EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced on Wednesday that it will return to East Palestine this summer for its final board meeting regarding the 2023 Ohio train derailment.
The public meeting will take place on Tuesday, June 25, at 9:30 a.m. at East Palestine High School.
In addition, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy is planning two community meetings on June 24 and June 25 at East Palestine High School as an opportunity for the public to ask about the NTSB's investigative process.
“The NTSB is returning to East Palestine for our final board meeting for the same reasons we went last summer: Because the communities most affected by this tragedy deserve to hear our findings in-person and in real-time,” Homendy said.
This announcement comes just days after the East Palestine community in Columbiana County marked one year since the toxic Feb. 3 train derailment.
Prior to the anniversary, NTSB released new videos of the explosions, fire and huge plumes of black smoke that prompted evacuations in East Palestine. The footage can be watched below:
President Joe Biden announced last week that he will be visiting East Palestine in February. At this time, the date of his visit is unknown.
Previously, the NTSB held a two-day investigation hearing last June in East Palestine.
During last year's visit, the NTSB gathered sworn testimony about the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern Railway toxic train derailment, along with the subsequent hazardous material release and fires. The agency says the hearings are "a fact-finding step" of its safety investigation and the testimony will become part of the public record of the investigation.
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