East Palestine Derailment
"Many residents of East Palestine are eager to move forward once the cleanup of the derailment wraps up later this year, but some are still experiencing respiratory problems, rashes and other health concerns."
“…contractors employed by the Norfolk Southern railway company ‘lacked the scientific background’ to decide that a vent-and-burn was necessary to head off a chemical reaction that could cause the cars to explode. [Jennifer Homendy] testified that a better option would have been to allow the tank cars time to cool down.”
"Misti Allison, an East Palestine resident and member of Moms Clean Air Force, said new leadership at Norfolk Southern should be considered necessary for holding the company accountable. 'From President Biden, to the FRA [Federal Railroad Administration], to the NTSB [National Transportation Safety Board], all the way down to the residents of East Palestine, I think we all agree that there needs to be an increased focus on safety to ensure that this type of derailment disaster doesn’t happen again,' she said."
Today’s testimony by NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy was shocking. The implication is clear: Norfolk Southern forced an unnecessary vent and burn of toxic chemicals to clear the tracks and get their trains moving.
“Now you can see sparks from an apparent wheel bearing overheating … The train keeps going for 20 miles after that point, headed for East Palestine. And that is where it derails at 8:55, a full 43 minutes after we saw those sparks in Salem.”
“As you can see sparks and flames underneath this Norfolk Southern train, and this was 20 miles before it derailed … The NTSB says there was an alert, but it is not known if it came from the hot box detector in Salem or the next one down the track 20 miles away in East Palestine where that derailment happened. And if the alert wasn’t triggered when the train passed Salem, why not?”
“The way that the response from Norfolk Southern and government officials has unfolded has deepened a conviction among many here that they have been treated as expendable victims of powerful forces.”
“The rate of accidents on Norfolk Southern’s railway increased in each of the last four years, according to a recent company presentation. The record has worsened as executives at Norfolk Southern and other railroads have been telling investors on Wall Street that they can bolster their profit margins by keeping a lid on costs. At the same time, railway companies have lobbied against new rules aimed at making trains safer.”
“Experts warn that it will likely take years to complete the cleanup of East Palestine – if it can ever be considered truly complete. ‘They'll be living with this both environmentally and psychologically for a long time. And I don't see any really quick return to normal,’ said Noah Sachs, a professor of environmental law at the University of Richmond.”
“The rail agency said its assessment ‘shows numerous examples where NS seems more concerned with compliance with minimum safety requirements of federal regulations and industry standards rather than understanding and seeking to address safety concerns that fall outside the boundaries of existing rules and regulations.'"
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