Two years following the catastrophic Norfolk Southern train derailment, which released a toxic cloud over East Palestine and forced thousands of residents to evacuate, freight trains laden with the same hazardous chemicals that were pivotal in that disaster continue to traverse the town with alarming regularity. Despite the potential dangers, legislative efforts to mitigate the risk of another incident remain largely absent.
On average, at least twice a week, trains operated by Norfolk Southern, identifiable by their cars marked with hazardous material placards, transport vinyl chloride and butyl acrylate — the two primary chemicals that ignited during the East Palestine crisis. An analysis conducted by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism revealed that these perilous materials are not just occasional visitors; they are a routine sight.
Even more concerning, trains carrying various hazardous chemicals pass the derailment site multiple times throughout the day. Specifically, at least ten Norfolk Southern trains, with at least one car featuring hazardous material indicators, approach or cross through East Palestine on an average day. Yet, the local population and their elected representatives remain in the dark about the specific contents of these railcars.
For the residents of East Palestine, Ohio, crucial information about these hazardous materials is often elusive. Lacking accessible data from the railroads, they find themselves in a position where they must either stake out the tracks or examine the placards on the cars to uncover the nature of the cargo passing through their community. Unfortunately, the railroads are under no legal obligation to provide detailed information about their shipments in advance to local authorities or the public, leaving residents to navigate an unsettling landscape marked by uncertainty and risk.
