Ohio’s train disaster possibly linked to deregulated safety protocols and mandates
The train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, has raised numerous questions regarding the safety protocols and regulations of the railroad industry.
On Feb. 3, a Norfolk Southern Corp. train carrying toxic and flammable materials reeled off the tracks. The unexpected derailment triggered a domino effect causing 50 other train cars to follow suit. The mashup resulted in a fire. The HuffPost reported that the Environmental Protection Agency verified 20 of the trains were carrying hazardous material.
The outlet added the freight included hundreds of thousands of pounds of vinyl chloride, a common organic chemical used in the production of plastics.
The fire site burned for five days forcing around 2,000 residents to evacuate the small city to avoid chemical exposure.
In light of the crash, government officials and transportation agencies begin to probe into the reason for the massive derailment.
In 2007, the company announced that it would use electronically controlled pneumatic brakes (ECP). The company claimed to make trains safer by “significantly decreasing how long it took them to stop.”
The HuffPost mentioned in 2014, the Obama administration implemented guidelines that every train carrying hazardous materials would now be required to have the ECP brakes. As boastful as they were in announcing the implementation of the new breaks, the cost of adding them to every train was astronomical. The mandatory call for the brakes proved to be an issue for Norfolk Southern Corp.
Lobbyists for the Association of American Railroads began to advocate for railroad companies such as Norfolk Southern, stating the mandate of the pricey brakes provided no benefit.
“ECP brakes would be extremely costly without providing an offsetting benefit.”
The mandate was overturned in 2018 when Donald Trump took office.
Along with the neglect to have the mandated brakes, the combustion in Ohio has caused officials to investigate the safety standards for trains transporting hazardous materials. The investigation findings could confirm if the railroad industry has defaulted on its obligation to follow all government-regulated safety protocols and mandates. It would also confirm if it was due to government deregulation.
The lack of response from Norfolk Southern executives and officials within national transportation agencies, such as U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, has received criticism from the public.
As the residents of East Palestine are left to pick up the ruins after the fire, they are expressing concerns about their health. Individuals affected were allowed to return home on Feb. 8, but are questioning the ecological impact and health risks. Newsweek stated the area around the crash suffered severe environmental damage. This damage could affect water and air quality, proving a danger even once physical debris is cleared.
Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her bylines include “person of interest” interviews, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything Beyonce.
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This story was originally published February 17, 2023 at 8:10 AM.