Last month, a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, prompting Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y. ) to call for an expansive investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Schumer's letter to NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy requested the board to evaluate factors such as the prevalence of rail accidents across the country in the last five years, the impact of deregulation on derailments and the adherence of companies to safety protocols. In addition, a class action suit has been filed against Norfolk Southern by local residents and the Ohio Attorney General has also taken legal action against the company.
In response, Norfolk Southern Railway CEO Alan Shaw testified before the Senate Commerce Committee in support of a bipartisan railroad safety bill introduced by Ohio senators Sherrod Brown (D) and J. D. D. Vance (R) Shaw agreed to provisions of the bill, such as funding for first responder hazardous materials training and expansion of advanced notification as well as mandatory standards for wayside defect detectors. President Biden has endorsed the bill which seeks to transfer oversight of certain safety procedures from rail operators to the federal government and introduce more modern tank cars.
The train that derailed in East Palestine carried several cars of the hazardous chemical vinyl chloride. The Environmental Protection Agency has taken over the cleanup effort and has stated that Norfolk Southern will be held financially liable for all relief efforts.