Ohio residents push to hold railway company responsible for derailment

BY NINA SYDORYK ’25 STAFF WRITER

On Feb. 3, about three dozen train cars derailed in the town of East Palestine, Ohio, which is home to approximately 4,800 residents. Norfolk Southern Railway held a “controlled release” which released the toxic chemicals into the air.

Of the 38 cars that derailed, most had been carrying materials such as cement, steel and frozen vegetables, according to an incident report published by the Environmental Protection Agency. 20 of these cars, however, are confirmed to have been transporting hazardous material; 11 of these derailed, including some carrying a substance known as vinyl chloride.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Vinyl chloride can irritate the eyes, mucous membranes and respiratory tract. Escaping compressed gas or liquid can cause frostbite or irritation of the skin and eyes. Chronic exposure can cause perma- nent liver injury and liver cancer, neurologic or behavioral symptoms and changes to the skin and bones of the hand.”

A brief timeline of events has been reported by Reuters. On Feb. 3, a Norfolk Southern Railroad-operated train derailed near East Palestine, Ohio, resulting in a massive fire and smoke cloud over the area. Initially, a temporary evacuation was ordered, with no reports of injury or death.

By Feb. 8, residents were allowed to return to their homes, as instructed by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

On Feb. 13, the EPA’s Great Lakes regional office released a statement certifying that it had conducted air quality tests in 291 homes within the evacuation zone. Two of the materials that had caused the most concern, vinyl chloride and hydrogen chloride, were not found. Another additional 181 homes were still being inspected.

Several sources are reporting a mechanical failure as the cause of the accident. However, the National Transportation Safety Board has yet to officially issue a declaration regarding this claim. The latest NTSB reports state the investigation is still ongoing.

Despite many varying claims circulating in regard to the severity of the incident, the residents of East Palestine remain concerned for their safety. Many report their pets’ ailing health and have stated that they themselves are experiencing symptoms such as headaches. Residents were reportedly told that their drinking water was safe, but despite this, local cities have stopped using water from the Ohio river out of caution due to chemicals from the derailment entering the river’s waters, reports WLWT5.

According to Time, Northfolk Southern is now facing several lawsuits due to the widely reported yet unconfirmed preventability of the accident and the company’s alleged negligence. So far, eight lawsuits have been filed, seeking up to five million dollars in compensatory fees.

Residents are also turning their criticism towards the federal government, with both Republican and Democratic politicians criticizing the current Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, ABC News reports. For example, “Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Min- nesota called directly on Buttigieg to ‘address the tragedy’ and ensure it ‘never happens again.’” Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) also berated Buttigieg for not yet having visited East Palestine before his visit on Feb. 23.

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