PA Governor Accuses Norfolk Southern Of Giving ‘The Middle Finger’ To Residents After Ohio Train Crash, Makes Criminal Referral

Ben ZeisloftFebruary 23, 2023

Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Governor Josh Shapiro announced Wednesday that his office had made an announcement. Criminal Norfolk Southern, the company in the middle of the crisis, refused to cooperate with the referral. train derailment and chemical fallout in East Palestine, Ohio.

All residents within one mile radius of the February 3 train derailment were evacuated by local and state authorities. started To reduce the chance of an explosion, a controlled burning of industrial chemicals was done on the vehicle. This could have caused shrapnel to be released into the small community. Five train cars emit massive plumes of smoke from vinyl chloride (a known human carcinogen that is used in the manufacture of PVC), which can be seen throughout eastern Ohio, and western Pennsylvania.

Shapiro remarked during an Interview NPR has learned that Norfolk Southern executives have shown their support “arrogance and incompetence” Within weeks of the train’s derailment. “We made a criminal referral to the office of attorney general. They’ll determine whether or not there was criminal activity,” He said. “What I know is that Norfolk Southern is governed every day, not by caring about the communities that they send their trains through, but by corporate greed.”

Shapiro, who was inaugurated for his inaugural term last month, had previously Norfolk Southern tried to get Pennsylvania and Ohio authorities to conduct controlled burns of industrial chemicals in order for the company’s railroad to be opened more quickly. Norfolk Southern stated in a statement to NPR, that it is “committed to thoroughly and safely cleaning the site” You will be reimbursed “residents for the disruption this has caused in their lives.”

Norfolk Southern was ordered by the EPA earlier in this week Handle The cleanup of contaminated soil or water. Residents and businesses will be reimbursed by the EPA for cleaning services. Residents and businesses can also attend public meetings to receive updates on the cleanup. The agency also threatened to “immediately step in, conduct the necessary work, and then seek to compel Norfolk Southern to pay triple the cost” If the company fails to fulfill its obligations.

Shapiro claimed, too, that Norfolk Southern would not “do this on their own” They could have added that they were not compelled to by regulators. “given the middle finger to the good people of Pennsylvania and Ohio by failing to show up at community meetings, by really insulting the community with a lackluster investment in their recovery.” The company representatives are indeed Backed out Hours before the event was scheduled to start, this is the footage from a recent East Palestine town hall meeting.

Federal and state officials insist that East Palestine’s air and water quality were not affected by the incident. This was despite the fact that a Daily Wire team visited East Palestine last Wednesday. reported There is a persistent smell in the air, and an oily chemical sheen found in local creeks. The small community can also cause headaches and sore throats. Shapiro said that NPR tests of municipal water wells and supplies have not revealed any. “concerning readings” officials confirmed that they will continue to test for hazardous chemicals “for months and months and months, if not years.”