172 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Ideastream Public Media,  12/19/23:

 

 

 

    Crews removed tons of contaminated soil from the East Palestine derailment. Here's where it went  

 

 

 

Jeff Drummond’s house was less than a football field away from the site where a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine in February. The house still sits in the middle of the remediation zone as, for months, crews have worked to clean up in the aftermath.

 

Story

[CNJRoss]

Fox News, 12/23/23

 

 

The Grinch who stole East Palestine: Resident

accuses company, government of abandoning town

before Christmas

 

East Palestine resident says community is 'worse off' nearly 11 months after train derailment, criticizes Norfolk Southern for announcing an end to relocation aid before the holiday

 

 

An East Palestine, Ohio, resident accused Norfolk Southern and federal officials of abandoning her home after a toxic train derailment devastated the town earlier this year, leading her to lose faith in the government and her love of the country.

 

"If you would have ever told me as a United States citizen that I'd be seeing the suffering that I see and that I would be completely ignored, not only by our own town, but the state government and our federal government, I would have never believed it," said Jami Wallace, who was forced to move 25 minutes away. "But that's what we're living. Biden still hasn't been here."

 

 

 

 

Continue here with video report. 

[KevinKorell]

News Nation, 12/30/23:

 

 

  2023 in review: Investigating the East Palestine train derailment    

 

In February, a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio.

 

Some 1,500 residents were told to evacuate.

 

Review

[KevinKorell]

Tampa Free Press, 12/29/23:

 

 

     White House Insists Biden Will Visit Ohio Train Disaster Site, As Residents Wait 

 

 

President Joe Biden has yet to visit the Ohio site where a train spilled thousands of gallons of toxic chemicals, with the White House insisting he still intends to tour the community, leaving some residents to wonder if his avoidance is a political move, according to The New York Times.

 

Article

[CNJRoss]

Railfan and Railroad, 112/27/23

 

Railnews Review 2023: East Palestine Wreck Puts Railroad Safety in Spotlight

 

By Justin Franz

 

A Norfolk Southern train derailed and caught fire in eastern Ohio late Friday, forcing evacuations in the town of East Palestine, about 50 miles northwest of Pittsburgh…

 

That’s how a simple, four-paragraph story on Railfan & Railroad’s website began on the morning of February 4, about a derailment the night before in eastern Ohio. Little did anyone know, the incident would explode into one of the biggest railroad stories of the year. 

 

SNIP

 

In the aftermath, politicians moved to pass legislation to make railroads safer, including requiring more defect detectors. While some states, including Ohio, passed new laws they have been challenged by the railroads, which argue that state law cannot trump interstate commerce rules. Legislation at the federal level has not moved through the Washington D.C. gridlock. 

 

 

More here.  

[KevinKorell]

WESA Radio, Pittsburgh, PA, 1/16/24:

 

 

    Norfolk Southern CEO touts progress in East Palestine one year after derailment     

 

 

Nine months after Alan Shaw took over as CEO of Norfolk Southern, a train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, which has come to define his leadership of the company.

 

Story

[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading, 1/19/24

 

NTSB to release East Palestine report in spring, early summer

 

The National Transportation Safety Board will meet in late spring or early summer to discuss its final investigative report of the Feb. 3, 2023, derailment of a Norfolk Southern Railway train in East Palestine, Ohio, Chair Jennifer Homendy said yesterday.

 

Homendy reported the NTSB's timeline in response to a question from U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) during a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials. The hearing was held to discuss railroad grade crossing elimination and safety.

 

Larsen asked Homendy why the report was taking more than a year to be released. Homendy said the board's investigations typically take two years to complete; the East Palestine investigation will be wrapped up in a year plus a couple of months.

 

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

The Hill, Washington, DC 1/3/124

 

Biden to visit East Palestine in February, one year after train derailment

 

President Biden will travel next month to East Palestine, Ohio, roughly one year after a train derailment spilled toxic chemicals into the community, the White House said Wednesday.

 

Biden will meet with residents affected by the Norfolk Southern train derailment that occurred on Feb. 3, a White House official said. No date was given, but it fulfills the president’s pledge last March to visit the area “at some point.”

 

 

Continue here.  

[CNJRoss]

Associated Press, 2/1/24

 

A year on, a small Ohio town is recovering from a fiery train derailment but health fears persist

 

East Palestine residents still recovering from Ohio train derailment (youtube.com)

 

 

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (AP) — Daily life largely returned to normal for most of the nearly 5,000 residents of East Palestine, Ohio, months after a Norfolk Southern train derailed and spilled a cocktail of hazardous chemicals that caught fire a year ago, but the worries and fears are always there.

 

Some people still report respiratory problems, rashes or headaches, or say they feel ill whenever they return to the village not far from the Pennsylvania border. At least several dozen haven’t returned to their homes, concerned about chemicals like the vinyl chloride that was released and burned when officials blew open five derailed tank cars because they worried the cars might explode.

 

But others believe the EPA’s findings that their air and water are safe. They say they’re ready to move on and take advantage of all the money the railroad and governments are investing in the area. They don’t want the derailment to define their town.

 

 

Continue here.  

[KevinKorell]

El Pais, 2/4/24:

 

 

 

     A town derailed: The toxic Ohio train crash that split East Palestine in two  

A year ago, a train loaded with dangerous substances went off the tracks in this quiet town. Today, residents are divided between those who want to turn the page on the trauma and those who are still searching for answers,

 

Article