The vice president led a letter calling for an investigation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General into the coordinated response to the train derailment that occurred nearly four years ago.
Nearly four years ago, a Norfolk Southern freight train derailment caused a massive fire and the release of hazardous material from train cars. Vice President JD Vance is still working to determine the extent of health and environmental concerns from the derailment years later.
The derailment occurred when a bearing on a hopper car failed and overheated. This caused 50 of 149 train cars to derail in East Palestine. After the initial fire, officials chose to conduct a vent and burn of the contents of the tank cars carrying other hazardous materials.
Later on, National Transportation Surface Board investigators found that the vent and burn was not necessary to prevent a tank car failure, and the decision was based on incomplete and misleading information provided by Norfolk Southern officials and contractors.
The initial release of materials that caused the massive fire coupled with the vent and burn on cars containing other hazardous materials has left residents of the small Ohio town reeling.
Recently, the vice president joined efforts with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin to send a letter to Nicole N. Murley, the acting inspector general of the EPA. The letter calls for “a comprehensive, independent investigation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) into the coordinated response to the February 3, 2023, Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
“The response to the derailment, subsequent controlled release and combustion of hazardous materials, environmental contamination, and prolonged concerns regarding air, soil, water, and public health warrant continued scrutiny and oversight to ensure appropriate accountability and inform future actions,” the letter said.
The EPA also called to attention the difference in response between the Biden-Harris administration and President Trump’s administration.
“The people of East Palestine deserve certainty about their health and the safety of their community. They did not get it from the Biden EPA. The Trump EPA is committed to correcting the mistakes of the past administration. We have done everything in our power since day one to protect human health and the environment in East Palestine, and that work will continue, guided by our commitment to gold-standard science,” Administrator Zeldin said in a press release.
Documents revealing the true cost of the unnecessary vent and burn were recently revealed, showing that the Biden-Harris administration was aware of the damage it could cause. They proceeded with the vent and burn anyway.
The EPA Office of Inspector General said in a recent statement that the joint letter had been received and is under review.
“We received the referral and are reviewing it. We encourage anyone with information regarding potential wrongdoing related to EPA operations to report it to our OIG Hotline.”
