Ohio train derailment

A public meeting that was meant to ease fears about a toxic chemical spill in an Ohio town only heightened anger when the rail firm at the heart of the ...

"The answers they are giving could be true. Get that documented." It has also been monitoring the air inside hundreds of homes and said it found no chemicals. "I'm trying to get answers." "They should be here answering questions," he said. You don't back out of questions if you know how to answer them," East Palestine resident Jaime Cozza said.

East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway briefly spoke to reporters on Wednesday evening, before a town hall with residents in the local high school's gymnasium.

"We will not walk away, East Palestine," Shaw said in the letter. "With these tests results, Ohio EPA is confident that the municipal water is safe to drink," DeWine's office said in a statement. Norfolk Southern Railway announced in a statement Tuesday that it has helped 1,000 families as well as a number of businesses in East Palestine, Ohio, since the Feb. "We have the resources to do it. " I trust the methodology that the state is using. “Look, the president called me and said: 'Anything you need.' I have not called him back after that conversation," DeWine said during a press conference Tuesday. "But for those who can't," he added, "I am asking that they trust the government. But Regan also said he understands why some residents are questioning the information they're being provided, still calling on East Palestinians to trust the EPA and reach out to get their home tested if they have any concerns. "From the very beginning, EPA personnel had been on site supporting local and state partners as they lead emergency response efforts," Regan said during Thursday's press conference. [controlled release and burn](https://abcnews.go.com/US/train-derails-flames-ohio-causes-half-town-evacuate/story?id=96892580) of the toxic vinyl chloride from the five tanker cars, which were in danger of exploding. Regan traveled to East Palestine, Ohio on Thursday to visit the derailment site, hear from affected residents and meet with the state's emergency responders. About 50 cars of a freight train operated by Norfolk Southern Railway derailed in a fiery crash on the outskirts of East Palestine, Ohio, near the state line with Pennsylvania, on the night of Feb.

Hundreds of East Palestine residents voiced frustrations and concerns to officials at an informational meeting. Northfolk Southern didn't show up.

Heather Giralico was one of the people struggling to get by after the derailment and evacuation. "We have to clean our whole house and wash all of our clothes and stuff again so we just need some supplies... They stayed in a hotel for five nights and their places of work were shut down. Before the event began, a line of hundreds of attendees waited outside. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the Ohio Department of Health, and U.S. Let's let science tell us what that was." Conaway hosted members of the state and federal environmental protection agencies, Dr. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta, to try to provide some answers to residents exposed to dangerous chemicals released into the air from the derailment and through a controlled burn. I'm trying to get answers. "I'm just as frustrated as you are ... They didn't feel it was safe." "Norfolk Southern didn't show up.

Here's what we know as of Thursday. A Norfolk Southern freight train derailed on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio,. Norfolk Southern skips East Palestine town ...

The Ohio senator said he was "horrified" by the wreck and has been in constant communication with local officials, residents and DeWine's office. His conduct was consistent with the purpose of the event and his role as a reporter.” On Wednesday, the company [said](http://nscorp.mediaroom.com/2023-02-15-East-Palestine-community-update-on-environmental-monitoring,-assistance-Feb-15) it has: - Norfolk Southern did not want to explore possible alternatives to venting and burning the vinyl chloride. Burning it sends phosgene, a toxic gas that was used as a weapon during World War I, and hydrogen chloride into the air, which is why residents had to be evacuated. Remaining East Palestine residents were evacuated from the area, and Norfolk executed the controlled release and burn of the vinyl chloride in five cars around 4:15 p.m. Vinyl chloride is a colorless gas used to make polyvinyl chloride, the hard plastic resin in plastic products, like credit cards, car parts, PVC pipe and more. DeWine said Ohio and Pennsylvania authorities communicated with Norfolk and decided to prevent the explosion. The Ohio EPA said East Palestine residents can safely drink village water on Wednesday, according to a release issued by Gov. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the Ohio Department of Health and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health and Emergency Response Team, and the CDC. Vinyl chloride, a gas contained in five of the cars, was released and burned to prevent an explosion, causing toxic fumes to be released in the area.

A train carrying hazardous materials derailed earlier this month in eastern Ohio, prompting officials to evacuate the area to conduct a controlled burn.

"We should know when we have trains carrying hazardous material that are going through the state of Ohio." But a variety of containment measures had been put in place to ensure the safety of drinking water. Ultimately, officials decided to pursue a "controlled release" of the volatile vinyl chloride. The meeting was originally meant to include representatives from Norfolk Southern. After the crash, some residents have complained of strong smells, headaches and nausea. This week, an EPA testing crew found the air quality inside the building to be safe, she said. Department officials said there is no evidence of an increase in fish deaths since those early days, and that there are no signs of harm to other types of animals. No detection of vinyl chloride or hydrogen chloride have been identified, the EPA said. ET, a Norfolk Southern train derailed near East Palestine, Ohio, a town of about 4,800 people near the border with Pennsylvania. And many have expressed frustration at what they say is a lack of answers from the railroad company and public officials. Some of the chemicals — five rail cars' worth of vinyl chloride — was "From the very start of this, we have taken every step possible to assure that people's safety was first and foremost," Dr.

Residents of the Ohio village upended by a freight train derailment packed a school gym demanding answers about whether they are safe from the toxic ...

No related animal deaths have been confirmed and the risk to livestock is low, Ohio officials said, but the state Agriculture Department is testing samples from a beef calf that died a week after the derailment. “We understand the residents are concerned — as they should be — and they have questions. The National Transportation Safety Board said it has video appearing to show a wheel bearing overheating just beforehand. Officials seeking to avoid an uncontrolled blast evacuated the area and opted to release and burn toxic vinyl chloride from five rail cars, sending flames and black smoke billowing into the sky again. The hazardous chemicals that spilled from the train killed thousands of fish, and residents have talked about finding dying or sick pets and wildlife. No one was injured when about 50 cars derailed in a fiery, mangled mess on the outskirts of East Palestine on Feb. “And we’re going to get to the bottom of this.” “Norfolk needed to be here.” For three days we didn’t even know what was on the train.” Many who had waited in a long line snaking outside the high school gymnasium came away upset that they didn’t hear anything new. EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (AP) — The head of the U.S. “We’re testing for everything that was on that train.”

Unsure if their water or air is safe, area residents unloaded on public officials during a town hall meeting in East Palestine.

State officials are monitoring water and air, saying the levels are within safety. But now, I'm afraid to even shower with it because if there's some kind of acid or stuff in there, is it going to get absorbed in my skin?" "I was drinking it prior to [the accident]. She pointed out discoloration in the creek water behind her house, where toxic runoff is. I wasn't ready for this." "I wasn't built for this.

Norfolk Southern, the company that owns the train involved in a toxic derailment disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, reveals why it skipped a town hall ...

The derailment caused hazardous chemicals to spill onto the ground and sent a plume of smoke into the air. [toxic derailment in East Palestine, Ohio,](https://www.foxnews.com/us/ohio-train-derailment-officials-insist-east-palestine-safe-residents-buying) says it skipped a town hall meeting in that community last night because it was "concerned about the growing physical threat to our employees." Environmental Protection Agency, Columbiana County Health District, Columbiana County EMA, Ohio EMA, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Department of Agriculture, and East Palestine all had tables set up at the event. The U.S. After the resident's outburst, the mayor agreed to do a question-and-answer session. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S.

The head of the US Environmental Protection Agency told CNN the agency plans to hold the train company Norfolk Southern accountable as investigations ...

“I want the community to know that we hear you, we see you, and that we will get to the bottom of this,” Regan said. “The public deserves to have the latest information. Speaking to CNN’s Don Lemon, Cozza said the railroad company told her it was safe to return home after conducting air testing. So we feel comfortable that we are casting a net wide enough to present a picture that will protect the community.” We have the capabilities to detect every single adverse impact that would result from that spill, and that’s what we’re doing,” he said. The public deserves transparency,” he said. If we didn’t do that, then they were going to blow up, and we were going to have shrapnel all across this town.” He said the state has primary responsibility over the scene but the EPA was prepared to partner and provide necessary resources. “We issued a notice of accountability to the company, and they’ve signed that, indicating that they will be responsible for the cleanup,” Regan told CNN. The train operator had agreed to attend but later pulled out of the event due to safety concerns. State officials have repeatedly said water from the municipal system – which is pulled from five deep wells covered by solid steel casing – is safe to drink. The interview comes nearly two weeks after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, a town of under 5,000 people along the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.

Norfolk Southern backed out of East Palestine's town hall. Emotions flared as officials tried to assure locals the chemicals don't pose immediate health ...

[Norfolk Southern backed out of a town hall addressing the derailment response](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/02/16/ohio-train-derailment-response-toxic-contamination/?itid=lb_the-ohio-train-derailment-and-chemical-spill_5). Concern about air pollution from the Norfolk Southern train’s wrecked rail cars has given way to long-term worries about contamination of the water and soil in East Palestine and beyond. [What are the health risks of the chemical spill?](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/02/07/ohio-train-derailment-toxic-impacts/?itid=lb_the-ohio-train-derailment-and-chemical-spill_3) One toxic gas, vinyl chloride, was burned after the derailment, sending toxins into the air. That came two days after the governor said he had not seen a need to request more federal aid. 3 and 14, with one expected to return next week, according to the department. “They’re working to get to the bottom of what caused the derailment, air quality, collecting soil samples, testing surface and groundwater for any contaminants,” Jean-Pierre said. Investigators have said the incident, which led to the spill of toxic hazardous chemicals such as vinyl chloride and butyl acrylate, appeared to have been caused by a mechanical issue. “We know that there is a lack of trust,” Regan said told reporters. We see you, and we will get to the bottom of this.” The Ohio derailment has raised questions about the federal government’s oversight of hazardous material shipments, and created a massive political headache for the Biden administration. “It is unacceptable that it took nearly two weeks for a senior administration official to show up,” Sen. He also vowed to use the government’s legal authority to penalize the company behind the spill.

For many influencers across the political spectrum, claims about the environmental effects of the train derailment have gone far beyond known facts.

[Local media reports](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/dead-fish-ohio-train-derailment/) described several environmental consequences from the controlled burn, including that some fish were found dead in nearby creeks and that some domesticated animals had fallen sick. representative said at the town meeting that the chemicals were lethal to fish, not humans, and that the waterways were already repopulating with fish. Experts [urged caution](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/14/climate/ohio-train-derailment-chemical-spill-health.html) as they assessed the long-term consequences, warning that airborne contaminants can settle on surfaces, seep into wells and migrate through cracks into basements and homes. “To think that the federal government cannot be trusted enough to tell us whether or not it’s safe to go into an area like this.” Residents have been [allowed to return](https://governor.ohio.gov/media/news-and-media/East-Palestine-Update-Residents-Can-Safely-Return-Home-02082023). [said](https://response.epa.gov/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=15933) air quality has returned to safe levels. Water testing found [“no indication of risk”](https://epa.ohio.gov/monitor-pollution/pollution-issues/east-palestine) to public water systems so far, the E.P.A. [feared for their safety](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/15/us/ohio-train-derailment-anxiety.html). A controlled burn of the [toxic materials](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/15/climate/ohio-train-fire-toxic-chemicals.html) has filled the air and covered surface waters and soil [with chemicals](https://www.nytimes.com/article/ohio-train-derailment.html). The Environmental Protection Agency and state officials have acknowledged that the situation in East Palestine, Ohio, is disastrous in many ways. On social media like Twitter and Telegram, commentators have called the situation the “largest environmental disaster in history” or simply “Chernobyl 2.0,” invoking the 1986 nuclear disaster. Right-wing commentators have been particularly critical, using the crisis to sow distrust about government agencies and suggest that the damage could be irreparable.

The Biden administration said Thursday that it will hold rail operator Norfolk Southern accountable for the derailment of a 150-car freight train in East ...

"We're going to hold Norfolk Southern accountable." and we're going to try to figure out an answer," she added. - "Multiple federal agencies have been on the ground working ... - When asked why the Biden administration had not reached out earlier, Jean-Pierre noted that the Environmental Protection Agency has been on the ground since Feb. 4 and that President Biden has spoken with Ohio Gov. [water contamination](https://www.axios.com/2023/02/15/ohio-train-derailment-water-safe)from spilled materials.

"THIS WAS PLANNED / BY DESIGN / FALSE FLAG," reads part of the post. "New reports indicate deadly vinyl chloride has contaminated the Ohio River as far as West ...

[Patrick Ray,](https://researchdirectory.uc.edu/p/raypk)Feb. [BBC News](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60434579). The most common causes of derailments have to do with broken railroads and poor infrastructure, [KABC-TV reported.](https://katv.com/news/nation-world/what-companies-federal-agencies-are-doing-to-prevent-train-derailments-east-palestine-ohio-trains-railroads-norfolk-southern-shipping-companies-supply-chain-toxic-materials-ohio-community-lawmakers-criticize-biden-administration-pete-buttigieg#:~:text=While%20this%20derailment%20is%20grabbing,there%20were%201%2C044%20in%202022.) “There are very very low levels of volatile organic compounds in the Ohio River itself," Kavalec said. However, the levels in the Ohio River pose little to no health risk for humans, Ray said. 15, Phone interview with USA TODAY [ USA TODAY reported.](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/02/05/ohio-train-derailment-explosion-fire/11194610002/) Environmental experts said that contaminants, such as low levels of the chemical butyl acrylate, were detected in the Ohio River from a Feb. Vinyl chloride has not been detected in the Ohio River to date, either. An additional 11 material cars that carried hazardous items also derailed. "New reports indicate deadly vinyl chloride has contaminated the Ohio River as far as West Virginia, a water source for over 5 million." However, the derailment was not a false flag operation, as the post claims.

Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director Michael Regan expressing his concerns about the ...

It is imperative that the EPA is transparent with the American people about the risks this disaster may pose to the health, safety, and well-being of those in affected areas. I ask that you immediately provide the public with an update about what the EPA knows about current risks and in particular provide the following information: As the Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you have an obligation to provide clear guidance to the people of Missouri, and everyone living in affected regions, about the health and safety risks stemming from this disaster. "This is a terrible tragedy for that community and presents potential far-reaching safety hazards to those living and working downstream of the event. This is a terrible tragedy for that community and presents potential far-reaching safety hazards to those living and working downstream of the event. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director Michael Regan expressing his concerns about the potential impact to Missouri over the train derailment and subsequent disaster unfolding in Ohio.

Indiana residents along the Ohio River worry toxic chemicals from the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio could pollute their drinking water.

Harrison said the pollution has been traveling about 25 miles per day and should reach in Huntington, West Virginia, sometime on Friday. The group has 16 water quality monitors along the Ohio River than can screen for about 30 Your comments and questions in response to our weekly text help us find the answers you need on statewide issues, including The chemical has a fruity smell and inhaling it can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Indiana residents along the Ohio River worry toxic chemicals from the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, could pollute their drinking water. When the train derailed two weeks ago, it sent things like butyl acrylate into the Ohio River.

Scientific American is the essential guide to the most awe-inspiring advances in science and technology, explaining how they change our understanding of the ...

[dioxins](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dioxins-and-their-effects-on-human-health), a type of pollutant known to build up over time in animals and humans. To get the public the answers it needs, scientists will have to better establish what’s happening on the ground—and that means a lot of monitoring, experts say. Garrett says it’s important that independent groups, as well as the EPA and Norfolk Southern, monitor the situation. Experts are also testing local well-drawn drinking water and encouraging residents to [rely on bottled water](https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3859230-dewine-emphasizes-bottled-water-drinking-guidance-issued-from-abundance-of-caution/) until that work is complete. “There’s a lot of toxicological nuance here, and I know that that’s not the answer the public deserves, that it needs.” People can be exposed to the chemical as a vapor or from drinking [contaminated water](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/forever-chemicals-are-widespread-in-u-s-drinking-water/). “Officials are testing the outdoor air, and they are reporting no concerns, and that’s good news,” Beier says. [partial manifest](https://response.epa.gov/sites/15933/files/TRAIN%2032N%20-%20EAST%20PALESTINE%20-%20derail%20list%20Norfolk%20Southern%20document.pdf) shared by the EPA offers more insight into some of the other materials it carried. “I can be concerned about a chemical as I see it written down and as I know how it behaves in a laboratory setting. [vinyl chloride](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6338)—a clear, flammable gas used to produce polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, which is used in everything from piping to packaging to flooring. [toxic chemicals](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pesticides-are-spreading-toxic-lsquo-forever-chemicals-rsquo-scientists-warn/) into the air. By intentionally burning off the vinyl chloride in this case, however, responders could evacuate residents long enough for these two short-lived chemicals to break down or otherwise change form rather than risk an unpredictable explosion occurring with people nearby.

East Palestine was placed under a state of emergency and temporary evacuation orders, but there is no indication citizens are being prevented from traveling in ...

Press Freedom Tracker](https://pressfreedomtracker.us/). 8 while delivering a live report](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/02/09/reporter-arrested-ohio-governor-press-conference-newsnation-evan-lambert/11218367002/) on DeWine's news conference about the train derailment as a press conference was ongoing. However, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost [announced](https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Media/News-Releases/February-2023/Charges-Dismissed-for-NewsNation-Reporter-in-East) on Feb. [Kirstin McCudden,](https://freedom.press/people/kirstin-mccudden/) managing editor of the [U.S. 14 news conference](https://www.ohiochannel.org/video/governor-mike-dewine-2-14-2023-update-on-east-palestine-train-derailment). Norfolk Southern began offering the money to residents living within a one-mile radius of the crash site after the evacuation notice was lifted on Feb. Teresa McGuire, director of the Columbiana County Humane Society, which covers East Palestine, told the [Herald-Star](https://www.heraldstaronline.com/news/local-news/2023/02/animals-sick-dying-following-derailment-are-suspect/) she has been compiling a list of animals possibly sickened from exposure to toxic chemicals. But the plan was never to pay out that money directly, and the company's financial commitment has grown since. The agency made the [results of these tests publicly available on its website](https://response.epa.gov/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=15933). The plume was near Gallipolis, Ohio, as of Feb. 14 news conference that "to this date, there is nothing we've seen in the livestock community that causes any concerns." A total of 38 cars derailed and a fire ensued, damaging another 12 cars, according to the

On Feb. 3, a freight train transporting multiple hazardous industrial chemicals derailed in the town of East Palestine, Ohio. In the days that followed, ...

The agency said that it’s [continuing to monitor air quality](https://response.epa.gov/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=15933) in the community. [the EPA said](https://response.epa.gov/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=15933) that the threat of exposure to those hazards stopped when the fire was put out on Feb. [Ethylhexyl acrylate](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/2-Ethylhexyl-acrylate). [Butyl acrylate](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Butyl-acrylate). Contamination of some waterways along the Ohio River [has also been confirmed](https://abcnews.go.com/US/waterways-ohio-river-contaminated-train-derailment-carrying-hazardous/story?id=97195028), but officials say that there’s no evidence that adjacent water supplies have been rendered unsafe, ABC News reported. [Isobutylene](https://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chemical/3667). The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, for example, estimates that [3,500 fish were killed by hazardous runoff](https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/east-palestine-train-derailment/odnr-estimates-3-500-fish-killed-by-east-palestine-train-derailment-spill) following the derailment. [conducted a controlled release and burn](https://response.epa.gov/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=15933) of one of the chemicals on board, called vinyl chloride. [reported](https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/statement-regional-administrator-debra-shore-east-palestine-train-derailment) that so far, it has not detected any of the air quality hazards that it’s been monitoring for since the fire was put out on Feb. [WATCH: Release of toxic chemicals from train derailment in Ohio prompts broader safety concerns](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/release-of-toxic-chemicals-from-train-derailment-in-ohio-prompts-broader-safety-concerns) 8](https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/OHIOGOVERNOR/bulletins/347a700?reqfrom=share) that they could safely return to their homes. 15, the Ohio Emergency Management Agency [announced](https://ema.ohio.gov/media-publications/news/east-palestine-water-quality-update) that no contaminants had been detected in East Palestine’s municipal drinking water, but noted that those who use private wells should get their water tested and drink bottled water in the meantime.

Residents of this close-knit community fear the railroad disaster has changed their lives forever.

"It's a lot more than gasses and the big cloud and plume of chemicals. That stuff is serious, but there a lot of family and social things." it's serious." Over the course of two days in East Palestine, several residents told the BBC that they consider the derailment a seminal moment in the town's history. One of those things that people always talk about," said coffee shop owner Ben Ratner. "I'm afraid for the people that live here," she says.

In Ohio, anger and anxiety are running high nearly two weeks after a train derailment and major chemical spill. Residents there are growing increasingly ...

The EPA is telling people that it's safe to return to their homes. Some residents have reported headaches and rashes in the days since the derailment. I'd be really concerned about indoor surfaces and potential exposures that could happen in that case. And so if those accumulate on surfaces in your home, that becomes another thing to worry about. The monitoring data is from these handheld monitors that are really not designed to measure outside air quality. And so I haven't seen data that suggests that either of those things are true yet. Today, EPA Administrator Michael Regan visited the community. I would be alert and concerned. There's a lot of reports of pets and animals dying. Geoff Bennett: To help understand the potential risks for residents, Geoff Bennett spoke with Peter Decarlo of Johns Hopkins University. In Ohio, anger and anxiety are running high nearly two weeks after a train derailment and major chemical spill.

Members of Congress are urging Norfolk Southern to do more to assist in recovery efforts from the Ohio train derailment, in a letter to the company's CEO.

In his own visit Thursday, EPA Administrator Michael Regan [promised](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/ohio-senators-press-biden-administration-governor-action-wake-train-de-rcna71047) that the Biden administration would “get to the bottom” of the derailment. “No American family should be forced to face the horror of fleeing their homes because hazardous materials have spilled or caught fire in their community.” “In the long-term, Norfolk Southern must make the necessary improvements to safety practices regarding the transport of hazardous materials on U.S. “We hear from our constituents on the ground concerned about Norfolk Southern’s responsiveness. Christopher Deluzio, D-Pa., and Bill Johnson, R-Ohio. “As the carrier responsible for operating the train, Norfolk Southern has a duty to be an active member of the response and clean up,” the members of Congress wrote to Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is calling for Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to resign after coming under fire for the department's oversight of the ...

Vance (R-Ohio) ramped up the pressure on Buttigieg earlier this week, questioning the department’s oversight of the rail system. Residents nearby the crash in Ohio were evacuated after the 150-car train derailed and spilled chemicals, raising fears of a possible explosion. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is calling for Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to resign after coming under fire for the department’s oversight of the U.S. Republicans have pounced on the embattled Buttigieg, who has dealt with controversy in recent months over flight delays and missteps at the Federal Aviation Administration. [Biden](https://thehill.com/people/biden/) [Department of Transportation](https://thehill.com/tag/department-of-transportation/) [Marco Rubio](https://thehill.com/tag/marco-rubio/) [Marco Rubio](https://thehill.com/people/marco-rubio/) [Ohio train derailment](https://thehill.com/tag/ohio-train-derailment/) [Pete Buttigieg](https://thehill.com/tag/pete-buttigieg/) [Pete Buttigieg](https://thehill.com/people/pete-buttigieg/) [Administration](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/) [Administration](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/) [Administration](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/) [Administration](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/) [See All](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/) rail system following a train derailment in Ohio that has spilled toxins into the environment.

I've been waiting to blog on this incident. My first impression about the response was when the local fire department for East Palestine, a city of fewer than ...

Then there is the fact that the railroad's priority is to reopen that railroad corridor to freight traffic. Because we live in an era of mistrust in all institutions, government, business and, yes, even the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), we have to be very careful about what we say, when we say it and how the information is expressed. It was then that I asked myself, "Are they sophisticated enough to do accurate monitoring of the air?" This could end up being a textbook case of what not to do in responding to an incident of this nature. [Norfolk Southern Railway](http://www.nscorp.com/content/nscorp/en.html)did not send a representative to a community meeting where several hundred residents had gathered to get an update. My stance would be, "Out of an abundance of caution, until we have all the information possible people should continue to [do xyz] in order to protect themselves and those who they love."