Ohio officials want to see Norfolk Southern held accountable, but some have also questioned if the federal government can do more.
As East Palestine residents cope with a fiery train derailment in their backyard, state and federal officials are grappling with a question: How do we prevent this from happening again?
And there’s been plenty of finger-pointing in the process.
About 50 train cars, 11 of which contained hazardous materials, derailed in the small village on Feb. 3 due to a mechanical issue with the rail car axle. The National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the incident, said a wheel bearing appeared to have overheated on the car that caused the derailment.
Five of the derailed train cars contained vinyl chloride, which officials released into the air to prevent an explosion. The colorless gas is associated with an increased risk of certain cancers, including a rare liver cancer.
“That was an unmitigated disaster, there’s no question about it,“ said U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta, who represents the area.
East Palestine train derailment:Norfolk Southern faces several lawsuits
Officials are withholding their full judgment until the NTSB completes its investigation, but they haven’t been shy in pinning the blame on Norfolk Southern Railroad, which operated the train. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro penned a letter accusing the company of mismanaging its response and failing to communicate with local officials. Shapiro called on the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to investigate the company.
In Ohio, leaders are watching to ensure the railroad makes good on promises to clean everything up.
