Citizens throughout Ohio are lamenting and raging over the mismanaged disaster caused by Norfolk Southern’s train derailment in East Palestine.
With millions of taxpayer dollars being funneled towards the clean-up effort and no end in sight, many have voiced their anger over what they see as corporate greed run amok.Â
Breitbart reports, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) says taxpayers are already paying for Norfolk Southern’s disastrous train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
In East Palestine, a community with fewer than 5,000 residents, a Norfolk Southern train derailed last month, releasing chemicals into the environment. Approximately 43,000 fish and other aquatic animals were killed, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
For Vance, it is imperative for the Republican Party to represent the interests of East Palestine residents, rather than the rail industry seeking to avoid a public relations crisis and stricter federal oversight.
In addition to Vance, Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO), Marco Rubio (R-FL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) have introduced legislation that would increase fines for rail companies that cause such problems.
In contrast to representing the interests of companies that already have a great deal of influence in Washington, Vance believes Republicans should stand up for their constituents against large companies like Norfolk Southern.
In the past year, Norfolk Southern political action committees (PACs) donated nearly a million dollars to both Republicans and Democrats and both parties’ leadership organizations, including the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the National Republican Senate Committee, and the National Republican Congress.
Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding East Palestine, it appears that Norfolk Southern is as ruthless as we have feared.
Abc News reports, according to the NTSB chief, the agency is not satisfied with Norfolk Southern’s new safety goals, and the community is still reeling from the toxic spill in February.
NTSB chief with tough words for embattled Norfolk Southern and its safety initiatives.
Jennifer Homendy, National Transportation Safety Board chair said “They are not robust enough. I think we’ll be looking at more recommendations as part of our investigation,”
There have been a series of train derailments in recent weeks, including the one in East Palestine, Ohio, the one in Alabama, as well as the one in Springfield, Ohio, after which Norfolk Southern rail cars were found to have defective, loose wheels after an internal inspection.
There will be more testing and changes in the near future, according to the chairwoman of the NTSB.
Homendy said. “In fact, just this week, we will be doing testing of the pressure relief valves that release that are in charge of releasing pressure of those five vinyl chloride 10 cars,”
The NTSB is now investigating those safety valves following the February train derailment and chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio.
The devastating effects of this hazardous misstep extend far beyond a single region; with no compensation or promise of future reform, all eyes are now on Norfolk Southern who, after lying about the scope of damage, stand accused of exploiting an unsuspecting public for their own financial gain. A feeling of complete indifference has been ignited and all are now anxiously awaiting change as a result of this bad situation.​
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