livestock are dropping dead, the city smells like chlorine, and people are reporting severe migraines. Palisade Student Hailee Holm stated, “I’m surprised nobody has really heard about it. It’s scary.” If the toxic chemicals got into their water this could affect the entirety of the U.S. Even though this should be the #1 story in the U.S., people are only finding out about it now. Why is such a big thing happening right now but is getting a media blackout? Honestly, we can’t say for sure. Ohio and places near it could even end up having something similar to acid rain. There are more chemicals released into the air and our waterways around the U.S. in several different states since and before the Ohio accident. In another part of the U.S., a derailed train spilled around 2,000 gallons of diesel near Yaquina River, Oregon. Along with many different chemical-related things happening. Let us hope nothing happens to our waterways, and that Ohio residents are safe.