(The Center Square) – Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw has endorsed several proposals to improve railroad safety, but the bipartisan bill introduced by two Ohio senators has is not yet fully committed.
Shaw testified Thursday with four others before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works following the February 3 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, near the Pennsylvania border. He apologized several times and vowed to “make things right.”
The committee heard him support an initiative to improve safety standards for tank cars not owned by the railroad, and a proposal for trackside detectors. I heard defending him. He did not promise full support. Railway Safety Act 2023a bill co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (Democrat) and Republican JD Vance of Ohio.
State and EPA officials sat down with him at the table. Ann Vogel, Director of the Ohio EPA. Richard Harrison, executive director of the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission. Eric Brewer, head of emergency services for Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
Despite complaints from state and local officials about the railroad’s initial response, witnesses described “cooperation and communication” working well in the days following the derailment.
That is before national media and political attention It’s almost Valentine’s Day.
The train left the tracks on February 3, and the decision on February 6 regarding controlled incineration and vinyl chloride release was met with both praise and scrutiny.
ohio official To tell Representatives from both states and railroads were in the same room for a joint decision, while representatives from Pennsylvania counter Being in the room doesn’t necessarily mean participating in the decisions.
Committee chair Senator Tom Carper, a Democrat, said Thursday that first responders initially believed one car would be exhausted and set on fire.
According to Brewer, who oversaw emergency response in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, doing five was “amazing.”
The Committee also questioned communication on decontamination, transportation of materials To other states.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, Norfolk Southern Train 32Noperated from Madison, Illinois to Conway, Pennsylvania with 149 freight trains, including 20 containing dangerous goods. A total of 38 cars, including 11 tank cars loaded with dangerous goods, derailed.
NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy said each railroad company sets a critical threshold for wheel bearing heat. Norfolk Southern is 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Her second of two readings received by the crew indicated a temperature of 103 degrees. A few miles later, the final reading was over 250 degrees.
Residents are concerned about air and water quality. Federal, state, and independent testing has shown no derailment-related containment.
Norfolk Southern also pledged $20 million to help with recovery in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Get ready for the comeback of
“I want to make sure it happens,” he said.
