Residents of East Palestine, Ohio, are requesting more details about the railway crash that released toxic chemicals into the area.
More than a week after the train derailed, representatives from local, state, and federal agencies met Wednesday night for an open house-style gathering to field questions.
A crucial organization, Norfolk Southern, wasn’t present, according to officials, despite the event’s intention to provide residents with further information about the environmental impact of the train crash. Before the event, Norfolk Southern declared that no staff would be going because of safety reasons.
“We know that many are rightfully angry and frustrated right now. Unfortunately, after consulting with community leaders, we have become increasingly concerned about the growing physical threat to our employees and members of the community around this event stemming from the increasing likelihood of the participation of outside parties. With that in mind, Norfolk Southern will not be in attendance this evening,” the company said in a statement.
Hundreds of residents attended the meeting to demand answers about what happens next with their water supply and future overall.
“I was hoping to get some real answers from local, state, and Norfolk Southern officials about what is actually going on. But I know that will never happen,” East Palestine resident Jenna Harris said.
Despite choosing not to attend the meeting, Norfolk Southern claims it still intends to complete its cleanup duties.
“We are not going anywhere. We are committed to East Palestine and will continue to respond to community concerns through our Family Assistance Center and our hotline for citizens to ask questions regarding return to home and health questions,” the company said in its release.
According to East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway, Norfolk Southern should have been in attendance.
“It’s not Norfolk Southern here. It’s the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) who’s been working with us trying to get the citizens back in their homes safe. They (Norfolk Southern) screwed up our town. They’re going to fix it,” Conway said.
Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the Ohio Department of Health, addressed concerns about the area’s air quality during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon and stated that testing indicates levels are still within normal range.
“People should be confident that multiple agencies — both at the state and national level — are very serious about this, are watching very closely, are not allowing any wiggle room when it comes to safety,” Vanderhoff said.
According to Governor Mike DeWine on Wednesday, EPA testing has found that the municipal water in the village of East Palestine is safe to drink. Nonetheless, the EPA urges residents who use private wells for drinking water to make an appointment for a well inspection by a reputable consultant.
The decision to carry out the controlled release was made last week when DeWine stated that the contents of five train cars were “currently unstable and could potentially explode, causing deadly disbursement of shrapnel and toxic fumes.”
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost advised Norfolk Southern on Wednesday that his office is considering legal action against the rail operator.
“The pollution, which continues to contaminate the area around East Palestine, created a nuisance, damage to natural resources and caused environmental harm,” Yost said in a letter to the company.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “East Palestine Derailment” by City of East Pasetime and “Norfolk Souther President and CEO Alan Shaw” by Norfolk Southern.
