Massive Controlled Burn in Ohio Raises Questions of Necessity and Safety
In a recent Senate hearing, the chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Jennifer Homendy, testified that the controlled burn of five railroad tank cars in East Palestine, Ohio was unnecessary and resulted in the release of toxic chemicals into the air. This revelation has sparked concerns about the decision-making process and potential motives behind the burn.
The incident occurred on February 3, 2023, when a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in East Palestine, a small town near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. Over a million pounds of hazardous chemicals were spilled into the soil, water, and air, prompting temporary evacuations for residents. While state and federal officials have declared the town’s air and water safe after extensive testing, some residents continue to report health symptoms such as burning sensations in their eyes, tingling in their lips, heaviness in their chest, and swelling of lymph nodes.
Three days after the derailment, a controlled burn of the toxic chemicals was carried out under the premise that there was an imminent risk of an uncontrolled explosion if the chemicals were not released. However, Chair Homendy stated that there was no scientific basis for the burn, as the temperature in one tank car was already cooling down, and the other four were all below 70 degrees, posing no risk of explosion.
Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio questioned Chair Homendy during the hearing about the motivations behind the unnecessary burn. He suggested that it may have been done to expedite the resumption of train traffic rather than out of genuine safety concerns. Vance’s concerns were echoed by East Palestine residents who noticed freight moving through their town soon after the controlled burn took place.
The NTSB’s findings have raised serious doubts about the decision-making process and have drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle. Senator Vance expressed his concerns about the burn poisoning numerous people needlessly and potentially serving as a means to prioritize profit over safety. Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Ohio, criticized Norfolk Southern for their actions, accusing the company of prioritizing profits over the well-being of the community.
Norfolk Southern, however, defended their decision to carry out the controlled burn. In a statement, the railroad company stated that the incident commander, in consultation with multiple stakeholders including Norfolk Southern and local, state, and federal authorities, made the final decision. They stressed that the primary focus was on community safety and minimizing the impact of the incident. The company also highlighted that continuous environmental testing conducted in coordination with US and Ohio EPA has confirmed the safety of the air and drinking water in the affected community.
Despite Norfolk Southern’s defense, Chair Homendy revealed during her testimony that the decision-makers were unaware that executives from Oxy Vinyls, the company responsible for the chemicals in the tank cars, were present on the scene. These executives had informed Norfolk Southern and its contractor that there was no risk of an explosion. This revelation raises questions about whether complete information was provided to those making the decision to execute the controlled burn.
The testimony of Chair Homendy and the subsequent discussion in the Senate hearing shed light on a concerning incident that has left a lasting impact on the community of East Palestine, Ohio. The unnecessary controlled burn has raised questions about the decision-making process and potential motives behind prioritizing expediency over safety. As investigations continue and more information comes to light, it is crucial for accountability and transparency to be upheld to prevent similar incidents in the future.
