EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — More than ten days after the train derailment in East Palestine, there are plenty of unanswered questions.
The incident on Feb. 3 involved a Norfolk Southern freight train coming off the tracks and catching fire. Amid fears of an explosion, officials evacuated everyone within a one-mile radius and conducted a "controlled release" of hazardous chemicals.
Even with residents allowed to return home, environmental and safety concerns remain. While Gov. Mike DeWine and members of his administration tried to address those concerns during a Tuesday briefing, multiple state and local politicians and organizations have released statements in reaction to the derailment response.
Gov. Mike DeWine
During his news conference, DeWine said that he had received a phone call from President Joe Biden last week pledging the federal government's support, and the governor expressed his appreciation for the assistance of the Environmental Protection Agency as well as the Department of Defense.
"The president said, 'anything you need,'" DeWine added. "I have not called him back after that conversation. I will not hesitate to do that if we're seeing a problem or anything, but I'm not seeing it."
The governor added that he learned from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) that the train was not considered "a high hazardous material train," meaning Norfolk Southern did not have to let state officials know it was coming through. DeWine asked Congress to take a further look at the incident.
You can watch his briefing from Tuesday below.
City of Akron
"While this was a major life disrupting event for those who live in that area, the air pollution from the events was transported to the south and east by the winds,” said Sam Rubens, Administrator of the local air agency, Akron Regional Air Quality Management District, a service of Summit County Public Health. “We live about 60 miles west and north of the scene, so no air pollution was brought our way. We have no concerns about the pollutants locally. There is no action that needs to be taken by our local residents.”
“In Summit County, our water supply and air quality are tested daily,” said County Executive Ilene Shapiro. “There is no indication that our water or air have been impacted by the events in East Palestine. We continue to stay in contact with Summit County Public Health, who do an exceptional job of keeping us all safe and healthy.”
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1
“The aftermath of the derailed Ohio train has had catastrophic impacts on the Palestine community - and it doesn’t end there. The EPA has confirmed that vinyl chloride from this train has entered the Ohio River basin - a major water source for working people in the Midwest. This crisis puts Local 1 members from Indianapolis to Cincinnati in danger and the worst part of this is - this was preventable.
Union rail workers have warned us about the public safety issues at hand and railroad companies decided to put profit over people. Community members are having trouble breathing, animals are dying and families are scrambling to find safety - this is an ecological disaster that could have long-term repercussions. We have to hold railroad corporations accountable and ensure that history does not repeat itself.”
United States Senate
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH): "Hundreds of families in East Palestine were forced to face the horror of fleeing their homes because of hazardous materials in their community. @EPA @OhioEPA must do full safety testing, and @nscorp should be held accountable and pay for cleanup and continued monitoring.
If you would like to request air monitoring at your home, call the residential re-entry request hotline: (330) 849-3919. If you have evacuated and need assistance, call the Norfolk Southern Family Assistance Center: (800) 230-7049."
Sen. JD Vance (R-OH): "This is a complex environmental disaster with impacts that may be difficult to assess in the short term. Long-term study will be imperative. As will long-term to commitment to remediation by Norfolk Southern for the property damaged, the wildlife disrupted, and the community scarred by this incident."
U.S. House of Representatives
Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Marietta): "People I’ve spoken with in the area are fearful. They are wondering about the future and looking for answers – and assurances they aren’t going to be forgotten. I’ve also heard from many residents who live just outside the one-mile evacuation perimeter who also evacuated out of an abundance of caution but not are currently eligible for reimbursement for disaster-related expenses. The people of East Palestine deserve an explanation from the very top of Norfolk Southern as to what metrics were used to determine the boundaries of the evacuation perimeter.
The bottom line is this: the entire village was impacted, and I encourage Norfolk Southern to strongly consider reimbursement for all East Palestine residents."
Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Cleveland): "We are grateful to the first responders who protected Ohioans last week after the tragic train derailment in East Palestine. It is essential to protect the health & safety of those in Eastern OH + nearby areas following this crisis."
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Toledo): "The #BipartisanInfrastructureLaw was passed to modernize and ensure safety for passenger and commercial rail, but Norfolk Southern must come to the table and be part of the solution. The @EPA and @USDOT must hold responsible parties accountable to the people of East Palestine."