TRAINING

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FROM A1 rich in highways, pipelines and railways,” she wrote in an email. “These factors are always part of the planning process.”

In a derailment in Wellington in May 2019, involved only a small diesel fuel spill, Fetter wrote. In such a case it’s up to local fire departments to evaluate the scene and request the needs of the Ohioans living in East Palestine and surrounding communities. One day, the TV cameras will leave, and the news cycle will move on, but the needs of those Ohioans will remain. I will never stop fighting to deliver the support they need.”

According to Brown’s office, the bill has the support of unions including the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers’ Transportation Division, the Transport Workers Union of America, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees, and the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen. Both Ohio senators have visited East Palestine to speak with the community. They also sent a letter to U.S. EPA and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leaders this week to make sure that those with health concerns from the derailment are afforded medical care.

The Railway Safety Act of 2023 would enhance safety procedures for trains carrying hazardous materials by putting new safety requirements and procedures in place for trains carrying hazardous materials; require railroads to provide advance notice and information about what they are transporting to state emergency response officials; prevent blocked railroad crossings; set rules for train size and weight; and increase rail car inspections.

Also in the bill: Plans to require more detectors along tracks and scanning of trains carrying hazardous materials; an increase in fines for wrongdoing; expand hazmat training grants for local first responders; provide $22 million in Federal Railroad Administration funding for research and development into detection equipment; and provide $5 million to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to develop stronger tank car safety features.

Gov. Mike DeWine, first lady Fran DeWine and officials from the Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. and Ohio EPA, Ohio Department of Health, FEMA and the CDC were in East Palestine on Wednesday afternoon to answer questions.

During a news confer- special hazmat units, state or federal EPA. County EMA officials have emergency operations plans and do what is called a “Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment,” to determine the most probable events that may occur, according to Fetter. “This would most defi- ence, FRA Administrator Amit Bose said there is a need to “increase freight rail accountability safety.”

The FRA is in the process of inspecting all rail routes carrying hazardous materials both with human inspectors and technology, he said.

“The needs of East Palestine and the rail safety needs of all communities are at the top of my mind,” Bose said.

U.S. EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore said more than 500 East Palestine homes have been screened for chemicals, and 16 stations in the area are monitoring air quality. Air quality standards haven’t been exceeded in any of the testings and outdoor air quality remains normal, but testing will continue, Shore said.

“We are not leaving East Palestine nor the wider community. We won’t leave until the work is done,” she said.

The CDC is continuing to monitor residents and workers for chemical exposure, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry team lead Jill Shugart said. FEMA Region 5 Administrator Tom Sivak’s staff has handed out more than 1,200 fliers in and around East Palestine with information on air, water and soil testing, he said.

DeWine said state officials will stay until the job’s done and “we’re going to continue to play our part in this.” nitely include the possibility of a train derailment on the scale of what happened in East Palestine,” she wrote.

One thing he would like to see is increased training for firefighters, especially in rural Ohio communities, “who are the most likely to be the first on the scene,” he said.

“And that’s what we saw here. The need to have them trained, understand more information and have the railroad actively participate is a big goal of mine,” DeWine said.

He said he had been in touch with Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw, who is expected to testify before the U.S. Senate next week, and also CSX Railroad CEO Joseph Hinrichs.

Among the state’s goals, according to the governor: Holding Norfolk Southern accountable for the East Palestine derailment.

“It’s their railroad, their train, their responsibility,” DeWine said.

“I hope that we never have to experience that, but I am confident Lorain County is prepared to respond should we be faced with such a large-scale event.”