WASHINGTON (AP) — Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg sent a letter Sunday to the CEO of Norfolk Southern, warning that the freight rail company must “demonstrate unequivocal support for the people” of East Palestine, Ohio, and surrounding areas after a fiery train derailment. for the release of chemicals and citizens expressing concern about their health.
“Norfolk Southern must live up to its commitment to making citizens whole – and must also live up to its obligation to do whatever it takes to stop putting communities like East Palestine at risk,” Buttigieg wrote. “The time is right for Norfolk Southern to take a leadership position in the rail industry, moving to a posture focused on supporting, not interfering with, efforts to raise the standards of U.S. rail safety regulations.”
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said there is no risk of chemicals spilled in the Ohio River, even as people in the community say they have constant headaches and eye irritation. The country plans to open medical clinics in 4,700 villages to analyze the symptoms, despite repeated statements that air and water tests show no signs of contamination.
However, uncertainty remains about the consequences of the derailment that happened about two weeks ago.
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Peter DeCarlo, a professor of environmental health and engineering at Johns Hopkins University, told ABC News on Sunday that more tests are needed to determine which chemicals are present.
“We don’t have the information we need to know what chemicals are involved,” DeCarlo said. “We know it starts out as vinyl chloride, but when you burn it all bets are off. You have a lot of chemical byproducts that can come from that kind of combustion process.
Asked if he would return to East Palestine if he lived there, DeCarlo said: “I have two boys. I won’t.”
Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw issued a statement Saturday that he “returned to East Palestine today to meet with local leaders, first responders, and a group of Norfolk Southern employees who live in the area.”
“In every conversation I’ve had today, I’ve expressed how saddened it is that it happened in his home,” Shaw said. The Atlanta-based company has created a website with the update, NSMakingItRight.com.
The transport secretary’s letter on Sunday appeared to be a stern warning to Norfolk Southern, saying: “It is imperative that your company is unambiguous and forthright about its commitment to looking after its citizens – now and in the future.”
Buttigieg said the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the derailment and the Federal Railroad Administration is also analyzing whether there were any safety violations and would hold Norfolk Southern accountable if there were any violations.
The Environmental Protection Agency said the company must document the release of hazardous contaminants and outline cleanup actions.
But Buttigieg also said that Norfolk Southern and other rail companies “spent millions of dollars in litigation and lobbying members of Congress to fight common sense safety regulations, ending some and reducing the scope of others.” He said the effort undermined rules on brake requirements and delayed the phase-in for more durable rail cars to transport hazardous materials until 2029, instead of “the 2025 date that was originally thought.”
The transportation secretary said the results of the investigation are not yet known, but “we know that the steps Norfolk Southern and its partners are taking to improve rail safety and help keep America safe.”