Ohio Residents Erupt At Town Hall: “Where’s Pete Buttigieg?”

Ohio residents affected by the March toxic train derailment expressed their concerns during a Wednesday night town hall. Pete Buttigieg is Transportation Secretary was. 

“Where’s Pete Buttigieg? Where’s he at?” One man asked Mayor Trent Conaway. 

“I don’t know. Your guess is as good as me,” The mayor answered. 

He stated to attendees that Tuesday was his first attempt at a conference. “heard anything from the White House.”

OHIO TRAIN DERAILMENT – OFFICIALS INSIST THAT EAST PALESTINE Is SAFE, BUT RESIDENTS ARE NOT BUYING IT

Michael Regan, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator is visiting East Palestine on Thursday to talk about the agency’s efforts leading to the environmental response. Fox News Digital spoke with a spokesperson for the Transportation Department via email.

“Within hours of the derailment, DOT staff were on the ground to support NTSB’s investigation into the cause of the derailment – and we continue to support this effort,” The spokesperson from the DOT also added. “Secretary Buttigieg has spoken with both Governor DeWine and Governor Shapiro about DOT’s specific role in supporting the NTSB investigation. When the investigation is finished, Secretary Buttigieg asked about joining the governors in East Palestine to collaborate on steps to improve rail safety and hold Norfolk Southern accountable.”

In an email, the department previously stated that the National Transportation Safety Board was the primary investigator of the incident and that the Transportation Department plays a supporting role. It also said that the Federal Railroad Administration and Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration arrived on the scene within hours of the incident.

Regan’s video was recently retweeted by Buttigieg Norfolk Southern is a rail operator The incident would make it accountable.

During a meeting at East Palestine High School (East Palestine, Ohio), Wednesday, February 15, 2023, a man raises a hand to ask for East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

A Wednesday letter to Buttigieg from Republican Senators. Marco Rubio, J.D. Vance wrote to his department asking for information about oversight of freight trains and other concerns. The senators gave 30 days for the secretary to respond. 

Buttigieg had tweeted Tuesday that the department was “constrained by law on some areas of rail regulation (like the braking rule withdrawn by the Trump administration in 2018 because of a law passed by Congress in 2015), but we are using the powers we do have to keep people safe.”

Buttigieg stated that Wednesday night, in response to tweets from Ted Cruz (Republican Senator) and Ilhan Olam (Democratic Rep), he was “glad to see newfound bipartisan agreement” This issue is being discussed. 

Maxar Technologies’ satellite image shows the aftermath of the train accident that killed Norfolk Southern in East Palestine. On February 3, approximately 50 cars were stranded in a fiery, mangled wreck on the outskirts East Palestine.  (Satellite image ©2023 Maxar Technologies via AP)

OHIO TRAIN DERAILMENT EAST PALESTINE MAYOR AGRESS & Q&A SESSION AFTER OUTBURST FRUSTRATED RESIDENT

“We could start by discussing immediate steps Congress could take to address rail safety & reduce constraints on USDOT in this area,” He suggested that Cruz call the department. 

Becky Rance (center) talks to a police officer while she gives water out of her truck in downtown East Palestine. This is Wednesday, as part of the cleanup of parts of the Norfolk Southern freight train that was derailment more than a week ago.  (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Officials claim that the local air quality has been tested and is safe for breathing. Feb. 3 train derailment The community was still concerned about safety despite the controlled release and burning of vinyl chloride. While water testing is ongoing, the state’s EPA has confirmed that five of the village’s drinking water sources are safe. 

Norfolk Southern was unable to attend the meeting because of safety concerns. 

This report has been updated with an additional comment from Department of Transportation.

This report was compiled by the Associated Press.

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