CNN
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U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown agreed with officials Sunday’s belief that water and air were safe in East Palestine, Ohio, after a train carrying hazardous materials derailed earlier this month, but he said residents were He admitted that he had a “right to be skeptical.”
Days after visiting the community, the senator, who is a Democrat, said on CNN’s “State of the Union,” citing comments from state and federal Environmental Protection Agency managers, “I think the water is safe.” said. “But when I get home, I need to check the water, soil and air again, not to mention the house where my well is.”
The senator’s comments came 16 days after the Norfolk Southern Railroad derailed in a small community of less than 5,000 people. Residents have complained of rashes, sore throats and nausea after returning home from controlled explosions of several tanks carrying toxic chemicals. Vinyl chloride, which kills at high levels and can increase the risk of cancer.
Five days after the derailment, the evacuation order was lifted as authorities determined air and water were safe. However, many residents remain unconvinced and complain of lingering chemical odors and lingering headaches and pain.
Anger and frustration continued to boil over this week as residents demanded answers from the authorities and Norfolk Southern. I expressed concern about the surge.
“There’s nothing in the air or in the water, so why are people getting sick?” cried one resident at City Hall.
Officials are trying to reassure residents, admitting that some waterways have been polluted and thousands of fish have died downstream, but believe those contaminants are contained. Tiffany Kavalek, director of the Environmental Protection Agency’s surface water division, told CNN earlier this week that no vinyl chloride was detected in the downhill channel near the train derailment.
State officials have also repeatedly confirmed that the water from the city’s system, which is drawn from five deep wells covered with sturdy steel casings, is safe to drink. Get closer to the surface.
The CEO of Norfolk Southern, which pulled out of city hall this week over safety concerns, met with residents and local leaders on Saturday and promised in an open letter: For your safety and for the recovery and prosperity of Eastern Palestine. ”
After visiting the community on Thursday, Brown pledged to hold the rail company accountable for its impact on the community and said at a press conference, “I will make sure Norfolk Southern does what it promises.” .
Brown repeated that Sunday. The company promised to pay residents in his zip code $1,000, but the senator said it had to go far beyond that and deliver on its commitment to “make everyone healthy.” said.
“Whatever[the residents]need, it’s everything that happened here. All the cleanups, all the drilling, all the testing, all the hotel stays, it’s all in Norfolk Southern. Caused it, there’s no question that they caused it,” Brown said, adding that the total cost could be in the tens or hundreds of millions of dollars.
Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw said in an open letter on Saturday that the company had launched a $1 million fund “as a down payment for a commitment to help rebuild.” He also “conducted a comprehensive testing program to ensure the safety of water, air and soil in Eastern Palestine.”
In addition to local and state officials, federal medical professionals are also deployed.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday asked the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health to send a team. In response, the Biden administration said it has sent experts to assess what risks remain, and the CDC will likewise send a team on Friday to assess public health needs. I have confirmed that
As for the derailment itself, the National Transportation Safety Board continues to “vigorously” investigate the cause. Investigators are reviewing multiple videos of the train prior to the derailment, including one showing “what is believed to be a wheel bearing in the final stages of an overheating failure prior to the derailment,” he said. officials said.