Ohio Governor Says Water Is Safe Around Train Derailment Site

Amid criticism of the response to a train derailment that spilled hazardous chemicals in a small Ohio town, Norfolk Southern Corp.’s chief executive officer pledged to ensure the safety of local residents, and the state’s governor asked for federal help.

“We are here and will stay here for as long as it takes to ensure your safety and to help East Palestine recover and thrive,” CEO Alan Shaw said in a letter released Thursday. The statement came after a town hall Wednesday in East Palestine, Ohio, which the company did not attend because of concerns about “the growing physical threat to our employees,” according to a report from a local ABC News station.

Crews are cleaning up the site, and the railroad implemented a testing program for the water, air and soil, Shaw said. The company created a $1 million fund as a “down payment” to help rebuild the community of about 4,800.

On Thursday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said he asked three federal agencies for assistance, according to the Associated Press. The White House said that President Joe Biden had offered DeWine help.

“We’re going to hold Norfolk Southern accountable,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Thursday during a daily press briefing.

Norfolk Southern could rack up tens of millions of dollars in costs from the derailment, according to one analyst’s estimate. The Environmental Protection Agency has urged the company to reimburse for costs related to the crash as soon as possible, citing “potential liability” in a Feb. 10 letter.

--------

Bloomberg Quicktake brings you global social video spanning business, technology, politics and culture. Make sense of the stories changing your business and your world.

Connect with us on…

[secondamendmentconservativ]

Tell the governor when he drinks some of the water, then we might believe him.

[pareidoliamadness]

People should sue them all for the lies. Someone needs to bring them some water and dare them to drink it. Even just wash up with it. See if they will do it.

[Michael_Dominik]

The only thing more toxic than the chemicals is our federal government's disgraceful response to this disaster.

[levismith]

They need to declare an exclusion zone and compensate people for there lost home

[ynot-tony]

Give him a glass of that water to drink

[tomhenry]

Shows more support for the RR then his citizens

[elizabethreed]

I agree with everyone commenting that he looks like he could use a glass of water.

[james]

Pete B: gas cooking stoves are toxic
Also Pete B: mushroom cloud is safe
💯🤣🖕🏽

[cecilmckeithan]

What about the rivers and streams. This is going to take years to play out the true after affects of this disaster and I feel for those who are in the end going to pay the highest cost.

[justinsternhagen]

Governor drink a glass of that water from tap on camera.

[vikinglife]

Mail them a bottles of the water and make them drink it on live TV

[soulnomad]

Sounds about as safe as an unlight Detroit parking lot at 3 am.

[sgtellioman]

The railroad is paying off some investigators

[sjpu]

Give him a bottle to drink. Bet he won’t!!

[tedium]

Give it a couple months to percolate into the ground water and try again.

[jasonboyd]

If it's good??? Those that claim it's safe they and ALL there family should drink the water the rest of there lives!!

[michaelmacosko]

Know what’s funny all the major news networks on the left won’t let you comment 🤔🤔🤔🤔

[sciencefirst]

I hope he enjoys his last term in office!

[tylerschoen]

Notice at like 0:43 seconds when he says the water is save everyone on stage fidgets and hides their hands

[johnsmith-wtdz]

The EPA says it’s all fine and good. Trust the science people!!