A common theme is emerging in the weeks after a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. It seems as though information about what is being transported is difficult to come by. First, Norfolk Southern gave an incomplete list of the chemicals that were being transported in the first place — and therefore an incomplete list of what was released into the air and water. Now, it seems Michigan and Texas were not told what was coming when contaminated waste from the site was shipped out of East Palestine.

Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency briefly halted shipments after officials in Michigan and Texas complained they had not received warning that waste from the derailment site would be coming to them for disposal. Texas is receiving approximately 2 million gallons of firefighting water from the site; and Michigan is receiving contaminated soil. Even the mayor of East Liverpool, Ohio, where some of the waste is set to be incinerated, was uneasy. Gregory T. Bricker said, however, that he had been assured by the EPA that all guidelines were being followed.

“We have a 2-year-old daughter and of course that’s a concern,” Bricker told CNN. “But, again, I think this is a state-of-the-art facility that can handle this type of waste.”

It is admirable the EPA is working to assure Norfolk Southern and contractors have East Palestine cleaned up as quickly as possible. But they must place equal urgency on informing and protecting the residents of the communities to which the contaminated materials are being shipped.

” … I know there are folks in other states who have concerns, legitimate concerns, about how this waste is being transported and how it will be disposed of,” EPA regional administrator Debra Shore said. “EPA will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to use our longstanding experience and expertise in these matters to ensure the health and safety, and support the East Palestine community and to hold Norfolk Southern accountable.”

Among the better ways to hold Norfolk Southern — and all rail companies — accountable is to require an accurate accounting of EVERYTHING being transported, at every step in the process. Nothing is gained by operating in secrecy; and quietly shifting the problem from one community to another is not the answer.