Safety regulators say Ohio’s toxic train derailment is “100% preventable.”usa news

Joe Biden was briefed on Friday about multiple agency responses to the derailment in Ohio of a freight train carrying toxic chemicals.

The White House said the US president was briefed a day after Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited East Palestine for the first time since the toxic spill and fires. 3 weeks ago.

Jennifer Homendy, Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), expressed concern about rail safety measures. Interim report published.

“We know for a fact what caused this derailment,” Homendy told CNN Friday morning, saying it was a dramatic overheating of a particular wheel bearing, and sensors in orbit monitored it until it overheated. It showed the fact that it did not detect. slow.

“The crew did nothing wrong,” she said, and although they responded correctly to the alarm, the train derailed on February 3.

“We’re looking into how we got there right now,” says Homendy. “What conditions existed to allow it to happen? And we will consider what can be done to prevent future recurrences.”

NTSB Said Thirty-eight cars were derailed and another 12 were damaged by fire. Of those derailed, 11 were carrying dangerous goods.

When CNN asked if the safety system was “inadequate,” Homendy pointed out that it was set up by the railroad company in question, Norfolk Southern, and not by the government. . “These temperature thresholds are not set by regulation. They are not set by guidance. They vary by railway and it is their decision,” she said.

Homendy added that the NTSB has “a lot of questions.” [safety] The sill and why the sill is so different between railways. Why aren’t they more conservative? Should it be lower? These are all questions we ask repeatedly in our surveys. ”

Homendy also noted that the NTSB recommended in 2014 to increase the categories of chemicals covered by the Hazardous Substances Regulation.

Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine said on Friday that contaminated water will be transported to a location near Houston while contaminated waste from the spill site will be sent to Detroit, Michigan for disposal. Announced that it will be transported to a nearby location. and pollution.

Meanwhile, high-profile visits by the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other state and national leaders have done little to assuage mistrust and anger in East Palestine and the region over the official response.

Officers based in Darlington Township, just above the Pennsylvania state line, were on the scene of the disaster within four hours on Friday, February 3, and were on the scene for more than 20 hours in the days that followed. He spoke to The Guardian on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter.

“We were not paid attention to what was going on on the train. was not wearing any PPE [personal protective equipment] How good it is that we were able to go all the way back to 2010 anyway,” he said.

He also added, “We are sending billions of dollars to Ukraine, but we have no money.”

People affected by the spill have already noticed Their adverse health effects and concerns are growing About long-term health implication.

“I have been having headaches since February 8th and I hope this doesn’t go to the grave any sooner. And we know the company is all for the money,” the law enforcement officer added.

The president is under attack.

“Biden should have been here from day one,” said Rich Boggs, 70, a former Republican president and supporter of the 2024 candidate Donald Trump. Boggs owns a gas station in Darlington, about five miles from the derailment.

Trump won by majorities in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and Columbiana County, Ohio.

But even in Eastern Palestine, where cleanup efforts and resources are concentrated, residents struggle to get the help and answers they need.

Scott Berresford, 43, lives about 650 feet (200 m) from the derailment site. It’s where he grows tomatoes, peppers, asparagus, garlic, beans, and eggplants, visible from the garden, which he fears may be contaminated by toxic spills. The basement regularly floods, and he fears that harmful pollutants in the air, as well as materials that the railroad company Norfolk his Southern buried, will seep into the house.

“Throughout the summer and winter I’ve been eating in my garden and they just buried that toxic stuff and now both the company and the EPA are testing my soil. It drives me crazy. I paid $400 for independent testing, and that’s just for four chemicals…a lot of money for me and everyone in this town,” said construction worker Beresford. said.

Every time the wind changes, locals feel a wave of burning smell.

“I get headaches all the time because I smell showers and coffee. My daughter had a panic attack and thought she was dying.