Key takeaways:
- Pete Buttigieg has issued a stern warning to the CEO of Norfolk Southern after a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, released hazardous chemicals into the environment.
- Buttigieg has called on the company to take responsibility for its actions and to do whatever it takes to stop putting communities at risk.
- The incident in East Palestine is still under investigation, and it is unclear what caused the derailment.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has issued a stern warning to the CEO of Norfolk Southern, a freight rail company, after a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, released hazardous chemicals into the environment.
In a letter sent Sunday, Buttigieg urged the company to demonstrate “unequivocal support for the people” of East Palestine and the surrounding areas. He also called on the company to take a leadership role in shifting the rail industry’s focus to safety and to make residents whole.
The derailment occurred on December 30th, when a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous materials derailed and caught fire. The incident caused the release of hazardous chemicals into the environment, leading to residents expressing concerns about their health.
The derailment is the latest in a series of incidents involving Norfolk Southern. In October, a train derailed in North Carolina, spilling hazardous materials into a nearby river. In November, a train derailed in Virginia, spilling hazardous materials into a nearby creek.
Buttigieg has called on the company to take responsibility for its actions and to do whatever it takes to stop putting communities at risk. He has also called on the company to work with the Federal Railroad Administration to ensure that safety regulations are being followed.
The incident in East Palestine is still under investigation, and it is unclear what caused the derailment. Norfolk Southern has yet to comment on the incident or on Buttigieg’s letter.
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