Organizers demand justice in train derailment

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The East Palestine community is getting some answers from the National Transportation Safety Board about the disastrous train derailment that released toxic chemicals into the area last year.

The NTSB held a hearing on Tuesday to discuss the findings of their investigation into the incident and recommendations for safety changes.

It’s been nearly a year and a half since dozens of Norfolk Southern freight cars derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. Some of those cars were carrying hazardous materials and rail officials intentionally released and burned toxic chemicals from a few of them.

That caused major concerns about the impacts on the health and homes of community members.

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy says they take those concerns seriously.

“I want to recognize the significant impact this derailment has had,” Homendy said. “The absence of fatality or injury doesn’t mean the presence of safety. The NTSB exists to ensure the presence of safety.”

During Tuesday’s hearing the NTSB recommended new safety standards including regulations on trackside sensors, like those which failed to detect issues before the East Palestine derailment. Plus, they discussed the potential of implementing rules for how railroads respond to alarms.

“We will continue to pursue and advocate for these safety recommendations until each one is implemented,” NTSB Board Member Michael Graham said.

Timothea Deeter lives in the community and works as an environmental organizer with River Valley Organizing. She was at Tuesday’s hearing to listen to the findings from NTSB’s investigation.

“We need to use this information to hold Norfolk Southern first and foremost. To get justice for this community,” Deeter said.

She also wants to see the new safety recommendations implemented.

“To make sure that these super unsafe trains aren’t going to be like careening down the track and then, you know, derail a mile and a half from my house and poison my whole community. I’d like to see that not happen to anybody else,” Deeter said.

Deeter says now it’s on leaders to follow through.

“When the system is not set up to prevent these from happening, they’re going to continue to happen,” Deeter said.

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