President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit East Palestine, Ohio, marking a year since a Norfolk Southern train derailment resulted in a toxic chemical spill. Biden’s visit comes amid criticism for not visiting sooner; he previously stated he would visit “at some point.” The White House confirmed Jan. 31 that his visit will take place in February, without offering specific details.
In February 2023, the train derailment caused a fire lasting several days, leading to the evacuation of thousands. Residents still continue to express concerns about the long-term impacts.
Over the past year, Biden has been involved in response efforts to disasters like floods on California’s central coast and wildfires in Hawaii, drawing attention to his absence in Ohio.
In a recent interview with Fox News, East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway, R, questioned Biden’s timing for the visit.
“My personal opinion, the best time for him to come would be February of 2025 when he is on his book tour,” Conaway said. “The president is always welcome to our town. That being said, I don’t know what he would do here now.”
While Biden has not yet visited, the administration maintains its response to the derailment was prompt and effective. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized the immediate federal assistance provided.
“From the moment — the day of the derailment… we’ve had federal assistance, federal employees on the ground within hours,” Jean-Pierre stated, citing involvement from the EPA, Department of Transportation, FEMA, HHS and CDC.
Although the East Palestine derailment was one of the worst in 2023, it was not the only one. The Federal Railroad Administration reported 1,136 derailments in the year, underscoring ongoing safety concerns for railways.
Concerns linger about potential health risks from chemicals spilled and vinyl chloride burned off after the crash. Vinyl chloride is a carcinogen linked to various cancers and is hazardous if inhaled, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Cleanup teams continue to remove hazardous waste from the site, with the EPA clearing about 80% of the area. Some contaminated water still shows an oily sheen, though no air contaminants were detected during clean-outs.
Norfolk Southern estimates the total cost for lawsuits, community assistance and hazardous waste removal to be around $800 million.
