This tragedy could have been prevented. The railroad is responsible.

February 16, 2023
By Scott Dance and Justine McDaniel

Train derailment (click here) in East Palestine, Ohio photo from drone overflight 

East Palestine, Ohio - Fear, uncertainty and anger (click here) are mounting among residents of this Ohio village after a train derailment and fire unleashed a glut of toxic chemicals on Feb. 3.

Officials have tried to assure locals that the town is safe to live in — a message imparted by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan, who visited the village Thursday — but many say that’s only left them with more questions.

Concern about air pollution from the Norfolk Southern train’s wrecked rail cars has given way to long-term worries about contamination of the water and soil in East Palestine and beyond. Many who evacuated as the blaze burned are questioning whether it was safe to come back. Some say they are suffering headaches and rashes and are not comforted by what they see as a lack of solid answers from authorities....

From the National Cancer Institute

Vinyl chloride exposure (click here) is associated with an increased risk of a rare form of liver cancer (hepatic angiosarcoma), as well as primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma), brain and lung cancers, lymphoma, and leukemia.

This accident could have been prevented. There are reports the train was experiencing mechanical problems the day before. This is not an issue of any long drawn out lawsuit that will result in a guilty verdict. The facts are known and the railroad is directly responsible for this tragedy. It could have been prevented.

February 16, 2023

By Benjamine Duer

...drone photo...

A new federal lawsuit (click here) against Norfolk Southern over the massive train derailment here alleges that 1.1 million pounds of vinyl chloride were released into the environment.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday by law firm Morgan & Morgan in U.S. District Court's Northern District of Ohio is one of six suits the railroad company is facing after the derailment near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border almost two weeks ago....

...Attorney Rene Rocha with Morgan & Morgan described the amount of vinyl chloride released into the environment as "pretty shocking." The law firm based its calculation on the total volume of five 25,800 gallon DOT 105J300W tank cars carrying 8.6 pounds per gallon of vinyl chloride....