EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine said a new step is being taken to ensure the health and safety of East Palestine residents following last month’s train derailment.

This announcement comes just a week after the governor criticized the Environmental Protection Agency for its removal of solid waste from the area, saying the process has been too slow.

He told reporters Friday that the removal rate has picked up, which he’s happy to see.

Soil samples from across East Palestine are being taken now and tested. The governor said this process began last Thursday. He said samples are being taken from various plots of land, including commercial, residential and agricultural.

He also said testing for both air quality and water quality have continued to bring back “good results.”

Still, DeWine said much more needs to be done, especially by Norfolk Southern, to deal with the damage caused by the derailment.

“If the land values do in fact go down, taxes will be down and less money will be going to the school. This is a big concern. We expect Norfolk Southern to be held accountable for that,” he said.

Earlier this is week, the state filed a lawsuit against Norfolk Southern claiming the company violated a number of state and federal laws from water pollution to air pollution.

The state is asking a judgment be made that would make Norfolk Southern responsible for covering costs and damages incurred from the emergency response to the train derailment.

“Norfolk Southern has an obligation to put this community back to where it was,” the governor said. "We didn’t ask for this train wreck. It’s their train. It’s their tracks. It’s their train wreck.”

During their visit Friday, the governor and first lady also toured East Palestine High School.