A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, after the controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern train, on Feb. 6.
What’s more, Shapiro accused Norfolk Southern of providing inaccurate and conflicting information about the impact of the proposed chemical release, writing that the railroad was unwilling to explore alternative courses of action, “including some that may have kept the rail line closed longer but could have resulted in a safer overall approach for first responders, residents, and the environment.
On Feb. 6, Norfolk Southern released toxic chemicals from five of the derailed tanker cars in what it said was an attempt to preempt a larger explosion. One of the chemicals it was most concerned about was vinyl chloride, a colorless gas used in the making of plastic products. According to the, exposure to the gas is associated “with an increased risk of a rare form of liver cancer , as well as primary liver cancer , brain and lung cancers, lymphoma, and leukemia.
The next morning, he said he traveled to East Palestine to meet with those responding to the crash on the ground, including representatives from Norfolk Southern as well as the federal government. DeWine then said he called Gov. Shapiro, a Democrat, on his cellphone to join in an “extended discussion” with representatives from the railroad, who provided them with “two bad options” for how to deal with the car in question.
“Norfolk Southern failed to notify state and local response agencies initially of their intention to vent and burn all five cars containing vinyl chloride, rather than just the single car Norfolk Southern personnel identified originally,” he wrote.the Environmental Protection Agency sent a letter to Norfolk Southern
Throughout his political career, Shapiro has relished public fights, serving two terms as the state attorney general before winning the governor’s race in November. Part of his gubernatorial campaign was pushing some of the victories he achieved as the state’s top law enforcement officer, including an investigation of the Catholic church for abuse and earning a 10-figure settlementSome in the area have questioned whether it was elected officials leading the response or Norfolk Southern.