‘A sacrifice zone’: East Palestine’s wastewater is flooding into this Ohio community

Wastewater from the derailment site cleanup will be injected far underground in the foothills of the Appalachians

Mounted on the wall above Mark Mills’ head was a model of a large northern pike. “This area is one of the most southerly places in the country that you can catch them,” said Mills, the mayor of Coshocton, a town of 11,000 people in Ohio’s Appalachian foothills.

Coshocton’s natural beauty and outdoor pursuits industry attract thousands of people worldwide, generating $60m annually for the local economy. The local visitors bureau sends packages to people in countries as far away as Poland.