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CNN
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Norfolk Southern on Tuesday confronted harsh criticism from regulators for its selections instantly after a February 2023 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Throughout an all-day listening to within the city itself, hosted by the Nationwide Transportation Security Board, the harshest criticism targeted on the railroad’s advocating for a managed explosion and burn of 5 tank automobiles filled with vinyl chloride, a poisonous chemical three days after the derailment.
Norfolk Southern advised public officers who approved the managed burn, referred to as a vent and burn process, that it was the one approach to stop a catastrophic and uncontrolled explosion. However the NTSB employees and board members insisted on the listening to Tuesday that was not the case.
Paul Stancil, an NTSB hazardous supplies investigator, stated that representatives from Oxy Vinyl, the shipper who owned the 5 tank automobiles of vinyl chloride, didn’t consider the process was justified by the details accessible on the time. However Stancil stated that info was not communicated to the general public officers who needed to make the ultimate determination.
“Norfolk Southern… compromised the integrity of the vent and burn determination by withholding full and correct knowledgeable opinion and knowledge from the incident commander,” Stancil stated.
“Vent and burn is a seldom-used process,” he continued. “(It) ought to solely be used when there’s a excessive likelihood of catastrophic tank shell failure.” He stated that was not the case right here, as proof from the scene confirmed no proof that an uncontrolled explosion was possible.
In a press release, Norfolk Southern defended the choice, stating it made the advice based mostly on the most effective accessible info on the time and that it didn’t withhold any info.
“The NTSB mischaracterized the premise of the advice,” stated the railroad’s assertion. “A number of key elements indicated the sturdy risk of a catastrophic, uncontrolled explosion.”
“The vent and burn successfully prevented a possible uncontrolled explosion,” Norfolk stated elsewhere in its assertion. “There was no lack of life, accidents, or injury to property, and contractors took steps to handle environmental influence.”
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy harshly criticized Norfolk’s assertion, calling it “insulting” and an try to shift blame to the general public officers who listened to Norfolk’s suggestion.
The general public officers “did completely nothing improper, who did an outstanding job with the restricted info they’d in a really chaotic state of affairs,” she stated. “It’s disgusting that anybody would say that.”
Beforehand, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio and others had advised the rail firm wished the managed burn as a result of that will be quicker than draining the automobiles, which might allow Norfolk Southern to renew operations quicker.
Homendy stated Tuesday stated that Norfolk Southern executives met with board members and argued the NTSB ought to “put to relaxation the quote-unquote rumor that Norfolk Southern made the choice to vent and burn with the intention to transfer trains.”
“It isn’t our position to defend Norfolk Southern. We’re right here to guard the American folks and the touring public,” she stated.
Homendy stated that she was “deeply troubled by how NS carried out this investigation,” together with delaying or not offering info and stated she twice threatened to difficulty subpoenas to get info. The railroad’s actions throughout the investigation had been, Homendy stated, “unprecedented and reprehensible.”
Norfolk Southern stated in a press release Tuesday that it “cooperated absolutely and ethically with the investigation, with full transparency.”
“Our communications with NTSB employees and board members had been at all times motivated by a want to make sure they’d all of the related info for his or her impartial analysis and by a shared dedication to advance rail security,” the corporate stated.
This story has been up to date with extra reporting and context.