Biden pledges to maintain responsibility for the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio by Norfolk Southern.
Washington — President Biden visited East Palestine, Ohio, on Friday, just over a year after a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in the small village
Close to the border of Pennsylvania.
He promised to hold Norfolk Southern Railway responsible.
According to Mr. Biden, this was not a natural disaster, but a result of greed that could have been avoided entirely.
Mr. Biden received a briefing from local officials on the recovery efforts and continued response in the aftermath of the derailment and hazardous chemical fire
In February of 2023, a train measuring 9,300 feet in length and carrying approximately 150 cars experienced a derailment, causing significant consequences.
concerns about health and the environment
The federal government’s handling of the crisis has caused frustration among residents.
continuing to experience health problems.
Aftermath of Toxic Fog in East Palestine, Ohio | CBS Reports at 9:38 PM
The president revealed that the study of the short- and long-term consequences of the disaster would be funded by six grants from the National Institutes of Health.
Negative feedback regarding a delayed visit.
a congratulation from
Mr. Biden’s arrival, upon the request of Mayor Trent Conaway, follows a congratulatory message he received from… in a while
Receiving negative feedback for not having made a recent visit.
Until this point, East Palestine has not been mentioned. The government has acknowledged that authorities were present at the location of the train accident within a few hours. said on Monday
On Monday, the Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, stated
Similarly, there was criticism from the Republican party for waiting almost three weeks before making a visit to the crash site.
After meeting with leaders from the community, President Biden acknowledged that there is still significant progress to be made in East Palestine. He reassured that they will continue to work diligently until the task is completed. However, his visit faced backlash for taking place a year after the train accident.
Although we had hoped he would arrive earlier, we are grateful that he is here now and we welcome all the assistance we can get at this time. We have applied for a state of emergency but it has not been approved yet and I am not fully aware of the specifics. Nonetheless, any aid we receive would be greatly appreciated, according to Christina Dilworth, a resident of the area.
Informed the local CBS affiliate, KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh..
The previous leader, Donald Trump, went to the town a few weeks after the train accident and deemed it disrespectful for Joe Biden to visit East Palestine a year later.
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to stand with the East Palestine community in the aftermath of the terrible incident,” Trump wrote in a post on social media on Wednesday, also noting that “Biden should have visited much earlier.”
Mr. Biden was informed about the tremendous efforts made in the past year during his visit with the president. He also defended his timing of visiting East Palestine, despite criticism that it was a year after the derailment incident.
“My administration was on the ground within hours working closely with the governor, the mayor, the senators and House members, community leaders, to make sure you have everything you need,” Mr. Biden said. “My administration ordered Norfolk Southern to clean up the mess it created and ensure it was done right.”
The derailment incident sparked a controversy in the political sphere.
The train accident sparked a political controversy in the aftermath, with Republicans criticizing the White House’s handling of the situation. However, the administration has consistently stated that Mr. Biden has been collaborating with local authorities since the incident.
“I have had ongoing discussions with all Ohio government representatives, regardless of party affiliation, similar to those in Pennsylvania,” stated Mr. Biden during a press conference in March. He also mentioned his plans to make public appearances at some point.
Addressing rail safety
During his visit, the president urged Congress to address rail safety, specifically mentioning a bipartisan bill that was proposed after the derailment. However, the bill has faced significant delays in the Senate and it is uncertain if there is enough Republican support to overcome a filibuster.
“Il est temps de renforcer les wagons-citernes qui transportent des déchets dangereux. Nous avons discuté de cela pendant des années. Ils doivent être plus résistants et capables de résister aux accidents sans exploser”, a déclaré M. Biden.
He stated that brakes must meet stricter safety regulations and advocated for increased personnel on trains.
In 2023, there were 312 incidents involving hazardous materials on the railway system in the country. This number has decreased from 368 in 2022, 636 in 2013, and 1,057 in 2000. According to a CBS News analysis of Department of Transportation data, the cost of these incidents was $63.6 million in 2023, which is higher than the cost in 2022 ($23.9 million), 2013 ($22.6 million), and 2000 ($26.5 million).
CBS News
Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, Jennifer Homendy, informs CBS News that the organization has suggested numerous measures to enhance rail safety, but both rail companies and Congress have yet to take action.
“We will be proposing safety suggestions that I hope will be promptly put into effect, whether it be through a decision by Congress, regulations, or actions taken by operators,” stated Homendy. “Additionally, there are broader concerns regarding rail safety. We have made several recommendations for rail safety that could be put into place immediately, if Congress takes action. Currently, there are 190 unresolved rail safety recommendations that we have issued.”
This report was contributed to by Roxana Saberi, John Kelly, and Nick Devlin from CBS News.
Kaia Hubbard
Source: cbsnews.com