Western Pa. residents near Ohio train derailment say, 'We count, too,' ask not to be forgotten.
State Sen. Doug Mastriano, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, held a committee hearing in Beaver County on Thursday on the response to the Norfolk Southern train derailment and chemical leak, and the impact on western Pennsylvania residents.BEAVER COUNTY, Pa. — Sarah Mae Kuentz on Thursday told a state Senate committee that Ohio residents are not the only victims in the toxic train disaster.
“We’re forgotten. I’m sorry it happened in Ohio, but it’s spreading. It doesn’t end at the [state] line,” Kuentz said. “We count, too.” Norfolk Southern’s nearly two-mile long train was headed toward Beaver County when about 50 cars derailed on the eastern edge of East Palestine on Feb. 3. Five of those cars carried vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen used in plastic production.
An empty chair sat at the front waiting for Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw, who declined an invitation. Mastriano said the committee would likely vote next week to issue a subpoena to Shaw compelling him to testify.Darlington resident Sam Wegner said the response from state officials was “pathetic” with some suggesting he simply be patient and wait for answers.
Gov. Josh Shapiro was a frequent target of residents’ anger for attending the Super Bowl on Feb. 12 during the disaster. Randy Padfield, the director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, told committee chairman state Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin County, that Norfolk Southern cut Pennsylvania out of the response as company officials claimed “they were the experts” on such accidents.Sen. Doug Mastriano said he didn’t get Norfolk Southern campaign $$, but that’s only true for 2022: report
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Train-Car Wheel Bearing Overheated Before Ohio Train Derailment, NTSB FindsFederal transportation agency continues its investigation after Feb. 3 accident involving Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine.
Read more »
Ohio train derailment: Pete Buttigieg plays defense in East Palestine: ‘Lost my train of thought’.SecretaryPete found himself in a defensive crunch during his trip to East Palestine, Ohio, repeatedly trying to quell questions about his handling of the crisis. Buttigieg largely shrugged off the barrage of attacks on his record as petty politics.
Read more »
U.S. orders Norfolk Southern to clean up 'mess' from Ohio train chemical spillThe head of the U.S. government's environmental agency said on Tuesday that rail operator Norfolk Southern Corp must 'pay for cleaning up the mess' created when a freight train derailment in Ohio released toxic chemicals into the environment.
Read more »
EPA orders Norfolk Southern to clean Ohio train derailment siteFederal regulators stepped in to ensure Norfolk Southern exhausts all available measures to sanitize the air and water contaminated during the Feb. 3 train wreckage in East Palestine, Ohio.
Read more »
Ohio train derailment: Buttigieg says he's 'planning to go' to East PalestineTransportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said he 'plans to go' to East Palestine, Ohio, where a large train derailment that released multiple chemicals occurred earlier this month.
Read more »
Ohio train derailment: 6 things all Americans should knowAre air and drinking water in the Ohio River basin safe after the derailed Norfolk Southern freight train released some toxic chemicals? Environmental experts bust some viral false claims on social media.
Read more »